Edmonds College celebrating the opening of its sixth Head Start preschool on May 3

Jen Rudolph interacts with a preschool student at the Head Start location on the campus of Edmonds College. The college has provided free, federally-funded preschool to low-income families in Snohomish County since 1983. (Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College)

Edmonds College is celebrating the opening of its sixth Head Start preschool facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 3. The new location is 20816 44th Avenue West, Lynnwood, Wash., 98036, adjacent to the Embassy Suites Hotel.

A presentation from Edmonds Head Start Executive Director Ginger Williams and self-guided tours of the facility will follow the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility will begin serving families on May 14. 

“We have over 330 children currently enrolled or accepted into the program, and more on the waitlist,” said Williams. “Head Start promotes equity, well-being, and positive outcomes for children and families. It is a vital program for our community. ”

Edmonds’ new Lynnwood site and funding from the American Rescue Plan will allow the college to expand its early learning programs. This expansion will include the creation of more full-day (6 ½ hours) classrooms for preschoolers (ages 3-5) and Early Head Start classrooms for infants and toddlers (ages 0-3). Many families can only access part-time (3 ½ hours) preschool programs.

“Our community assessments and surveys indicate that parents want and need longer class days for 3-5-year-olds and center-based classrooms for children 0-3 years old in order to work,” said Williams. “Affordable, high-quality care for their children is what every family deserves.”

Edmonds College Head Start/ECEAP and Early Head Start is a federally funded program that provides free comprehensive child development, early learning, and parent support services for low-income families with children up to five years old. Parents or guardians must live, work, or attend school in Snohomish County to be eligible. The college has been providing this free service since 1983.

“As the only Head Start provider in Snohomish County, we know the demand for free preschool services is high,” said Edmonds College President Dr. Amit B. Singh. “We are thrilled to be opening this new facility to continue meeting the growing needs of families in the community.” 

For more information on the program, visit edmonds.edu/head-start.