Introduction to Parent Participation

Parent Participation in preschool is the beginning of a most important home/school partnership that can last throughout a child's school years.

Here you can learn about ways parents can participate in our Preschool Programs.

Learn about Bright Futures and Prekindergarten Head Start Parent Participation

Bright Futures

Each center has a Center Council. We encourage all parents to attend Council meetings. At these meetings, you can voice your concerns, contribute your ideas, and become familiar with the policies and procedures of our programs.

The citywide Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is an organization comprised of representatives from each center's parent council. PAC meets every month. It is your direct link to the programs' administrators.

We value the time that volunteers contribute to the centers. State regulations, however, require that volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. An exception is made for a teen parent who has a child enrolled in the program.

Prekindergarten Head Start

Each center has a Parent Committee. We encourage all parents to attend Committee meetings. At these meetings, you can voice your concerns, contribute your ideas, and become familiar with the policies and procedures of our programs. Each center's Parent Committee elects two representatives to Prekindergarten Head Start's program-wide Policy Council.

The program-wide Policy Council and The School District of Philadelphia are governing partners of the Prekindergarten Head Start program. At monthly meetings, the Council helps make policy and other decisions that benefit the families and children served by Prekindergarten Head Start.

Prekindergarten Head Start's Fathers Advocating Male Involvement in the Lives of Youth, (F.A.M.I.L.Y.), is recognized nationally as a model for involving men in the education of their children. The group meets monthly and participates in civic events that promote the well-being of children and families.

Your volunteer time supports Prekindergarten Head Start because it is considered part of the in-kind match for funding the program. State regulations, however, require that volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. An exception is made for a teen parent who has a child enrolled in the program.