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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts

    Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (Pre-K Counts) provides quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to eligible 3 and 4 year olds in Pennsylvania.

    Pre-K Counts is designed for children who:

    • Are between age 3 and until the entry age for kindergarten;
    • Are at risk of school failure and living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal income poverty level (such as a family of four earning $72,900) who may also be English language learners or have special needs.

    Pennsylvania's Pre-K Counts: Providing a Strong Start in School​ (YouTube)

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    Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program

    The Office of Child Development and Early Learning administers the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. This program, for existing Head Start grantees, provides state funds to supplement federal allocations to expand high quality pre-kindergarten Head Start services for eligible children throughout Pennsylvania. Head Start Programs may enroll additional three or four year old children and/or expand full day and full year service opportunities for children and families.

    Participating Head Start programs have demonstrated the need for additional Head Start services in their service area; the ability to expand, either independently or in cooperation with a local school district, a licensed child care center or registered family child care home; the ability to comply with federal Head Start and state child care requirements for Head Start provided extended day services, if applicable; and the ability to work collaboratively with child care, if a child care collaboration is used for extended day services.