Lake Ridge New Tech opens full-day Head Start at Hosford Park; schedules community open house

Lake Ridge New Tech Schools has moved its Head Start operation into Hosford Park (Hosford Elementary) at 4735 Arthur Street in Gary and will open five full-day Head Start classrooms this fall, Director of Programs Artia Nash said during a district public-affairs broadcast.

"We were able to get this done in 6 months," Nash said, describing a move from the district's prior site at 6111 Ridge Road. "We now have at Hosford, we have 5 full day classrooms." She said the program's licensing passed its inspection "with 0 findings." The first day for students at the new site is Sept. 4.

Nash said the change marks the first year in four decades that Lake Ridge is offering full-day free Head Start services to qualifying families. "This is the 1st year in 40 years that Lake Ridge has offered full day free services to those families who qualify," she said.

The district is opening the site to its neighborhood with a community open house on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nash described the event as a block-party-style picnic with free food and music and said the public is welcome to tour the classrooms.

Who qualifies and how to enroll

Nash summarized eligibility and enrollment details: Head Start is a federally funded program tied to federal poverty guidelines and is available to families that meet income thresholds. She said the Office of Head Start is revisiting eligibility rules to consider housing cost as a factor but that change had not been implemented at the time of the interview.

"If your housing is more than 30% of your income, that will go into account to make sure that you can be eligible for this free service," Nash said, describing a pending policy review from the Office of Head Start. She added that federal poverty guidelines remain the basis for eligibility and gave a concrete example: "For example, a family size of 3, they can't make more than 32,000 a year. That's poverty."

Age limits are set by the district: children must be between 3 and 5 years old and must be 3 before Aug. 1 to enroll; children who are kindergarten-eligible (turning 5 before Aug. 1) are not eligible for Head Start. "You have to be 3 before August 1," Nash said.

Curriculum and readiness tracking

Nash said Head Start at Hosford uses an intentional, play-based curriculum designed to prepare children for kindergarten and that Lake Ridge is opting into Indiana's optional kindergarten readiness assessment so the district can track learning gains. "We are opting into, taking those assessments," Nash said, noting a partnership with the district kindergarten program at Longfellow to sustain gains through third grade.

Services for unhoused students

Nash explained that McKinney-Vento protections are embedded at every school through registrars and a residency questionnaire to identify families experiencing homelessness. "McKinney Vento is embedded in every school," she said. "Every family that does the intake, every family in our school district, they have to complete a McKinney Vento residency questionnaire."

She said the district is required to provide transportation or reimbursement for students who qualify under McKinney-Vento and described staff efforts to "be creative" when unusual cases arise, including out-of-area placements. Nash and host Eric Johnson recounted a case the state flagged involving a student listed in Kentucky; Nash said district staff review each case "to see if this is really in the best interest of the child."

How to apply or get more information

Nash said families can pick up an application or request a tour at 4735 Arthur Street between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or call (219) 989-7823 for information. She also noted the program's quality recognitions: the Head Start program holds a Level 4 Paths to QUALITY rating and is NAC?I accredited (as stated on the program broadcast).

Why it matters

District officials framed the relocation and expansion as a way to increase instructional time for families who qualify and to strengthen early learning so children enter kindergarten ready and remain on track in later grades. Nash emphasized collaboration with parents and teachers and the need for systematic supports for children who fall behind early.

The district will host the open house on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the Hosford Head Start site is open for tours and applications, and classes begin Sept. 4.