Congressman Gonzalez Announces $4.4 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Hidalgo County Head Start Program

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced an award of $4,415,085 for the Hidalgo County Head Start Program as part of the American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan provided $1 billion for early childhood development and educational programs.

The funds will be used to design, construct and develop Outdoor Learning Environments and Discovery Classrooms to be located behind the administration office building in McAllen for all 3,690 children in the program. These facilities will become a special site for classroom instructional activities which will be unique, interactive, nature based and exploratory whereby children can extend their indoor classroom activities in the outdoors as they explore and experience nature.

"As we gain a clearer picture of what education looks like following a global pandemic, it's clear that we must innovate and adapt our educational learning techniques for all ages," said Congressman Gonzalez. "Learning outdoors allows kids to be more creative, hands-on, and stimulated intellectually and emotionally. I am excited to see Hidalgo County Head Start think outside the box and look forward to the results of this program."

"We are extremely excited to be provided the funding to develop this concept," said Teresa Flores, Executive Director of Hidalgo Head Start Program. "Our children and parents will experience the outdoors as never before and its uniqueness will create motivation to engage children beyond the four classroom walls. After COVID, the experience will indeed be ‘a new breath of fresh air' for our children. We are forever grateful to Congressman Gonzalez for his unwavering support to our families and their children, our future."