To help recognize and celebrate the “Week of the Young Child,” Harris County Department of Education’s Head Start division opened its doors to two centers April 11 and showcased all the good things happening for the county’s youngest learners.

An annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Week of the Young Child aims to promote the importance of early childhood education and spotlight the unique needs of students and their families.

Titled, “Make Children a Part of Your Agenda,” Head Start’s center tour included featured stops at the Coolwood and Channelview campuses. Roughly a dozen community members met at Coolwood, which opened its door in January to a new building after 2017 flooding from Hurricane Harvey rendered the previous center and location unsafe. The new 14,000-square-foot facility features six classrooms to accommodate up to 120 students, energy-efficient lighting, flex spaces and a state-of-the-art kitchen to help provide breakfasts and lunches. The tour continued to Channelview Head Start.

Visitors met staff and learned about Head Start’s daily routines, family-style dining, Frog Street curriculum and family services. They also participated in hands-on activities with the students at each center.

HCDE serves more than 1,300 students through Head Start and Early Head Start facilities. From newborns to 5-year-olds, students are provided a safe learning environment that supports growth in language, literacy and social and emotional development.