Understanding Sampson County Partnership For Children
Smart Start, NCPK and Head Start at a Glance
| Smart Start | NCPK | Head Start | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission | School Readiness | School Readiness | School Readiness |
| Target Population | All Children birth to age five | At-risk four year olds who have been exposed to a child care setting | Children ages three to five who are living below the poverty line in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (Sec. 645 of the Head Start Act). Early Head Start is for children birth to age three. |
| Objectives |
Planning and funding to:
* Improve access to child care * Improve quality of child care * Improve access to health services * Improve family support services |
Planning and funding to:
* Serve children not receiving education preparation before starting school * Create a standard, state-wide pre-k program |
Planning and funding to:
* Individualize children services to include education and early childhood development; medical; dental; mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement |
| Strategies |
* Provide technical assistance to child care programs to improve quality
* Provide opportunities for teachers in child care programs to improve their education in early childhood * Provide parent education and resources * Provide child care subsidies for low income parents * Provide access to health services for children |
* Provide high quality pre-k
* Set uniform state standards for pre-k, including curriculum, teacher credentials and class size * Assists pre-k teachers improve credentials |
* Provide developmentally appropriate environments and curriculum designed to meet the individual needs of children and families served
* Provide parent education programs * Provide screening and assessment for early identification of special needs * Provide evaluation and measurement of legislative outcomes for school readiness |
| Scope | * Umbrella state-wide initiative with broad range of activities operated on a county-wide basis | * Targeted state-wide program with a narrow focus | * National program focused on low-income communities |
| Admin and Funding |
* Non-profit organization
* Local decision-making to address local needs * Public/private partnership * State and private funding |
* State program with state funding, plus other sources of funding contributed according to local decisions
* Standard program; local decision-making about local of pre-k classrooms; all classrooms meet state standards |
* Federally funding program
* Head Start grantees must meet federal standards |