Shippensburg Head Start & Pre-K Counts Program
Shippensburg University has been operating the Shippensburg Head Start Program since 1971 as a component of our commitment to public service, as well as to provide university students in several degree programs the opportunity to apply classroom theory in a real-life community and family-based educational, human services organization.
The Program is governed by the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees, and shares decision-making with the Policy Council which is comprised of at least 50 percent of current Head Start parents.
Head Start
The design and approach of the Shippensburg Head Start Program integrates researched evidence based practices, materials, curriculums, assessments tools, screening tools, parenting programs, trainings, performance standards and community support from various agencies to meet the needs of preschool children and their families. The Program provides services in three center-based classrooms (16-18 children each), and five Early Head Start home-based groups (caseload of ten families, as many as twelve children) in a service area encompassing the Shippensburg, Newburg, Newville, and Carlisle areas.
All enrolled children receive developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum and learning environment. Benefits to children and families are an increase in physical, social/emotional and cognitive child development. The community wide benefit includes higher cognitive skills of children resulting in school readiness, more parents skilled at parenting, and more parents involved in their child’s education and prepared to advocate for their child.
Head Start and Early Head Start programs are free, federally funded programs designed to promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from families that meet income eligibility requirements.
Pre-K Counts
Pre-K Counts is an early childhood program that provides high quality pre-kindergarten services to at-risk children within the state so they are prepared for school success. Pre-K Counts uses the Creative Curriculum which focuses on: Approaches to Learning, Social and Emotional Development, Language and Literacy Development, Physical Development and Health, Cognition and General Knowledge (the academics). A mental health curriculum, Second Step for Early Learning, is also used.
Children between age four and the entry age for kindergarten are eligible. Eligible families can earn up to 300 percent of the poverty level. Priority is given to the most at-risk children in the community.
Our Pre-K Counts Programs are "housed" within the Big Spring Area School District (Newville Elementary), Carlisle Area School District (Hamilton Elementary and Mount Holly Springs Elementary) and South Middleton School District (W.G. Rice Elementary).