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Preschool Program  
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The Harrisburg School District PreK Program (HPP) is a collaboration between Keystone Services’ Capital Area Head Start (CAHS) program and the Harrisburg City School District (HSD). In October of 2001 shortly after his appointment as superintendent, Dr. Gerald Kohn publicly expressed his desire to provide comprehensive early childhood education for the City of Harrisburg’s youngest population. CAHS responded by offering to provide Head Start services to HSD families in the district buildings. Through a five million dollar grant to HSD from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation both HSD and CAHS were able to see the seeds of this venture take root. As a result of the Kellogg grant the collaboration began with the first twelve classrooms in the fall 2002. Currently, there are 35 classrooms in seven buildings throughout the District serving 560 children.  Currently, HPP is funded by a grant from PA PreK Counts, the Harrisburg Public School Foundation and private donations.  

Our program provides comprehensive year round preschool services to HSD three and four year olds. Children attend class five days a week from 8:00AM to 1:00PM. Classes consist of a maximum of 16 children with two co-teachers per class. Through the use of the High Scope framework and developmentally appropriate practice teachers individualize instruction based on children’s needs.  Early literacy development is facilitated through a comprehensive literacy approach.  The Everyday Math curriculum is used as a resource for development of children's math skills.  Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies is the social/emotional curriculum utilized in the PreK classrooms.  Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s programming as much as possible. This comprehensive program includes:

    • A year-round educational component for three and four-year-olds
    • Ongoing professional development for all staff and child care providers
    • On site childcare available before and after instructional time
    • Health and nutrition component
    • Inclusion support, speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapies
    • Family Partnerships including: parent education, home visitations, classroom involvement, program participation in program committees and policy council.