By JIM BUTLER

A substantial overhaul in the operation and management of the Rapides School Board’s Head Start program though productive has been for naught.

The board administration has been informed the program has been awarded to Save the Children, which operates Head Start in several other parishes.

From the board:

On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Rapides Parish School Board Administration was officially notified that it will no longer be the Head Start grantee. Effective August 1, 2025, Save the Children Head Start will become the official grantee. Rapides School Board Administration and Save the Children Head Start are committed to ensuring a smooth transition.

The Office of Head Start, through the Designation Renewal System (DRS), has named Save the Children Head Start to provide services within the Rapides Parish Community. Therefore, on August 1, 2025, the administration of the program will be the responsibility of Save the Children Head Start. All current families will remain enrolled, and those who have completed applications will be handled through Save the Children Head Start.

Jeff Powell, Superintendent of Rapides Parish Public Schools, said, “We were privileged to have served the children and families of Head Start for the last five years and know that we have made a positive contribution to the children and families in our community. We look forward to partnering with Save the Children Head Start as part of our Rapides Early Childhood Network, as an effective Head Start program has a direct impact on the overall success of the children and community it serves. We are confident that Save the Children Head Start will continue to provide important and quality Head Start and Early Head Start services. We offer them our best wishes for success.”

Families and current employees will be receiving information directly from Save the Children Head Start in the next few days.