13 May Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) Receives $5,723,005 Head Start Continuation Grant from Department of Health and Human Services

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) was recently awarded a $5,723,005 Head Start, Year 4 Continuation grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to provide universal access to quality early childhood services.

These services will include a high-quality, comprehensive program using Creative Curriculum for Preschool. This curriculum promotes school readiness, and is aligned with the Kansas Early Learning Guidelines and the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework for preschoolers. KCKPS already has the infrastructure in place to ensure quality educational services, and the timely screening, services, and referrals for services, which will ensure the physical, mental, nutritional, and oral health needs of children, are met.  All KCKPS early childhood classrooms have at least one certified teacher and KCKPS has nurses, special education staff, and nutritional services departments already in place.  KCKPS also has established relationships in the community for mental health, physical health, and oral health referral services.  These relationships include The Family Conservancy, Wyandot Behavioral Center, the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Indian Springs Dental Clinic.

KCKPS Head Start will provide part- and full-day center-based services to 878 children (560 part-day and 318 full-day) throughout Wyandotte County.  The program is prepared to serve and focus on the unique needs of low-income families, children in the child welfare system, dual language learners, and homeless children. Currently, nearly 90% of KCKPS students are low-income, over 50% of KCKPS early childhood students are dual language learners, nearly 100 early childhood students are homeless, and 30 students are in foster care in Wyandotte County.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is a nationally recognized urban school district serving approximately 22,000 students. With a Head Start program, three preschools, 30 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 5 high schools, the district serves a wonderfully diverse mixture of students. A remarkable 75 different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. To serve those students, the district employs more than 3,800 staff, including more than 1,600 teachers.