Parenting Youth and Preschool
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Head Start IllinoisParenting school-aged children
Sending your little one off to school can be one of your proudest moments as a parent. You may also have questions like, “When does my kid start school?”, “Is my child entitled to special services at school?”, “What about meals? Will they be provided?”
Well, for starters, did you know that in 2006 the state of Illinois implemented preschool for all that grants access to preschool for 3 to 4 year olds? If you are interested in enrolling your 3 or 4 year old in a local preschool, call your local school district to ask if your district provides free or low-cost preschool. Also, check out the following links to find a public preschool near you.
School Meals
All K-12 public schools in Illinois provide free lunch and breakfast for students who don’t have enough money to buy school lunches. Here’s how to know if you’re eligible, but in order to apply you’ll have to talk directly with your school. Some school districts, such as CPS in Chicago, provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income. Contact your local school district to find out how school meals will be supplied for your child.
Homelessness and Education
If you are a single youth of school age, and/or a parenting youth experiencing homelessness, you and your household have a right to education. The McKinney-Vento Act was passed by Congress to help youth experiencing homelessness access and excel in education. If you are interested in your rights under McKinney-Vento, or need connections to educational services while experiencing homelessness, click on the following fact sheet for more information:
Early Intervention and Individual Education plans
Does your child receive services through Early Intervention? Are they approaching their 3rd birthday? At the age of 3, some children’s Early Intervention services may transition to your local school district. Your child will be assigned an Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, where they will continue their speech, behavioral, or cognitive development treatments within an educational setting.
Do you have a school-aged child and believe that they may need additional assistance to help excel at school due to a developmental concern? Speak with your child’s pediatrician and elementary school counselor to arrange for an IEP evaluation. For more information, call the Illinois Department of Human Services at 1-800-843-6154, or feel free to go to a local IDHS office. You can find your nearest IDHS office here, be sure to choose “Early Intervention” in the dropdown for type.
For more information on IEPs, click here. We’ve also provided a video on Early Intervention and IEPs by Illinois Action for Children below.