In order to create better parenting and working conditions for parents, several early childhood programs in the Mountain View School District of Los Angeles County have recently begun enrolling students. These early childhood education programs not only help parents to accompany and educate their children but also save them a significant amount of childcare expenses.
Last Friday, the Superintendent of the Mountain View School District, Ray Andry, and the Chinese-American Education Commissioner Cindy Wu were interviewed to explain the programs.
According to Andry, the district is recruiting pre-kindergarten students focusing on promoting children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development to prepare them for kindergarten enrollment. The district also provides early intervention programs for pregnant women and newborns over six months old. For working parents with children in 3rd grade and below, the district also offers long-term care and school transportation services. The specific programs offered include:
1. Early Head Start Home-Based with In-Classroom Socializations
Mainly based on families, this program is for pregnant women over six months, newborns, and children under the age of 3. District staff visit homes twice a month to provide early childhood education experiences and strategies for pregnant women and new mothers.
2. Early Head Start Center-Based
This program provides opportunities for children to learn and grow at the center, suitable for children aged 18 to 36 months, and accepts students throughout the year. Parents can choose between morning or afternoon sessions, with timings ranging from 8 to 11 am and 12 pm to 3 pm respectively, as well as a full-day option of 6.5 hours.
3. Head Start Program (HS)
This program is suitable for children aged 3 to 4 years and offers a 10-month curriculum with both half-day and full-day options available.
4. Full Day/Child Care Program
Designed for children aged 3 to 4 years, parents can drop off their children at the daycare center after 6 am and pick them up by 6 pm. The school bus picks up the children from the daycare center before 8 am and drops them back after 3 pm. The school bus service also caters to students in 3rd grade and below.
To enroll their children in the above programs, parents need to bring documents verifying their relationship as parents or legal guardians. For low-income program participation, income proof is required, while those without income sources only need to provide an explanation in the school’s sign-up form.
Wu mentioned that children in the U.S. schools do not require legal status, and schools do not investigate children’s legal status either as it is not allowed by U.S. law. Therefore, new immigrants don’t need to worry about anything when registering their children for school.
Although the district provides ample early education time for children and parents, they also recommend parents to pick up their children promptly each time. Occasional late pick-ups due to special reasons are acceptable, but frequent delays should be avoided.
Regarding the vaccine issue of concern to Chinese parents, Andry pointed out that vaccination is a federal government requirement, and parents need to provide proof of their children’s vaccination. If a child lacks proof of a certain vaccination, the district will refer parents to vaccination sites and assist in the vaccination process.
In terms of language support, the district has Mandarin-speaking contacts to help parents communicate with schools or the district on certain matters.
As Wu introduced, the Mountain View School District’s early childhood education programs have been developing since the 1960s, and they have extensive experience in this field. In Los Angeles County, the Mountain View School District has always been a leader in providing such programs.
Compared to private fee-based early childhood programs, these free pre-kindergarten programs offered by the Mountain View School District can save parents approximately $800 to $1800 in monthly daycare fees, making them very popular. While other school districts in Greater Los Angeles also offer similar services, the availability of spots is very limited.
The remaining slots in the Mountain View School District are currently limited. Wu stated, “We only have over 40 seats left, so we encourage everyone to sign up quickly.” ◇