Frederick Co. Opts Out Of Running Head Start Program

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The Frederick County Commissioners are shifting management of the local Head Start preschool program from the county to a federal contractor.

The board voted 4-1 Tuesday to give control of the program back to the federal government in a move that is expected to save the county $2 million a year.

Commissioners President Blaine Young says he knows of no other Maryland county that runs its local Head Start program. The programs for at-risk children also can be run by nonprofit or for-profit organizations.

Young says the approximately 80 county employees who work for Head Start may be invited to reapply for positions with a federal contractor who is expected to take over March 1.

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