Leaders meet with parents over problematic Head Start program in Cabarrus County

Just days after a Channel 9 report, exposing serious issues with one local county's Head Start program, a U.S. representative and the national head of the program met with parents.

For two years, students attending Long Head Start in Concord weren't getting the services they needed and U.S. Rep Richard Hudson, R- N.C. 08, said those children fell through the cracks.

They're now putting trust in a new group to run the school.

"I want to know what was going to be done about the things that happened in the past. My child is not as ready as she should be, and she spent time there, it seems like the time was wasted," parent Jamatrice Parks said.

Parks felt let down by the program she counted on to help her daughter, Zaya, prepare for kindergarten.

[Parents say program designed to help kids in need prepare for kindergarten failed]

"Throughout the process, my trust with CDI Head Start was lost completely. I, myself, went to Head Start, so I really wanted that for my daughter. However, that was not my experience," said Parks.

Hudson said for two years, issues have been addressed with the interim vendor, CDI, which ran the program at Long Head Start in Cabarrus County.

Hudson said the program was plagued with problems, including CDI inflating enrollment numbers and failing to administer federally required hearing and developmental disability tests.

"We've had a real tragedy here in Cabarrus County over the last two years where the Head Start program is not functioning properly. The taxpayers are on the hook for about $1 million a year," he said.

It's the students who missed out.

"These are our most at-risk most vulnerable children," he said.

Now Head Start is hoping to turn the corner with a new group, "Save the Children" taking over.

"Save the Children" runs Head Start programs in other states.

The director of the program as well as the national head of Head Start were all present for Thursday's community meeting.

Hudson said they need to win back parents' trust.

Parks already enrolled her daughter in another program but another mother, Shakeria Roberts, said she's reenrolling her son.

"With him being there, he actually got better with being around other students," Roberts said.

Hudson asked the inspector general to investigate. He said if this could happen in Cabarrus County, it could be happening to other Head Start programs across the country.

"Save the Children" officials said they will be starting an Early Head Start, which starts kids off as infants. The program will start in Cabarrus in late fall.

Enrollment for Head Start is limited, but parents can call 704-207-5598

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