HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START SERVICES TO CONTINUE IN GALVESTON COUNTY
Austin, TX June 23, 2020 Upbring, a Texas-based nonprofit, has been awarded a grant through The Office of Head Start to provide services within Galveston County effective July 1, 2020. Galveston County was granted based upon the results of a competitive application and review process conducted by the Office of Head Start.
“We‘re excited about this opportunity to serve children and families in Galveston County, and we assure the community that Head Start/Early Head Start services will continue for all 403 children enrolled throughout the county,” said Dr. Dana Biddy, director of education for South Texas with Upbring Head Start Preschool. Biddy, who resides just north of Galveston, will supervise all Upbring Head Start locations authorized by this newly-obtained award.
Upbring has been providing Head Start services in Texas since 2015 and serves more than 960 children through its current programs in Brazoria, Wharton, Matagorda, Johnson, Erath, Hood, Tarrant and Somervell counties. Upbring emphasizes incorporating innovative strategies into the classroom, while maximizing relationships with local community partners to provide additional support services for families.
“Our curriculum is researched based with strategies that are differentiated to meet the needs of all of our learners. We also have created strong partnerships with local education agencies to provide general and special education services to our students,” Biddy said.
Upbring’s Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) scores have finished above the national average based upon to an emphasis on hiring staff members with credentials that exceed minimum requirements and education leaders with school district experience.
“Upbring Head Start teachers are committed to cultivating a lifelong love of learning for every child that helps them prepare for Kindergarten and lays a foundation for academic success,” Biddy said. “This begins with dedicated educators and engaging curriculum, and includes the implementation of resources and metrics to measure the effectiveness of our programs.
Upbring will soon notify all current Head Start families throughout Galveston County, as well as the community regarding next steps in this transition. Upbring Head Start Preschool is open to all children who meet the national Head Start eligibility requirements. For more information, please visit www.upbring.org/headstart.
About Upbring
Upbring is a leading Texas-based, faith-inspired nonprofit organization working to break the cycle of child abuse by empowering children, families and communities. Upbring partners with federal, state and local government agencies, community groups, small businesses, large corporations and dedicated individuals to deliver services that produce measurable progress toward five key markers of every child’s wellbeing: safety, life skills, education, health and vocation. Upbring benefits nearly 30,000 families each year with its life-changing programs, including foster care, adoption, education, children’s centers and community services.