Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – The Hidalgo County Head Start Program was recently awarded nearly
$1 million to purchase school buses for their students. In addition to their yearly budget, they were awarded an additional $922,420 to purchase 10 school buses at $92,242 each under a Supplemental Funding competitive application for Program Improvement by the national Office of Head Start.
“This funding will strengthen partnerships with local school districts, reinforce recruitment efforts, help sustain desirable attendance levels and allow Hidalgo County Head Start to focus on innovative ways to address the competition for enrollment in our service area,” said Head Start Executive Director Teresa Flores.
The Hidalgo County Head Start Program is a comprehensive child development program that assists the most economically disadvantaged three and four-year old children and their families. They are funded yearly by the Office of Head Start, Administration of Children and Families under the Department of Health and Human Services and serve 3,690 children and families countywide.
Head Start children receive educational, nutritional, health, social, and special health services. After 35 years under the county, the program continues to enhance the social and cognitive development of children, promoting school readiness to prepare children to achieve high levels of academic and developmental success in kindergarten and beyond.
In 2017, Head Start conducted a Community Assessment Family survey which 2,200 Head Start families completed. Staff learned that transportation was the top issue preventing parents from enrolling their children in an early childhood development program such as Head Start.
“This grant will allow Hidalgo County Head Start to continue serving children and families in South Texas through motorized travel and transportation,” said Flores.
Hidalgo County Head Start Executive Director, Teresa Flores.
