The Department of Education recognizes that nutrition and good health are very important for children who are school age in order for them to be ready to learn. The Department administers several programs designed to help children attend school with healthy minds and bodies.
Head Start is a free program that provides education, health and social services to families with children ages 3, 4 and 5. Head Start Programs are preschool programs that help children develop academic and social skills to prepare them for school. Children enrolled in Head Start receive nutrition, health and supports that help their mental, physical and social growth. Families are offered assistance in obtaining services for employment and housing.
At least 10% of the Head Start Program’s population must be disabled children.
Families with income at or below 100% of the FPL are eligible to apply for the Head Start Program.
Each county has a Head Start Program. Local agencies receive funding from the federal government to operate as Head Start grantees and must follow a comprehensive set of Performance Standards. Head Start programs may be centers where children attend a preschool, or a home-based program in the rural areas.
Additional state funding is available to Head Start grantees to expand their services so that more children are eligible for Head Start services. The Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) may award grants to expand the length of the day or year for Head Start Programs.
Early Head Start serves pregnant women and families with children from birth to age 3. It operates like preschool Head Start. The program may be offered as center-based or home-based services and is free.
The state also provides Pennsylvania Early Head Start to a limited number of children and families. Funded through federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) was named as an Early Head Start to expand services to infants and toddlers across the state. Pennsylvania Early Head Start is provider in 8 locations across the Commonwealth.
Families should apply for Head Start or Early Head Start services through their local Head Start grantee.
Two health centers are migrant health centers in Pennsylvania. One of these centers has statewide oversite over the migratory and seasonal farmworker population.
The Migrant Health Act of 1962 established the authorization for delivery of primary and supplemental health services to migrant farmworkers. The Migrant Health Program is currently funded under the Consolidated Health Care Act of 1996 and administered by the Office of Minority and Special Populations in HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care.
Information on the location of Migrant Health Centers can be found on the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. website, or by calling 1-800-377-9968. The PA Association of Community Health Centers has information on Migrant Health in PA.
Migrant health services include primary care, out-patient services, emergency room care, prescriptions, emergency dental care, and AIDS education to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families. Migrants and the children of migrants who are not lawfully present or do not meet the five-year bar are eligible to be covered by Emergency MA for emergency services.
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides free pre-kindergarten services to at-risk three- and four-year olds to children whose families earn up to 300 percent of the FPL.
Pre-K Counts is offered in school districts, Head Start Programs, Keystone STARS 3 and 4 childcare programs, and licensed nursery schools. Individuals can find Pre-K Counts providers in their area on the COMPASS website.
The National School Lunch Program (NLSP) was signed into law by President Truman in 1946. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the NLSP. This program provides nutritionally balanced free and reduced-price lunches to eligible students during the school year. The meals served meet all of the nutritional requirements specified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Free lunches are provided to students under the age of 21 whose family income is below 130% of the FPIG. Children may also be determined categorically eligible if they qualify for SNAP, or are a homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster child. Reduced-price meals are available to students whose family income is below 185% of the FPIG.
The Afterschool Snack Program is part of the NLSP. The ASP provides snacks to eligible children after school. The ASP has the same income limits as the NSLP.
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is administered by FNS for children in public schools, private schools, and residential facilities that provides students with a nutritious breakfast according to meal requirements specified by the USDA. School Breakfasts must contain foods from three groups: whole grain, fruit and milk. Like the NSLP, children at or below 130% of the FPL, or who are receiving TANF or SNAP are eligible for free SBP. Children whose family income falls between 130 and 185% are eligible for the reduced school breakfasts.
For more information, contact the program administrator, Department of Education. (See Chapter 338, Medical Assistance Benefits, Appendix J).
The Nutrition Education Program has curriculum resources available for several PA initiatives:
Keystone Kids Go! Is an initiative focusing on improving young children’s nutrition and physical activity. Keystone Kids Go is available for early childhood education providers, from childcare providers, Head Start, Early Intervention, family literacy and pre-kindergarten programs. Keystone Color Me Healthy provides early childhood program with resources to teach preschoolers that healthy eating and movement are fun.
The PA Department of Education received a federal grant to provide mini-grants to 200 childcare facilities to implement the PA Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care intervention (PA NAP SACC).
I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) is a program designed to address childhood obesity. IMIL has three goals: increasing the amount of time children spend doing moderate to vigorous physical activity, improving the quality of physical activity planned by adults, and promoting healthy food choices for children and adults.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a USDA program administered by the PA Department of Education. The SFSP provides free or reduced-cost meals to children during the summer. Non-profit organizations who participate may provide meals for children and receive reimbursement. For more information on the SFSP, email RA-SFSP@pa.gov or call 1-800-331-0129. For information on SFSP sites, call 1-866-348-6479 or 211.The SFSP sites are updated throughout the summer.
For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs at 717-787-3186.
The Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) program is funded by DHS and administered by the PA Department of Education. The ELECT program enables school districts and intermediate units to assist pregnant and parenting teems earn a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. ELECT helps with parenting skills, and assists participants to transition to employment, higher education or career training. There are 29 ELECT programs across the state. Elect Programs must have a 75% retention rate and contain the following components:
Promote resiliency and wellness
Vocational, career and job readiness training
Health care and nutrition education
Secondary pregnancy prevention education
Academic tutoring, mentoring and homework assistance
Child development and parenting skills
Access to childcare and transportation
Life skills training and family budgeting
Intensive case management, including home visits
Year-round educational activities, including summer contact
Attendance tracking and retention
Support for attaining a high school equivalency diploma
Domestic violence and substance abuse information
Helping teen dropouts re-enroll in school or a high school equivalency program
For information, contact the Centers for Schools and Communities at 717-763-1661.
Updated March 12, 2021, Replacing February 14, 2012