Dekko Foundation Awards $12,000 Grant to Support Kosciusko Head Start, A Division of Cardinal Services

WARSAW, Ind. – Kosciusko Head Start, a division of Cardinal Services has received a $12,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation. The funds will support continued implementation of the Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum Cloud platform and the Finch assessment tool across all six Head Start classrooms serving local children and families.

Funding will help maintain access to high-quality curriculum resources, professional development opportunities, and assessment tools that enhance classroom instruction and support student growth. The Teaching Strategies platform enables educators to monitor developmental progress, strengthen instructional practices, and share meaningful information with families about their child’s learning and development.

Through this initiative, Head Start aims to increase teacher utilization of curriculum resources and assessment tools while supporting improved literacy and language development outcomes for 102 students. Areas of focus include phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, decoding and encoding skills, and auditory processing, helping children build a strong foundation for future academic success.

“This funding is allowing us to maintain access to high-quality curriculum, professional development, and assessment tools that directly support our teachers and the children we serve,” said Kathryn Fields, Director of Head Start/Early Head Start for Kosciusko County. “We are grateful for this investment in the quality of our Head Start program.”

The grant supports Head Start’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education that promotes school readiness and positive outcomes for children and families throughout Kosciusko County.

About Head Start/Early Head Start in Kosciusko County

Head Start/Early Head Start provides comprehensive early childhood education, family support, and school readiness services for eligible children and families in Kosciusko County. Through a whole-child approach, the program helps children build the skills needed for success in school and life.

About the Dekko Foundation

The Dekko Foundation is a private family foundation based in Kendallville, Indiana, whose mission is to foster economic freedom through education. The foundation supports programs that help children and young people develop the skills, knowledge, and character needed for lifelong success.