ROTA (PSS) — This month, the Public School System’s Head Start and Early Head Start Programs celebrated a double milestone — 41 years since the establishment of the CNMI Head Start Program and 11 years since the founding of Early Head Start in the Northern Marianas.
Both programs are administered by the Public School System.
The local Head Start Program was established in the fall of 1984, 19 years after the national program began in 1965. The Early Head Start Program followed in 2015, expanding early learning opportunities for the islands’ youngest learners.
On Monday afternoon, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Board of Education Chairman Aschumar Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, BOE Vice Chairman Anthony Dela Cruz Barcinas, and Head Start–Early Head Start Director Lathania Angui joined the Rota community in launching a month-long celebration taking place across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
In his message, Commissioner Camacho described the Head Start–Early Head Start Programs as among the “best gifts” the CNMI has received, praising their impact on children’s development and school readiness.
“This is a wonderful program that we have been blessed with in the CNMI,” Camacho said. “Since its creation by the federal government 60 years ago, Head Start has helped our children learn to read — and later, read to learn. It’s truly a great program that provides a strong foundation for academic success.”
Camacho noted that early learning outcomes across the public elementary schools show clear evidence of Head Start’s impact, particularly in early literacy and numeracy.
“Our first to third grade students are thriving in reading and counting because they were well prepared through our Early Head Start and Head Start Programs,” he added.
Following his remarks, Camacho joined BOE Chairman Ogumoro-Uludong and Vice Chairman Barcinas for the Head Start Awareness Month Proclamation signing, commemorating 41 years of Head Start and 11 years of Early Head Start in the CNMI.
Rota community representative to the Head Start Policy Council, Flavian Hocog, also participated in the proclamation.
Ogumoro-Uludong called the celebration a tribute to the programs’ enduring role in shaping families and communities across the islands.
“It is an honor to join you in celebrating the vital role this program plays in our community,” he said. “Head Start is not only an investment in our children, but also in the long-term prosperity of our Commonwealth.”
He reaffirmed the BOE’s continued commitment to ensuring every CNMI child has access to a strong educational foundation.
“We will continue working with families, teachers, and leaders so every child in Rota and across the CNMI has a fair chance to thrive. Today’s proclamation reminds us that education begins at birth and is a shared responsibility,” he added.
BOE Vice Chairman Barcinas, who once served as a Head Start Policy Council member and chairman, reflected on the personal meaning of the program.
“This program holds a special meaning for me,” he shared. “Since its implementation in 1984, Head Start has served nearly 20,000 children in the CNMI — many of whom have gone on to become educators, nurses, professionals, and public servants. This is the true measure of Head Start’s success — a lasting investment in our people and our future.”
Head Start–Early Head Start Director Lathania Angui said the programs’ lasting success lies in their deep community roots and shared mission.
“Both programs have set the foundation not only for academic success but also for lifelong well-being,” Angui said. “Every child who walks through our doors carries the potential to shape the future of this island and beyond. And every family we serve becomes part of a caring community that believes in the power of education, compassion, and care.”
Historic milestones
The U.S. Congress enacted Public Law 98-558 on Oct. 3, 1984, amending the Head Start Act to include the CNMI — officially launching the program in the Commonwealth later that month.
The CNMI was one of the last U.S. jurisdictions to implement Head Start — 19 years after its national launch in 1965 — marking 41 years of continuous service to the islands’ families and children.
The PSS Early Head Start Program officially began in February 2015, when the Public School System became the only grantee in the Outer Pacific to receive the Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership Grant.
The Early Head Start Program began operations as a co-component of the PSS Head Start Program, serving infants, toddlers, and expectant mothers.
Congress first authorized Early Head Start in 1994 to expand services to pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Two decades later, on Dec. 10, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families announced preliminary winners for the national Early Head Start–Child Care Partnership Grants, naming the CNMI Public School System among its selected grantees.
Activities
Head Start–Early Head Start will continue its month-long celebration throughout October, and the community is invited to join.
Next week will be Cultural and Traditions Week, featuring parent-child arts and crafts projects, color days, and playground parades across all centers on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
The following week will be Open House–Community Connections Week, highlighted by community guest visits, story time or puppet shows, game days, and garden days for everyone.
The final week of the celebration will recognize the men and women of the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs — including administrative and support staff, teachers, families, students, leaders, stakeholders, and community partners.