EDINBURG, Texas - The Hidalgo County Head Start Program has been awarded the prestigious Program of Excellence (POE) Award and Accreditation by the National Head Start Association (NHSA).
The recognition, valid for a five-year term, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon Head Start programs nationwide.
Out of approximately 1,600 Head Start programs across the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands, only 12 programs are selected annually for this distinguished recognition. Remarkably, Hidalgo County Head Start is the first Texas program to receive the POE Award in nearly 20 years.
“Early access to reading and education, especially for our most vulnerable population, is always something that you're going to hopefully support. I think it's really important. Education is the doorway, and it's a pathway for a better future for all of us,” said Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian.
Fuentes was speaking about the re-introduction of the Head Start program at Donna ISD, something he firmly encouraged.
“If we want our future generation to have a chance at prosperity, they need to have access to education. So that (having Head Start in Donna) is symbolic there because it is the symbol of access to education for the kids that otherwise might not have that kind of access, learning English at an earlier age, learning how to read and write, learning the alphabet and the colors.”
Fuentes added: “When they get early access to that, it helps them when they transition into the general population of K-thru-12 type programs. So it is extremely rewarding when the county can support programs like that, especially for the population that really needs it the most.”
Hidalgo County Head Start Program Executive Director Irma Peña said her county’s Head Start program provides a full range of services — including education, disability support, health, nutrition, mental health, and family services — to children from birth to age five. For more than 40 years, she said, the program has evolved through the use of evidence-based practices and innovative teaching methods, creating safe, nurturing environments that foster physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth in young children.
“The children that we serve are not only low-income children, they are also children that are homeless, children under foster care, children with special needs. Those childen need those additional wrap-around services,” Peña told the Guardian.
Peña said accreditation by the National Head Start Association is granted to programs that demonstrate the highest standards in program management, service delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement. By achieving this designation, she said, Hidalgo County Head Start has shown its dedication to providing high-quality, comprehensive services that support the development and well-being of young children and their families.
“We are incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Program of Excellence Award,” Peña said. “Our motivation for excellence comes from the children and families we are privileged to serve. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and will continue to strive for excellence well beyond the term of this accreditation.”
Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said the five-year accreditation follows a rigorous peer-review process, during which programs must demonstrate their ability to deliver measurable, accountable, and high-quality services across all areas of operation.
“We could not be more proud of our Head Start team for earning this distinguished recognition,” Cortez said. “This award reflects their unwavering dedication to the children and families of Hidalgo County. To be one of only 12 programs in the nation, and the first in Texas in nearly two decades, is a remarkable achievement that highlights the impact and quality of services Head Start provides to our community every day.”
