North Central Education Service District

Head Start is a nationwide initiative designed to prepare children aged 3-5 for school by enhancing their social, emotional, and cognitive growth through a range of services, including education, health, nutrition, and social support, particularly focusing on developing early literacy and math skills essential for academic success. The program emphasizes the importance of parental engagement. Established in 1987, the Oregon Head Start Pre-Kindergarten (OPK) serves as the state's equivalent to the federal Head Start initiative, overseen collaboratively by the state's Department of Education and the regional Head Start office, while adhering to all federal Performance Standards. Additionally, NCESD partners with preschools to provide the state-funded Preschool Promise program.