OPELOUSAS, LA (AP) — St. Landry Parish school officials and board members have discussed applying for a $7.5 million federal grant that will allow the district to operate a parish-wide Head Start program for pre-kindergarten students.
According to The Advocate’s Bobby Ardoin, Superintendent Edward Brown said during the Thursday meeting that St. Landry Parish would take over operation of the federal Head Start program if the school system receives the grant. Head Start provides early childhood education services for low-income families.
The school system's federal program director Scott Champagne says Head Start programs in St. Landry Parish are currently operated by churches and privately run schools.
Champagne estimates that about 750 students attend the Head Start campuses in Opelousas, other municipalities and the school district.
The school district also offers pre-kindergarten classes at 38 school sites for 4-year-olds.
