Head Start of Fayette County Nominated
as a Center of Excellence

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc., is proud to announce that Governor Rendell has designated its Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County Program as a Center of Excellence nominee to compete at the national level. The National Centers of Excellence Program will recognize 10 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees across the country that are performing at the highest levels of quality. Excellent and effective programs are those that have achieved, and are actively building upon, full compliance with the Program Performance Standards and are implementing comprehensive, innovative, and targeted approaches to enhance program services; thus producing positive, measurable outcomes for children's school success, families supporting children's learning, and increased staff competency.

This nomination, 1 of only 5 in the state (out of 75 Head Start agencies), was awarded to Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County on the basis of their innovative practices in delivering early education services as well as the ongoing partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning in the required areas of quality improvement, sound partnerships, comprehensive programming, staff competency, and participation in collaborative systems oversight through the Early Learning Council and its various committees.

Tim Yurcisin, president and chief executive officer of the Private Industry Council, said "For years we have felt that our Head Start Program is one of the best kept secrets of Fayette County. Now I think the Governor just let the cat out of the bag. We are honored and humbled that Governor Rendell would nominate our Head Start for this national award and recognize that we operate a program of the highest quality. We are hopeful to be one of the 10 programs to be selected at the federal level and appreciate the continued support of the state and local elected officials and the Fayette County community at large."

The Private Industry Council has been the grant administrator of the Head Start program in Fayette County since 1994, and the Early Head Start program since 1997. Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County provides a coordinated delivery of services to low income children (ages 0-5) and pregnant women. With 10 locations strategically located throughout Fayette County and a broad home-base service area, the program promotes school readiness by enhancing physical and emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, and social services to enrolled children and families.

For more information contact Sandra Hall, director of Head Start/Early Head Start/Pre-K Counts, at 724-430-4818.

Read related articles on the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Herald-Standard.