Foundation For Early Childhood Education

FOUNDATION FOR ECE WAS STARTED IN 1965 TO PROVIDE EARLY EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES TO AT-RISK AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES AND IS SUPPORTED BY GOVERNMENT FUNDING, FROM HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START AND CDE/STATE PRESCHOOL. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.

HEAD START (HS) AND EARLY HEAD START (EHS) ARE FUNDED TO FOUNDATION INDIRECTLY. LACOE (LA CO OFFICE OF EDUCATION) IS THE GRANTEE, AND FOUNDATION OPERATES A SUB-RECIPIENT. HS & EHS SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, AT NO COST TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. ELIGIBILITY IS PRIORITIZED TO SERVE THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST. PRIORITY IS RATED WITH LOW- INCOME, AT-RISK FAMILY FACTORS (DCFS, CPS), CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND FOSTER CHILDREN. CHILDREN ARE AGE ELIGIBLE AT 18 MONTHS, TO 5 YEARS OF AGE (OR THEIR KINDERGARTEN ELIGIBILITY DATE). SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL IS FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION(CDE) AND IS A FREE PART DAY (3 1/2 HOURS) COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMTHAT IS PARTNERED WITH OUR HEAD START PROGRAM, TO OFFER A LONGER DAY OF SERVICES. PROGRAM SERVES 3 TO 4 YEAR OLD CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES RESIDING INTHE LOCAL COMMUNITY. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO CHILDREN OF FAMILIES WITH OPEN CASES WITHTHE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS), AS SPACE IS AVAILABLE. STATEPRESCHOOL PROVIDES FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION TO PARENTS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) FUNDED THROUGH THE CDE PROVIDES MEALS TO CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. HEALTHY HEATING SUPPORTS THEIR OVERALL DEVELOP AND PROMOTES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTHY EATING HABITS AT A YOUNG AGE. MEALS ARE TYPICALLY SERVED IN A FAMILY STYLE SETTING, WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS SITTING AROUND THE TABLE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DAILY MEALS THAT ARE, HIGH IN NUTRIENTS, LOW IN FATS, SALT AND SUGAR. MEALS ARE INDIVIDUALIZED FOR CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES AND OTHER MEDICALLY INDICATED NEEDS. MEAL TIMES DURING NONCOVID TIMES ARE SERVED FAMILY STYLE, TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO SERVE THEMSELVES, SELECTING HEALTHY FOODS,TRYING NEW FOODS AND ENJOYING A SOCIAL EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR PEERS AND TEACHERS. MEALS ARE PREPARED FOR CHILDREN WHEN NEEDED FOR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING ALLERGIES OR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. A VENDOR IS USED TO PREPARE ALL MEALS AND THEY ARE DELIVERED TO SITES DAILY.