In another year, your 4-year old will be marching off to kindergarten. It’s exciting and perhaps a little scary, too. Kindergartners start school expected to know their letters, the sounds the letters typically make, and rhyming words. They are expected to count to 10 and recognize these numbers. Kindergartners are expected to be able to sit for several hours a day, know how to share and take turns.

CSC offers several preschool options: Head Start and PreK Counts.

Head Start of the Lehigh Valley is funded by both the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania/ Head Start began in 1965 during the Johnson Administration’s War on Poverty, intended to help preschool-aged children most at-risk for poor school performance gain equal footing. Today Head Start and Early Head Start, serving children birth to age five, continue to reach the most economically disadvantaged families, with average incomes of $13,000.

The program serves both children and their parents, involving parents in program leadership, decision making, and active participation in their child’s education.

Children are engaged in strong, research-based early education. Their physical, oral and mental health is closely monitored. They receve 66% of their daily nutrition at school.

CSC operates 56 Head Start classrooms across the Lehigh Valley independently as well as in conjunction with several school districts.

Children are eligible for consideration at age 3.

Pre-K Counts is a free preschool funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Currently, CSC operates seven PreK Counts classrooms in Allentown and one in Easton. The program embodies the Early Learning Standards established by Pennsylvania. Children attend classes six hours per day five days a week throughout a 180-day school year. Each class of 18-20 students has two teachers who meet or exceed state requirements for early childhood education and receive on-going training.

All PreK Counts children and families are dual-enrolled in CSC’s Head Start program so that parents may be involved in support services.

Lunch is provided. Parents receive on-going progress reports about their child.

To qualify,

• Your family must reside in either the Allentown School District or Easton Area School District;
• Your child must be 3 or 4 years old by Allentown or Easton Area School District Kindergarten cut-off dates;
• Family income must be at or below 100% of the poverty guidelines (sliding scale depending upon family size).

In addition, priority is given to the following:

• Child has a disability or development delay;
• English is child’s second language;
• Four-year-old children;
• Child is involved with Mental Health Services and/or Children & Youth department in Lehigh or Northampton County.

Enrollment is limited. Please call for more information: 610-437-6000, 2354.