New federal standards mean that children from low-income families will spend more time in Head Start preschool classes.
The Times-News reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new performance standards last week that are designed to improve the Head Start program. Under the new guidelines, Head Start will provide center-xollbased services four days a week instead of the two it offered before.
The changes also raised educational standards, require more opportunities for parents to get involved and cut regulatory standards by 30 percent.
College of Southern Idaho's Head Start/Early Head Start program Director Mancole Fedder says the hardest thing about the new standards will be finding space to accommodate all children for an entire day.
In south-central Idaho, there are 484 Head Start slots at a 11 centers.