Cypress Hills CCC

One of the most respected Head Start programs in Brooklyn, Cypress Hills Child Care Center has a joyful environment and a commitment to learning through play. The school is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Childrena sign of high quality.

Executive Director Maria Contreras-Collier, a long-time advocate for early childhood education, has assembled a group of teachers who seem to love their work and stay for years. On our visit, we saw children happily engaged in structured playbuilding with blocks, splashing at a water table or singing and dancingas their teachers encouraged them to talk about their projects. In this way, children build their vocabulary and develop a curiosity about the world around them.

While classrooms are cheerful and well-equipped, the center has very limited outdoor space.

Admissions: Preference given to low-income families who meet the federal Head Start guidelines or the city's guidelines for child care subsidized by the Administration for Children's Services. Fees based on a sliding scale depending on a family's income. There is a long waiting list. (Clara Hemphill, August 2014)