Montessori preschools follow the ideas of Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian educator who studied children at work and play in the early 1900s. Approximately 4,000 Montessori schools exist in North America and thousands more are available around the world, according to the Montessori Foundation. Montessori classrooms typically accept students starting at age three into an organized curriculum in areas such as language arts, mathematics, everyday living skills and geography. Students work at their own pace, alone or in small groups and teachers circulate around the room working with students independently. Montessori advocates believe this leads to independent and self-disciplined children who develop cultural literacy and become successful in many environments.
Head Start is a federally funded preschool program overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of Head Start is to help preschoolers, especially those with economic challenges, to develop early reading and math skills and enhance their social and cognitive development. To qualify for Head Start, children up to age five must come from families who have income below the established poverty level or who receive public assistance. Local non-profit agencies administer Head Start programs in all 50 states and provide contact information to interested families.
According to Parent Cooperative Preschools International (PCPI), a cooperative preschool is organized by a group of families with similar philosophies who maintain the school and seek out trained teachers. Parents volunteer in the classroom on a rotating basis and interact with students, other parents and teachers. Children work and play with other adults and learn to respect others' differences. Activities include developmentally appropriate musical, language and science hands-on experiences. Many parents choose cooperative programs because they typically prove less expensive than other types of schools.