Publicly-Funded Providers

CECIL J. PICARD LA 4 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM

The Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program is the primary preschool program in Louisiana, serving more than 16,000 children. It provides full day pre-K programming in public schools to four-year-olds from disadvantaged families.

8(G) STUDENT ENHANCEMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

The 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program supports roughly 3,000 at-risk preschool students to attend pre-K programs each year through the Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund, administered by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development (NSECD) Program provides pre-K programming to more than 1,300 four-year-olds from low-income families. Children in the NSECD program receive full day pre-K in state-approved private preschools and child care centers.

HEAD START PROGRAM

Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families through comprehensive preschool programming.

Many Head Start programs also provide Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, and pregnant women who have incomes below the federal poverty level. Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve children with identified disabilities, and eligible families with incomes over the poverty guidelines.  In order to determine eligibility submit an application to a program nearby.