Head Start program

Lately I’ve been thinking about what would happen if programs like Head Start disappeared. Not in a dramatic way—just realistically. What would families do? Who would be there to fill in all those gaps? Because once you look closely, it becomes pretty clear: Head Start holds a lot more than people realize. The Children’s Equity…

Healthy eating is a big part of helping kids grow, learn, and thrive—and Head Start has always made nutrition a priority. A recent Information Memorandum (IM) from the Office of Head Start gives programs a boost in that direction, reminding everyone what’s already working well and offering fresh ideas to build on that strong foundation.…

On April 3, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Early Childhood Development, Laurie Todd-Smith, released a statement announcing the closure of half of the Head Start Regional offices throughout the United States, reducing the total from 10 to five.  The offices that are closing include Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco,  and Seattle. …

First, we want to say that The Gravely Group is a non-partisan entity. We do not endorse any political party or candidate. However, when a political party or candidate proposes sweeping changes to Head Start, we want to make sure our readers are educated on what that proposal is. We encourage everyone to educate themselves…

It’s that time of year again. Like baby birds leaving the nest, approximately 320,000 Head Start preschoolers will fly away to start the next chapter in their young lives. As Head Start teachers and administrators, we can’t help but ask, “Are they ready?” “Did we do everything we could to prepare them?” “Is the school…

In a recent blog this past January, we posed the question: What’s the big deal about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in Head Start programs? While you have likely heard about DEIB before, you might think that it’s only something done by corporations with sprawling HR departments or government agencies in large marble buildings.…

If you only read one of The Gravely Group’s blogs each year, our annual Year in Review should be it. Each year, we do a recap of all the articles we put out throughout the year, as well as give a few other highlights from our trainings and travels. After nearly three years of uncertainty,…

This blog was provided by Dr. Nermeen Dashoush, Chief Learning Officer at MarcoPolo Learning and Clinical Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. The Gravely Group recently partnered with MarcoPolo Learning on a free webinar titled “How Can Technology Provide Greater Access for Families?” A big part…

A month ago, Head Start released a memo stating that families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are now categorically eligible for Head Start. What that means is that if families can provide documentation of their eligibility for SNAP benefits, they are automatically eligible to be enrolled in Head Start. They do not need…

Every year, Black History Month is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions that black Americans have made to American history. It was first recognized as a national educational initiative by Gerald Ford in 1976. In researching for this blog, I myself learned some things about the history of Black History Month and how it…