BELLAIRE — Head Start, a free preschool child development is holding an open house from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at all local Head Start sites.

Those centers and their location are: Indian Run Learning Center, 4129 Noble St., Bellaire; the St. John Vianney Learning Center, Ohio 7 North, Powhatan Point; Flushing Head Start, 327 High & Morristown Sts., Flushing; the St. Myer Center, 1721 N. Ninth St., Martins Ferry; St. Clairsville Head Start, located at the School of Hope, 330 Fox Shannon Place, St. Clairsville; and Barnesville Head Start, 210 Church St., Barnesville Elementary School.

Head Start is a federally funded preschool program licensed by Ohio Day Care, Department of Job and Family Services. While 10 percent of enrollment can be children whose family is over the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines, Head Start is mandated to first enroll those at or below the guidelines. They also enroll special needs, handicapped/disabled preschoolers. Children must be between the ages of 3 and 5 years old.

Classes are four hours a day, four days a week with bussing available at their Barnesville and Bellaire sites.

Head Start is a preschool child development program, who along with the child’s parent helps prepare children for entrance into the public-school system. Enrollees receive a developmental, vision and hearing screening. The developmental (language, cognitive, gross motor) screening helps Head Start to know the skill level of each child thus giving teachers a base line to design educational activities that in line with a child’s individual learning style.

During Open House Head Start staff will be available to help parents complete an enrollment application and answer any questions. Parents and their children will have the opportunity to tour classrooms and talk with teaching staff.

Call 740-695-0293, ext. 261, with your questions or to have an enrollment application mailed to you.