Early Learning & Head Start

Invest in Children

This community-wide, public/private partnership is administered by the Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood. The partnership is comprised of individuals, private organizations, including government agencies, community-based service providers, and philanthropic and private organizations, all working together to help increase the development, funding, visibility, and impact of early childhood services in Cuyahoga County.

Cuyahoga County's Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (UPK)

UPK is an award-winning initiative to help preschool children gain access to high-quality prekindergarten programs. UPK provides additional funding, training, and technical assistance to high-quality rated programs that serve families up to 400 percent of the poverty level.

Head Start & Early Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start are programs of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provide comprehensive early childhood education; prenatal, infant and toddler education; and health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families. These services and resources are designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children’s physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills. Head Start originated in 1965 and is the longest-running educational grant.

This program is made possible by a grant from the Learning Coalition through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ohio Department of Education: Early Childhood Education Grant

This grant provides high-quality preschool services to eligible children in order to prepare children for success in kindergarten. The state-funded grant is awarded to preschool programs that are required to provide comprehensive services that support a child's growth and learning using developmentally appropriate practices. Ohio's General Assembly demonstrated the state's commitment to investing in early learning preschool services when the governor signed into law House Bill 49. Ohio currently allocates $73 million annually to the state's investment in high-quality preschool. In order to best support school readiness, the funds are awarded to existing high-quality early learning programs within high-needs areas of the state.

PRE4CLE

Part of Cleveland's Plan for Transforming Schools, PRE4CLE works to ensure all 3- and 4-year-old children in Cleveland have access to a high-quality preschool by:

• Increasing the number of high-quality preschools in Cleveland
• Helping preschool providers improve their quality rating
• Connecting families to quality preschool programs

High-quality preschool is the first step on the education continuum for transforming Cleveland’s schools, providing a strong foundation for K-12 success, increased high school graduation, and increased higher education participation.

Through connecting families with high-quality, affordable preschool education opportunities, PRE4CLE provides a gateway for Cleveland’s children to start strong and Cleveland communities to prosper.

Our Catholic Charities Early Learning Centers have been part of the PRE4CLE plan since its inception.

Starting Point

As Northeast Ohio's resource and referral agency, Starting Point works to optimize child and youth development by connecting families to early care/education, out-of-school time and related programs and by strengthening the community’s capacity to provide quality, affordable, and accessible care and learning opportunities. The Cleveland-based non-profit serves Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties.

Step Up To Quality

Step Up To Quality is a five–star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. 

SUTQ recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed preschool licensing and school age child care licensing health and safety regulations. Step Up To Quality program standards are based on national research identifying standards which lead to improved outcomes for children.