NADC Head Start and Early Head Start curriculum supports developmentally appropriate practices which promote child growth and school readiness. High quality learning takes place through play and positive interactions. NADC Head Start uses Creative Curriculum and Early Head Start uses Adventures in Learning and Creative Curriculum. In addition to the academic focus, Head Start and Early Head Start focus on social and emotional development of children.

Children are observed during regular classroom activities and their progress is recorded three times a year using Teaching Strategies Gold. This type of assessment through careful observations and documentation gives teacher in depth knowledge, which helps them plan instruction that is more responsive to individual children as well as the class as a whole.

It is the goal of NADC Head Start/ABC to use technology in ways that enrich the learning environment, facilitate assessment and monitor agency systems.

The classrooms all have a computer for the children with programs to introduce our children to the use of a computer and address areas of learning. Each computer has programs that facilitate learning in the areas of math, science, reading, and cognition activities.

Each teacher has a computer that is used for word processing and research. For example if a child comes to school with a contagious disease the teacher can connect with the Center for Disease Control (CDC)and immediately access the latest information on treatment and control.

We also subscribe to a web based Child and Family data collection program that is called CAP60 (Data Management Solutions for Non-Profits). The teachers access this program through high speed DSL. All data is confidential and secure from computer failure or theft. This system makes it possible for a teacher to update information and the central office to immediately see the changes. The Specialist uses this system to constantly monitor child and family services and assist teachers in the provision of services. There are reports that facilitate required federal and state reports.

Email is used for almost all daily correspondence with classrooms. This system saves the cost of postage and is much faster. A virtual network system that is free to non-profits is utilized to make it possible for classroom staff to access or download all forms, manuals and procedures. Changes are made in the Central Office and immediately available to all staff. This program reduces printing cost and is safer for the environment.

The combination of all these systems is the backbone of our self assessment and monitoring system.