ECS4Kids Awarded $14 Million Grant to Provide Head Start in Duval County
New contract makes ECS4Kids one of the largest early learning providers in Florida
Jacksonville, Fla. (July 23, 2025) – ECS4Kids has been awarded a $14,283,250 federal grant to deliver Head Start services to more than 800 students and their families in Duval County. This five-year grant (Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2030) follows the $13.8 million contract awarded in April for Early Head Start, representing a significant expansion of the organization’s existing programs and services across northern and central Florida.
“We are beyond grateful to serve an increasing number of children and their families,” said Dr. Natalya Roby, president and CEO of ECS4Kids. “Every child deserves a strong start in life, and access to early learning is critically important to help ensure our youngest citizens have the strong foundation to succeed. Our continued expansion highlights our ability to consistently exceed federal quality, and performance standards while ensuring our students enter kindergarten ready to learn and thrive.”
ECS4Kids brings deep expertise to this expansion, having delivered Head Start and Early Head Start programs for nearly 60 years. ECS4Kids’ track record of excellence has earned continued federal recognition, with the organization now serving nearly 30,000 of the most vulnerable children and families across 14 counties.
“As a career law enforcement officer and former sheriff, I know that supporting our children and their families leads to a strong and resilient community,” said U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05). “I have seen firsthand the support ECS4Kids has given the most vulnerable populations in Northeast Florida, including providing access to essential education, family advocacy and health programs. I am proud of the incredible impact ECS4Kids has had in our district and look forward to their continued work in our community. We must help ensure our children are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in school and improve their futures for generations to come.”
“We’re coordinating closely with the federal Office of Head Start and the outgoing provider to ensure continued critical services for current Head Start families during this transition,” said Teresa Matheny, chief strategy & innovation officer for ECS4Kids. “It’s our intention that families’ Head Start experience will continue seamlessly with enhanced opportunities and quality care.”
ECS4Kids is committed to providing a smooth transition for families as they become part of the ECS4Kids family, and we are committed to retaining experienced teachers and staff with whom the children know and trust. If a child has already qualified for the Head Start program for this school year, his/her spot is secure. ECS4Kids will be working with families in completing enrollment with ECS4Kids to ensure a smooth transition.
“This award feels like both a celebration of our legacy and a launching pad for our future. What started as a mission to serve children has evolved into a proven model for community transformation,” said Jeanne Dillard, chief operating officer for ECS4Kids. “The Office of Head Start didn’t just award us a contract—they entrusted us with 872 more opportunities to change lives. Every family we serve, every milestone we celebrate, every barrier we help break down creates ripple effects that strengthen our entire community.”
About ECS4Kids
ECS4Kids is a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education, utilizing data-driven practices with demonstrable outcomes to provide strong learning for children, support and education for parents and professional development for teachers. With one in every five children living below the poverty line, our interventions create a lifetime of outcomes for long-term health and success in life, with programs including Head Start/Early Head Start providing comprehensive education, health and nutrition services to 3,106 of our most vulnerable infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families; Early Learning Services providing more than 9,000 families with needed financial assistance, so their children can learn in quality care in partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of North Florida. In collaboration with the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, ECS4Kids leverages our expertise in early learning by providing more than 100 childcare centers with coaching to improve the outcomes for the 2,500 children they serve.
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