SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES $225,000 FOR SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES HEAD START

(Washington, D.C.)-U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced that Southwestern Community Services (SCS) has been awarded $225,000 for its Head Start program to provide coaching to the program's teaching staff in order to improve child outcomes.  The grant is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"Improving education in New Hampshire has long been a priority of mine, and ensuring access to quality preschool programs is among the best ways to make sure our kids succeed throughout the course of their education," said Shaheen.  "This assistance will help SCS Head Start to continue delivering high quality programs to New Hampshire families regardless of their income status, and I congratulate SCS Head Start on receiving this award." 

SCS Head Start will use their grant to hire social and emotional, language and literacy, and math and science mentors and coaches.  These coaches will provide on-the-job guidance, training, and technical assistance to classroom teaching staff, home visitors and family child care providers at seven SCS Head Start centers, serving more than 150 children.  These centers provide a supportive and consistent preschool educational environment for children and families through open communication, exceptional resources, and positive role modeling to help children become successful and self-sufficient. 

As Governor of New Hampshire, Shaheen fought to expand public kindergarten and since arriving in the Senate she has supported significant increases in funding for Head Start programs and quality child care.