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Shortly after the announcement, Sargent Shriver took the lead in assembling a panel of experts to develop a comprehensive child development program that would help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children.
In the summers of 1965 and 1966, the Office of Economic Opportunity launched an eight-week Project Head Start. In 1969, under the Nixon administration, Head Start was transferred from the Office of Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1977, under the Carter administration, Head Start began bilingual and bicultural programs in about 21 states. Seven years later, in October 1984 under the Reagan administration, Head Start’s grant budget exceeded $1 billion. In September of 1995, under the Clinton administration, the first Early Head Start grants were given and in October of 1998, Head Start was reauthorized to expand to full-day and full-year services.
Bradford Tioga Head Start is proud that their participation in Head Start began when the Canton School District began a summer program in 1966. Summer programs in Wyalusing, Northeast Bradford, Towanda and Wellsboro quickly followed. In 1978, Bradford Tioga Head Start received funding for sites in Canton, Athens, Elkland and Covington. Towanda followed in 1979. In the 1980’s a center was opened in Mansfield and another in Bentley Creek. Wellsboro and Tioga centers opened in 1991; Troy center in 1992; Millerton in 1993; East Smithfield in 1994; and Towanda Township in 1998. In 1999 Bradford Tioga Head Start began its Early Head Start program by serving 75 families. From 2002 to 2005 centers were added in Wyalusing, Sayre/Athens/Milan, and additional classrooms were added in Wellsboro and Mansfield. Two Pre-K classrooms were also added in Troy and Wyalusing in 2007. And in 2013 an additional classroom was added in Troy.
According to Jody Thomas, Executive Director of Bradford-Tioga Head Start, Inc., “Just like the national Head Start program, Bradford Tioga Head Start has grown from an eight-week project to a program offering half and full day services to children and their families, by providing comprehensive early learning services that get at-risk children ready for kindergarten and set families on the path toward self-sufficiency.” Bradford Tioga Head Start, Inc. joins children and families from coast to coast in celebrating 50 years of success and renews their shared commitment to 50 more.
Bradford-Tioga Head Start, Inc. is a program which offers state and federally funded programs for pregnant mothers, families and their children, newborn up to the age of 5; this includes Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K Counts services. Its mission “… provides exceptional, educational opportunities and high quality, supportive services which empower children and families to grow and thrive.” For more information call 570-638-1400, visit www.bradfordtiogahs.org or find us on Facebook.