Quality Soars in Federally-Funded Head Start

Dakota Circle is Fresno’s largest Head Start site, but it is more than a preschool to the 200 families it serves. On a centrally-located campus in one of Fresno’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, Dakota Circle offers low-income families a high-quality preschool education for their children. In addition to its high-quality early education program, families at Dakota Circle also have access to counseling, parenting classes, nutrition services and children receive health screenings. This is an important resource for the families here, since nearly all of them have income below the federal poverty line, which is $22,050 annual income for a family of four. Dakota Circle – and all Head Start sites in Fresno County – are operated by the nonprofit, Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission, or simply known as EOC.

Parents value the quality of Dakota Circle’s preschool program and appreciate that the program is responsive to their families’ needs. One parent, Gheena, was nervous to leave her son Jordan when she first brought him to school. She was thankful that the school’s “phase-in” policy allowed her to stay at school with Jordan until he felt comfortable and secure. “This is a really positive program,” Gheena says. “It’s all about these little ones getting the best education.”

Walking through Dakota Circle’s classrooms and spacious play yard, it is clear the children, some of whom have disabilities, are learning fundamental skills that will help them succeed in school. In the school’s 10 classrooms and across the campus, 3 and 4 year-olds play reading games, work with teachers to learn letters and numbers, share toys in the sand box and climb on a brand new play structure.

With classes of 20 children and a team of highly qualified teachers and teaching assistants who speak with the children in multiple languages, the children at Dakota Circle receive individual attention and focused support.

The 34 full-time staff members are dedicated to assisting family members, too. The family services staff conducts monthly meetings to work with parents on program decisions and child development, and an on-site registered nurse responds to children’s health needs. Teachers visit families’ homes to hold parent-teacher conferences and develop individual learning plans for children. And a nutrition specialist, mental health specialist and disability specialist are available to consult with the families.