“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.”
- Mathew Jacobson
Recognizing the critical role of parents as their child’s first teacher, Centro creates a culture focused on parent engagement at all levels of the agency. All parents receive regular updates on their child’s developmental progress during regular home visits with teachers and Family Service Specialists and parent-teacher conferences.
Home Educational Activities
“The extraordinary dedication of our parents is the foundation of the success of Centro’s Head Start Programs and school readiness outcomes… Centro would not exist without the hardworking and noble population that we are honored to serve.”
- Gonzalo Palza, CEO
On average, families contribute a total of 261,745 hours in at-home educational activities with their children. Building upon a legacy of high engagement in at-home activities, Centro uses Teaching Strategies, Creative Curriculum to provide research-based educational activities that provide parents with at home teaching opportunities. These hands-on activities support Centro families by providing digital books, and resources in Spanish and English, tied directly to the classroom instruction and the child’s individual needs. All activities are culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate, engaging parents in activities that extend the lessons beyond the classroom.
In addition to at home educational activities, parents:
- Are volunteers and observers
- Plan their educational activities for parent nights
- Participate in Centro’s governance and program planning
- Participate in home visits
- Develop family partnership goals
Parent Engagement Highlights
1300
Average parent volunteers
3.5
Average hours per week on education activities at home
$4.1M
Average non-federal share
Parent Night Educational Activities
Centro’s facilities are parent, family and community support locations regularly used for monthly parent nights and include computers, internet access, as well as natural outdoor play spaces for families. Parent committees assist in the selection and planning of parent night topics which include oral health, nutrition, domestic violence, positive discipline, and parenting classes, to name a few.