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Pictured, from left, at a Thursday press conference are Niagara University President the Rev. James Maher, Congressman Brian Higgins, Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie, Mayor Robert Restaino and Russ Petrozzi. (Submitted photo)
Pictured, from left, at a Thursday press conference are Niagara University President the Rev. James Maher, Congressman Brian Higgins, Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie, Mayor Robert Restaino and Russ Petrozzi. (Submitted photo)

Higgins: Multimillion-dollar grant supports Niagara Falls School District's 'cradle-to-career'

Submitted

Fri, Sep 17th 2021 09:50 am

$2.1M annual award will give children in City of Niagara Falls a head start 

Congressman Brian Higgins on Thursday announced the Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD) was awarded a federal grant totaling over $2.1 million annually for five years. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will support Head Start and Early Head Start programs to give the city’s children a strong foundation for success.

“Providing access to early learning puts children on a path to lifelong growth and opportunity,” Higgins said. “This federal funding for Niagara Falls City School District is an investment in the future of our children, families and community.”

NFCSD Superintendent Mark Laurrie said, “Our program design leverages the strengths of the district and its community partners in support of successful ‘cradle-to-career’ outcomes for children and families. The City of Niagara Falls has a poverty rate of 46% for children under 5 years. Our EHS/HS staff will reach out to our families with young children living in poverty who are the most at risk.”

Higgins’ team said, “Building on nearly 15 years of universal pre-kindergarten experience, the district is well poised to serve families and children aged birth to 5 years. Through Head Start and Early Head Start implementation, the Niagara Falls City School District will serve 141 children aged 3-5 years in Head Start and 40 children aged birth-3 years in Early Head Start, totaling 181 children under 5. This is in addition to the 520 pre-K 3- and 4-year-olds the district already serves. NFCSD will also provide supports for caregivers, including workforce training and parenting classes.

“The new program will offer early education, health screenings, social and emotional health, nutrition, social services and services for children with disabilities and support and resources for families. Over the next couple of months, NFCSD will partner with the interim Head Start grantee Child Development Institute to ensure a seamless transition of services for children and families. In addition, the district will take over five buildings that Head Start currently maintains.”

Head Start and Early Head Start programs are based on a national model that provides a comprehensive education for children ages 0 to 5. Focusing on early development, health and family well-being, the program engages children and families in the early learning process to promote school readiness.

At least 90% of the children enrolled in each Head Start program must be from families who meet federally regulated income guidelines. In addition, up to 10% of the enrollment opportunities in each program are made available to children with disabilities. There are no family fees for Head Start or Early Head Start services.

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start programs have served more than 36 million children. Compared to their peers, children who participated in Head Start are statistically more likely to excel academically in high school and attend college after they graduate. In addition, a study conducted in California showed that every dollar invested in Head Start creates a $9 return through increased earnings, employment, and family stability and decreased government assistance, crime, and special education costs.

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