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Board approves Head Start self-assessment and two community grants for 2025

East Hartford Board of Education · August 26, 2025
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Summary

The board approved the Head Start Self Assessment 2025 and accepted grants to fund a primary mental-health program (Friend to Friend at Silver Lane) and a Family Resource Center serving Silver Lane and Mayberry; staff described program scope, parent permission requirements and planned family-engagement activities.

The board reviewed and approved the Head Start Self Assessment 2025, a required annual evaluation used to measure program goals using aggregated child assessment data, professional development information and family engagement metrics; the results will inform a continuing five-year project action plan.

Superintendent Thomas Anderson presented the Primary Mental Health Program grant funding a local Friend to Friend program at Silver Lane. He said selected kindergarten, first- and second-grade children may enter the program using an instrument developed by the Children’s Institute of New York or be recommended by Silver Lane staff or mental-health professionals. Sessions run 30 minutes for 12 to 15 weeks; two sessions are held each academic year, and parents must give permission for a child to participate. Anderson agreed to follow up if board members requested a demonstration or presentation about outcomes.

Michelle presented the Family Resource Center (FRC) grant, which funds parent-education curriculum (Parents as Teachers), play-and-learn groups, home-visit support for family daycare providers, services for young parents (workshops, diapers, books) and collaborations with adult education. The FRC serves Silver Lane and Mayberry schools and aims to reach families across the East Hartford community. The board voted to approve the FRC grant.

Board motions to approve the Head Start self-assessment, the primary mental health grant and the FRC grant were all carried by voice vote.

The board asked for more information about program numbers and a possible end-of-program presentation; staff said they would follow up with details.