DOWNINGTOWN, PA — The Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Head Start program has earned a five-year national accreditation recognizing its management, service quality and outcomes for children and families, placing the county’s early childhood education services among a limited number of programs receiving the designation nationwide.
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) awarded its Program of Excellence accreditation to CCIU Head Start and its home-based Early Head Start services following a review of their operations and performance.
The designation recognizes programs that demonstrate sustained effectiveness in providing early education, health services and family support to eligible households.
NHSA limits the accreditation to 25 programs nationally each year. Over the past three years, 36 programs have earned the designation out of a possible 75.
The five-year accreditation follows an evaluation process examining program management, accountability, service delivery and outcomes for children and families.
In its notification to CCIU, the association stated that organizations receiving the designation have “undergone a rigorous review process and demonstrated to a team of reviewers its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.”
CCIU’s accreditation process was led by Cindy Schofield, director of Head Start education services, who coordinated the program’s preparation and review over the past year.
The accreditation covers both the intermediate unit’s Head Start program and its home-based Early Head Start services, which serve eligible Chester County families.
The programs provide early learning, health and family support services at no cost to eligible children from birth through age 5, expectant mothers and their families.
The services are designed to support early childhood development while addressing family needs that can affect children’s educational readiness and well-being.
“This recognition means so much because it honors the incredible work our Head Start team does each day to support children and families,” Schofield stated.
She also credited the program’s management team for its contributions throughout the application and review process.
Tamara Acuna, CCIU assistant director of student services, emphasized the significance of the external evaluation.
“To see them acknowledged in this very public and highly rigorous manner is outstanding,” Acuna stated.
The National Head Start Association’s Program of Excellence designation is intended to identify Head Start grant recipients that consistently meet elevated standards for program administration and services while demonstrating positive outcomes for young children, expectant mothers and families.
For CCIU, the five-year accreditation recognizes the performance of its existing early childhood education and family support programs throughout Chester County.
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