Headstart.

Crystalina wrote: Evan has always went to a private pre-school but I enrolled him in a headstart this year because, to be honest, I was paying almost $100 a month and he was only going 2 hours a day for 3 days. I didn't want to pay the tuition anymore. So I did the headstart thing and they wanted to know EVERYTHING. Our bills, tax papers....everything. I can understand because it was a free program and they need to get their funding. Here's the part that gets me...his teachers had to make a home visit. That was fine. Then on Monday I get another lady calling me to say she also has to make a home visit. I ask her why and she says she has papers for me to sign. I spent over an hour with her initially signing papers and then at the orientation I spent another hour signing papers. I then ask her why I can't sign them when I drop him off because I'm there every single day and she says that that will not work because she has to come out to the house. .....uh....why? I get no state assistance and I think I've given them every personal bit of info they asked for so I don't know why they also have to make repeat visits to my house. When the teachers came over they said they'd have to make a few more home visits before the school year was over. They acted like they were inspecting my house and even asked to see Evan's room. WTH? I'm sorry, maybe I'm over reacting but that is a bit too invasive for me.

So tomorrow he's starting back at his old pre-school. I'd much rather pay the tuition then have people going through my personal life like these people try doing.

Calimama replied: Why do they need to see his room!?

Crystalina replied:
I know. And why does the office staff need to make a visit? And why so many times a year? I don't get it. My sister said that it may be to "make sure" our address is what we say it is. His teacher is a personal friend of mine that I've known for years. The woman knows were I live and that I'm not lying. It just makes no sense to me.

I hate company anyway and especially if it's someone I don't know and they make me feel like their inspecting my house for some reason. Maybe I'm making it a bigger deal then it is but it just rubs me the wrong way.

my2monkeyboys replied: I'm with you -- I'd suck it up and pay the tuition, too, just to keep them out of my personal space.

My3LilMonkeys replied: That's strange. We filled out all the paperwork to enroll Brooke in Headstart and they never said anything about any home visits. She ended up not getting in because of our income so maybe it would have come later but I'm not sure.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Do they run a preschool through the public system in your district? Ours is sliding fee but doesn't have any other "social service" type services attached.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Wow that is odd! Im with you, I think I'd rather pay money knowing they wouldnt bug ya!
Alex goes to pre-k right at the public elementary school. We filled out tons of paper work and gave income info and stuff but no home visists or any other prying.

I can see doing home visits if they become suspicious of something as the school year progressed or whatever but even that is a bit much.

BAC'sMom replied: That's weird

I think I would be finding another school too.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: My nephew is in Headstart and they didn't pay any visits to their home. Like you said, that is way too invasive! Maybe they have a lot of enrollees and this is a way to get some of them to drop out. It would certainly scare me off!!

Crystalina replied:
Yes they do. That was my first choice for him. I enrolled him last school year but there are still 3 kids ahead of him so he won't get in. In our district the kids don't budge and I don't blame them. It's a very good school. He would have been in the same building as Bella and that would have made it really easy. With this other school I am taking her to one town and then driving him to another.

sparkys2boys replied: Ya know, I would have looked into that further. It's WAY to strange and should not be happening unless they give you a reason. I would have said , well I would like to visit your homes now to make sure you are who you say you are and to make sure that I like you, your clean, can keep house.. etc etc

Crystalina replied:
That's what they make you feel like. Like you've done something wrong or something. He's only been going there since Sept. 2nd and already they want a second visit. I've given them no reason. My child is clean, happy and very eager to participate. He doesn't know a stranger and more than likely never will. And I live 20 miles away from the school so it's not like it's just "in the area" and "we'll swing by". The first visit I could understand, although they were a bit prying, but I can't see another visit within a 2 week time from another person and then to find out there will be several through out the year. I don't think so. I wanted him to go to school, not invite these people to Thanksgiving dinner. And that's another thing I found out after I enrolled him, they do not celebrate birthdays or any holidays at all. I understand all the different religions and I respect that but how does a school let the Christmas season go by and not acknowledge it in the slightest? And kids love to go to school and pass out cupcakes and treats on their birthday and they don't allow that either. I guess it's their rules and I have to abide by them which is why he went back to the private pre-school as of this morning. He will only be there for 2 hours (rather then the 6 the headstart offered) and I could cry over that. I soooo wanted those extra 6 hours a day to get things done.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Their Federal funding stream requires them to make home visits. IIRC, it's quarterly. Aside from Headstart teachers, the program employs home visitors. Because the program is under health & human services it is run like a social service (all encompassing) as opposed to dept of ed which only deals with education.

lisar replied: Here is Duval county the head start program is nothing but a free daycare. They dont teach them crap. I hate it. They act like its a preschool but it isnt here. Thats why I send them to a private pre-school

Crystalina replied:
Hmm, that makes it a bit more understandable. Like I said, one of his teachers is a girl I know and I told her how Evan didn't get into the pre-school at Izabella's school because there were 3 kids ahead of him on the list and that the tuition at the school he went to last year was kind of high. That's when she told me that there was room in her class and she gave me the info. I signed him up the next day without really knowing what it was all about. I've heard people say their kids go to headstart but I never heard about any of the visits or constant contact they want to keep with you. They want you to "volunteer" and I told them that I could until the baby was born (they don't want siblings brought with you) and they told me part of volunteering was to also watch other people's kids so that they could volunteer. You would get points for that. I'm sorry but I would not drop my baby off with another parent that I don't know and I wouldn't feel right watching someone else's baby if I don't know them.

I don't know. I guess there are just too many rules for me.

Crystalina replied:
That's another thing. Evan brings his book bag with him and everyday it's empty when I pick him up. I don't expect them to work him hard but at the school I just put him back into he at least brings pictures and letter pages home and crafts.

danahas4monkeys replied: Must be an Ohio thing cause they did that to us too which is why we switched to the new preschool program at the elementary they opened up this year. It was such a pain to deal with all those visits. We made the switch and its so much better.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
You're not making a big deal. Our HeadStart makes home visits, but not anything like you are describing. I would be irritated too. Perhaps it's good for those families who really need to be looked after, but when you are a good mother it really rubs you the wrong way. I don't blame you. Sounds like they are up to no good.