• Parents make the Early Childhood Program the success that it is. Since you have the most contact with your child, you are your child's most effective teacher. You are encouraged to participate in the program as much as possible.

    Your volunteering in the classroom has many advantages:
    1. It gives you a better understanding of what the program is doing for children.
    2. It can help you better understand your role as a parent.
    3. It shows your child how interested you are in their learning experience.


    There are many ways you can participate in the Early Childhood Program.

    One way to participate in the program is through the decision-making process such as:
    1. Attend Parent Committee meetings and Family Literacy Nights.
    2. Talk to the staff and other parents about ways to help and to improve the program.
    3. Read the newsletter and keep in touch with the staff and other parents.
    4. Keep in touch with your Policy Council Representative or serve on the Policy Council.

    Parent Center Committee
    All parents are members of the Parent Committee that meets monthly.

    Responsibility of the Parent Committee includes:
    1. Electing officers to work closely with staff to plan/conduct formal and informal programs.
    2. Electing members to serve on the Policy Council, and establishing two-way communication.
    3. Planning educational and family events.

    Policy Council
    The purpose of this organization is to involve parents in the decision making process of Head Start. Present and past Head Start parents, as well as, representatives from the community are eligible for Policy Council membership. ECSE and VPI parents can serve as community members on Policy Council.

    Responsibilities include:
    1. Attend and participate in the Policy Council functions.
    2. Relay information between Policy Council and the Parent Committee.
    3. Share views and opinions of the parents they represent as well as their own.