Our two-year Pre-K and Head Start programs offer the highest quality program to children and families throughout LaPorte County. All programs are in alignment with Head Start Federal Standards as well as NAEYC Quality Standards.

Our programs use a curriculum which supports the development of the whole-child. We provide environments and learning opportunities for children to develop their social and emotional competencies, cognitive skills, physical-motor development, as well as their use of communication and language. The ultimate goal of the programs is to expand the child’s understanding of themselves and the world in which they live.

We serve up to 20 children in each classroom with up to 3 qualified caregivers. Each Lead Teacher holds a degree in Early Childhood Education*. Our Teacher Assistants possesses or are working on their CDA Credential Certification. Additionally, every class has a classroom aide to keep ratios low. Lower ratios means higher quality interactions with individual children. This helps to increase trust in the relationship with the child which ultimately results in an increase in child outcomes.

Our programs are informed by the Reggio-Emilia approach, a child-centered philosophy. Our unique program offers an Art Studio or Atelierista. The studio teacher will ensure that children have the tools to communicate their thoughts through various media (e.g. paint, clay, wire, natural materials etc.). Children will be encouraged to use many materials for discovery and communication. These modes will serve as a demonstration of what they understand, wonder, question, feel, or imagine. It is the teacher’s responsibility to facilitate the exploration of a child’s surroundings.

Our teachers connect learning experiences to the community by planning intentional field trips or classroom volunteers. In this way, we can help curriculum come alive through real-life experiences and through relationship-based learning.

*Classrooms that do not meet this criteria may request a waiver per ACF IM HS 11-04: Center-based Preschool Classroom Teacher Qualification Waiver Authority and Procedures (hhs.gov)