Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District head start director details $3.3M federal grant, program priorities and family supports
Summary
Erica Koval reported the district's Head Start program runs 32 classrooms serving about 800 three‑to‑five‑year‑olds; the current five‑year Head Start grant provides about $3.3 million annually with a required 20% nonfederal match.
Erica Koval, director of Head Start for the Sioux Falls School District, told the board the district's Head Start is part of a broader early‑childhood system that serves roughly 800 children ages three to five in 32 classrooms across nine buildings. Koval said 253 of those slots are funded through Head Start, about 200 through Title funding, 250 through special education and 18 through migrant funds; the program operates 18 half‑day classrooms and nine full‑day classrooms after adding six full‑day slots this year.
Koval described Head Start priorities (kindergarten readiness, health services, family engagement and parent leadership), outlined health and dental screening requirements, and said the district was awarded a five‑year Head Start grant that provides just over $3,300,000 annually and requires a 20% nonfederal match that the program meets through volunteers, donated services and other community contributions.
Koval highlighted program outcomes reported last year: increases in families obtaining health insurance and medical care for eligible children, 90% of students receiving preventative oral health care while in the program, and social‑emotional gains (44% growth across domains cited). She credited community partners — including local dental providers, Sanford, Avera and Volunteers of America — and said parent engagement and policy council participation rose significantly.
The board acknowledged the Head Start programming report by voice vote.
