Foundation for Early Childhood Education, Inc.

Foundation for Early Childhood Education, Inc.

#Head Start #State Preschool #Early Head Start

History

535 S. Clarence Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033

Foundation’s original Administrative Office was located in East Los Angeles on Clarence Street.

3360 Flair Drive, Suite 100 El Monte, CA 91731

In 2001, Foundation relocated the Administrative Office to 3360 Flair Drive, Suite 100, El Monte, CA 91731.

What is Head Start?

In 1965, a group of Teacher Directors of community based cooperative nursery schools established this non-profit organization. Their experience in teaching young children and in leading instructional teams composed of teachers and parents was the basis for the philosophy and structure of the organization. The Foundation administers a Head Start – State Preschool Program, a full day Child Development Center funded by the California State Department of Education, and a Parent Education Project funded by the Office of Child Development. The Foundation was selected by the Office of Child Development to pioneer a federal demonstration project, the Head Start Continuation Learning Program in which Head Start assistant teachers accompany Head Start children into elementary school classrooms providing continuity with the children and their families from Head Start through the third grade.

Foundation was funded in January 1966 to operate a Head Start program as well as a State Preschool program under the California State Department of Education. Eighty-six Head Start/State Preschool classes are located in various communities, which include Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Cypress Park, Central Los Angeles, Echo Park, Hollywood, Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas, and South Central Los Angeles. Foundation is a delegate agency under the umbrella of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, which serves as the Grantee.

Foundation also sponsors three full day child development programs. Eagle/Pico Child Development Center was started over 30 years ago, subsequently, Echo Park Child Development Center and Little Friends Child Development Center were added. All three Centers provide a full day childcare program for preschoolers. In addition, Echo Park and Little Friends provided care for infants and toddlers. These Centers are funded through Los Angeles City Community Development Department, and California State Department of Education. Unfortunately Eagle and Little Friends childcare programs were converted to Head Start – State Preschool sites, due to the lack of funding from the City of Los Angeles.