Fred Nidiffer Director Elementary Education (865) 594-1787   Curriculum & Instruction Steps to Learning Success Talented & Gifted (TAG) grades 3-5 Birth to Kindergarten Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten Intervention Reading K-8 Summer Reading Program

Mission

Birth to Kindergarten Parent Education Program

Frequently Asked Questions >

Birth to Kindergarten is a free, home based parent education and family support program designed to provide information, activities, and encouragement to families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. 

By understanding what to expect during each stage of a child’s development, parents can easily capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child’s language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills.

Who is Eligible?

Families with children age prenatal to five who live in Knox County.

2007-2008: Enrolling children prenatal to 35 months in specific school zones. Call to see if your area is open for enrollment.

Enrollment

Call the Birth to Kindergarten office 539-3038 for information and availability.

Goals

• Increase parent knowledge of child development.
• Increase parent feelings of competence and confidence.
• Enhance parent skills and parent-child interaction.
• Prevent child abuse and neglect.
• Develop strong partnerships between parents and schools.
• Provide early detection of developmental problems.
• Increase children’s school readiness and school success.

Key Assumptions

• First years are critical
• Parents are the key
• All parents can benefit from parent education and support

Program Services

• Personal visits
• Parent Group Meetings
• Screenings
• Books
• Resource Network

Personal Visits

During personal visits, your parent educator shares age-appropriate child development and parenting information, helps you learn to observe your child, and addresses your parenting concerns.

Parent Group Meetings

Group meetings provide the opportunity to share information about parenting issues and child development. Parents learn and support each other, observe their child with other children, and practice parenting skills.

Screenings

Annual screenings assess your child’s developmental stages and health.

Resource Network

Parent Educators link your family to other community services and agencies.

Services

Families are served monthly or as needed by trained parent educators using the Parents As Teachers international research based curriculum, Born to Learn.

Monthly Newsletter

Each month, the Birth to Kindergarten publishes a newsletter for parents. The newsletter is available on the Great Schools Partnership website.

The Birth to Kindergarten program follows the Knox County School calendar.

Current Funding provided by Great Schools Partnership