Soaring to New Heights
Head Start is the First Step to a Great Future. We work to ensure that every Head Start classroom in Chicago provides high quality education and early childhood development practices that promote positive outcomes and comprehensive school readiness for all children.
education News
Chicago Commons Spring Learning Tour 2012
"Experiences with Nature"
Children Learning Through Encounters with Nature in an Urban Context
April 27 & 28, 2012
Chicago Commons, a Reggio-Inspired Early Childhood program, is continually working on expanding children’s experiences with nature and natural elements. This year’s learning tour will illustrate Commons’ journey of fortifying children’s right to explore and experience nature and natural materials. Some of the elements that will be discussed include: accessing nature in our urban context, nature as a catalyst for building relationships between children, natural materials, parents and the community, opportunities with limited access to nature, and seeing obstacles and working in spite of them.
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How to Analyze Your Winter Data
Administrator and Ed Coordinator : How to Analyze Your Winter Assessment Data
Wednesday, February 29 | Thursday, March 1 | Friday, March 2
Wednesday, March 7 | Thursday, March 8 | OR Friday March 9, 2012
1:00pm - 4:00pm
St Augustine College | 1345 W Argyle St | Room 232
This training will walk participates thru the reports to use for analyzing Winter Assessment Data and how to interpret the results. This training is offered six times. Please choose the date that best works for you.
Register Online
Infant Toddler Conference
Saturday, March 3, 2012 | 7:30am - 1:30pm
Oakton Community College | Ten Hoeve Center | Des Plaines Campus
1600 E Golf Rd | Des Plaines, IL
(Free Parking in Lot C or D. Registration in Main Lobby)
Oakton Community College, in collaboration with Kendall College and Children's Home Aid, is presenting their Fifteenth Annual Infant Toddler Conference. This year's conference will focus on the relationships we have with infants, toddlers and their families-- and will offer a wide range of opportunities for birth-to-three early childhood professionals.
Download Brochure
SA Training Calendar
The DFSS Children Services Division School-Age Meeting and Training Calendar for Program Year 2011-2012 is now available! Download a copy of the calendar HERE.
Check back regularly for updates
education Events
education Resources
Education Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
PY10-11: Sept 2010 | Oct 2010 | Nov 2010 | Jan 2011 | Feb 2011 | Mar 2011
Guidance and Resources for Home Visits
An invaluable component of building a respectful relationship with parents, addressing their needs and the development of their child are the Home Visits teachers are required to make each program year.
Head Start requires that teachers make two (2) visits to the home of each child per program year. This is in addition to the two (2) staff-parent conferences required under CFR 1304.40(e)(5).
Download Memo | Training Guide
Guidance and Resources for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent Conferences provide teachers and parents with the opportunity for an in-depth discussion of each child’s development and adjustment to the program. The Head Start Performance Standard 1304.40(e)(5) requires teachers (in center-based programs) to conduct Parent-Teacher Conferences, as needed, but no less than two (2) per program year.
Parent Conferences are in addition to the Head Start requirement of two (2) Home Visits per year, which would offer families a total of four (4) separate opportunities to talk about their children’s progress and development within a program.
Download Memo | Checklist | Parent Tips - English | Parent Tips - Spanish | Training Guide
Check back regularly for updates
education Policies & Procedures
DFSS Head Start Teacher Qualifications
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) requires that Head Start teaching staff of children three to five years of age must possess the criteria outlined in Head Start Act 42 USC 9801 et. seq. (Sec. 648A).
Download Memo
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