Community Network

In accordance with the Louisiana Department of Education, St. John the Baptist

Parish has created a unified Early Childhood Network to ensure children ages Birth to Five have an opportunity to receive early access to high quality educational experiences preparing them to be “Kindergarten Ready. St. John currently offers various publicly funded options to families. The network is comprised of local, federal, and state options. This network is comprised of Preschool classrooms within our elementary schools, 5 childcare centers, and 4 Head Start Program sites. 

St. John the Baptist Parish Serves as the Lead Agency for our Community

Network where we strive to promote high quality services to our families. The Lead Agency coordinates essential activities that include CLASS observations, providing feedback, Tier 1 Curriculum coaching/support, and administrative functions. The agency coordinates the birth-to-five enrollment and the state funding application for the entire network. We also track and monitor school readiness.  

Preschool classes are located at West St. John Elementary, Garyville Mt. Airy

Magnet, Emily C. Watkins, LaPlace Elementary, and Lake Pontchartrain

Elementary. Type III Childcare centers participating in the St. John Community

Network: Little Starr’s Center, Little Harvard Learning Academy, Little Leaders Learning Center, and Garden of Eden Christian Academy.

The Unified Application can be located online, at each program site, and St. John School Board office. We encourage families to be on the lookout for our February Open Enrollment Campaign.

If you require further information, please contact us at (985) 535-3917.

Melissa Watson

Director of Early Childhood Programs