LAUP and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Head Start Program are joining forces to maximize the availability of preschool spaces in Los Angeles County.

The collaboration calls for LAUP preschool providers located within a one mile radius of a LACOE Head Start preschool to refer Head Start-eligible families to LACOE delegate agency preschools that best fit their needs.

In return, if a family arrives at a LACOE Head Start delegate agency preschool, and is ineligible due to income guidelines, they will be referred to a preschool funded by LAUP, which does not limit enrollment based on income.

"This partnership will maximize our usage of available preschool spaces," said Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D., CEO of LAUP. "Our goal is to maximize the opportunities for families to enroll their children in a quality preschool, which we believe this partnership will accomplish."

In addition to referring Head Start-eligible families to LACOE-delegate agency operated preschools when appropriate, these families will also be connected to agencies that provide services such as health screenings, nutritional health and mental health services. If a LACOE Head Start delegate agency preschool has a waiting list, those children will be referred to LAUP preschools that have space available.