Duluth Head Start: 2024–25 year served 212 children; staff report high early-intervention referrals and plan food support for families

Barbara Eckberg, director of Head Start and coordinator for preschool, presented the Duluth Public School District—s Head Start report for the 2024–25 program year and reviewed required governance training.

Eckberg said the program operated 190 Head Start slots and served 212 children at points across the year. She told the board that 123 children were projected to enter kindergarten the following year; she did not have a district-level count of how many enrolled in Duluth schools. The program used the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), an observation-based assessment, to report group development scores rather than to compare individual children.

Eckberg outlined demographic and service data: 14 children were identified as dual-language learners; 44 identified as African American or Black; 2 as Asian; 73 as White; and 54 as biracial. She said 54 children were referred for early-intervention assessment after screening, and 33 were later determined to have a disability (commonly recorded as developmental delay). In total, Eckberg said 86 childrenor 41 percent of the Head Start/preschool cohortreceived early-intervention supports during the year.

Eckberg described family-level needs: 19 families experienced homelessness during the program year; 25 children spent time in foster care; 136 families received SNAP benefits; 123 families reported at least one parent employed; 21 parents held college degrees; and 64 parents had associate, vocational or some college education.

On funding, Eckberg said the district received a one-year funding extension for the Head Start program but will need to reapply in a competitive five-year grant process when the federal grant cycle resumes. She reported that national Head Start technical-assistance contracts and federal support have been limited by a recent federal shutdown; her office is in regular contact with the Minnesota Head Start Association for updates.

Board members asked about hunger and SNAP-related supports. Eckberg said new guidance from the Minnesota Head Start Association allows local Head Start programs to package and send unopened, unused food from its CCAP food partnership to families, and that the district is working with the nutrition coordinator and the director of food service to ensure safe packaging and distribution. She also cited an existing food pantry at Myers-Wilkins as part of the district—s support network.

Eckberg delivered required governance training slides describing Head Start—s 60-year history, the program—s four components (education, health, social services and family engagement), performance standards and the role of the policy council and governing board. She said the policy council has been active, leaders will be elected soon, and the item will come to the school board for approval on Nov. 18.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the board meeting transcript provided by the district.