Rep. Henry Cuellar announced that the Webb County Head Start and Early Head Start programs will receive over $11.6 million in federal funding during a press conference Thursday.

According to Cuellar, the funding is part of over $10 million that is provided to Webb County with the condition that the head start program operates successfully, with $1.1 million added to help with COVID-19 matters.

Webb County Head Start Director Aliza Oliveros said the additional million were used to purchase tablets with the school’s curriculum for all children as students and staff get closer to the return to an online-only school year.

“With these COVID funds that we have already received over $1 million, we have been able to purchase laptops for all teaching staff to do instruction from home,” she added.

To prepare for the inevitable on-campus transition, outdoor hand washing stations, non-touch thermometers and scanners have been purchased. Also purchased were non-touch handwashing stations and non-touch soap and sanitizing dispensers to ensure children have a low risk of infection.

The funds will allow staff members to service the 72 child-care partnership children, 72 early Head Start children and 1,218 Head Start children virtually for most of the children. The over 1,000 students are comprised of children between 3-5 years old from either Rio Bravo, Laredo and El Cenizo, with the early Head Start and CCPC children being only from Laredo. CCP is the service for pregnant women, babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age.

“We do recruit from colonias, often 359 and 59. We also have a home base program with the grant. Obviously we will not be visiting home, but we will be offering services virtually,” Oliveros added.

As the Head Start programs may also be required to adhere to the Texas Education Agency policy, certain students without devices or internet connectivity will be required to attend on-site. Oliveros said that only 15 children are expected to return to the schools but will be separated using plexiglass panels. The panels will continue to be used when more students transition into on-campus instruction.

“We are talking about computers and what is needed to learn from home,” Cuellar said. “When they do return, which we don’t know when they return, there will be equipment to protect children and teachers when they return.”

Judge Tano Tijerina said the funding is important to help families that take part in the head start program and is thankful for the additional funding.

According to the U.S. Office of the Administration for Children and Families, Programs like the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership initiative brings together the best of Early Head Start and child care through layering of funding to provide comprehensive and continuous services to low-income infants, toddlers and their families.

Parents can still apply to the head start program online and the Webb County Head Start operation hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 5904 West Drive Units 6 & 7. The program states accept children who will be 3 years of age on or before Sept. 1 for kindergarten enrollment.

It also states that families who meet federal low-income guidelines can take advantage of the services at no cost. Those that receive public assistance, are homeless, part of foster care or other similar benefits can also be eligible.

Priority is given to families based on the age of child and household income, but parents or guardians must be working, going to school, attending a job training and/or receiving CCS services for Child Care Partnership program.

According to the Education section of the program, children participate in two daily lessons — one taught in English and another in Spanish. All the Head Start teachers have obtained an associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education.

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