A comprehensive education
Bank Street Head Start provides 64 children and families a comprehensive educational program that meets their cognitive, social, emotional, health, nutritional and psychological needs. The program is located near Union Square at 113 East 13th Street in Manhattan.
Free services are offered to preschoolers , ages 3 and 4, from 8am-3:45 daily for 12 months each year. Eligibility is based upon income and residency.
Inside Bankstreet Head Start
Bank Street Head Start’s mission is to empower and educate low-income families through a variety of comprehensive, high-quality services.
Our Educational Philosophy
We believe preschoolers learn by experimenting and exploring materials, as well as interacting with their peers under the guidance of highly qualified teachers. We work with all the domains of development with an emphasis on the social-emotional development vital to a positive kindergarten experience and long-term success in school.
Health & Nutrition
We partner with professionals and organizations that offer vision, hearing and dental screenings. We also employ a mental health professional and a nutritionist, who supports our excellent food program.
Parental Involvement
Parents play a vital role in their children’s education and development from birth, a role Bank Street Head Start builds upon by fostering parental involvement at every step. The program features, among other things, education for parents, parent-teacher conferences and family events.
Australian Educational Leader Visits Head Start
Michael Maher, the Executive Director of Early Childhood Development for Victoria, Australia, visited Bank Street Head Start on November 15, 2011 at the suggestion of Sophia Pappas, the Director of the New York City Department of Education's Office of Early Childhood Education. Mr. Maher, who is in the United States attending sessions at Harvard University's School of Government, was particularly interested in learning more about the Head Start program, which provides comprehensive educational, health, and nutritional service to low income children.
At Head Start, Mr. Maher visited classrooms and met with Steven Antonelli, Administrative Director at Bank Street Head Start; Ms. Pappas; Jennifer Rosenbaum, Director of Instruction and Performance at NYC DOE; Rachel Kaplan, Education Director at Bank Street Head Start; and Suzie Cottle, an educational consultant for the New York City Education Department.
Topics in their wide-ranging discussion included professional development, teacher salary parity, learning standards, assessment instruments, budget realities, and new research demonstrating the importance of early childhood education. The discussion revealed that Mr. Maher is addressing many of the same challenges faced by educators in New York City and shares many similar goals.
