The impact of Head Start, its learning environment and growth in areas including literacy and social development is well documented through testimonials from students across Harris County school districts.

Even years later, those foundational building blocks resonate for students as they navigate middle school and high school and beyond.

For Axel Silva, that impact has been immediate. Silva recently completed his kindergarten year at Harlem Elementary School in Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, but he has already impressed with the skills he learned at the Baytown Head Start.

“By the time he attended kindergarten, he was very advanced in his reading,” said Alondra Gonzalez, Silva’s mother. “I was very excited myself. Even his kindergarten teacher was very surprised he was able to read second grade books.”

Silva first enrolled in Head Start to fill a need. What soon followed were benefits his mother didn’t account for but loves seeing in her son.

“It all started because Axel needed speech therapy,” Gonzalez said. “Ever since he was enrolled in Head Start, he started speaking a lot more but also started eating different kind of foods as well. Some of the teachers would also teach sign language, which I thought was great.”

Being more confident in his speech has allowed Silva to speak more for himself at medical appointments. Gonzalez jokingly calls him an “independent little man.”

Due to their own experience with Head Start, Gonzalez has already referred friends and others to the services. She said she worries less because Silva has less issues in the school environment. Even having a later birthday didn’t hinder his learning in kindergarten.

“It is a really good social experience for the kids. They really do teach a lot things,” Gonzalez said of Head Start. “One of the things that makes you feel like your child is in good hands is when they ask if you have any concerns, they work a plan with you to achieve a goal you might have and they work with the kids to achieve their goals.”