Lawrence County Early Childhood Academy

Lawrence County Early Childhood Academy offers Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool & Pre-K, child care, home-based services, and school-age wrap-around care. Early Head Start includes weekly home visits for expecting mothers, and home-based services include a trained home visitor making a weekly 90-minute visit with activities, developmental screenings, and family support. Head Start includes daily meals, health, dental, and developmental screenings, family services, and individual goal-setting, and Preschool & Pre-K uses play-based learning.

Programs

• Early Head Start — 6 weeks – 3 years · Nurturing care and first discoveries for youngest learners. Weekly home visits for expecting mothers. No cost to income-eligible families.
• Head Start — 3 – 5 years · Comprehensive preschool with daily meals, health, dental, and developmental screenings, family services, and individual goal-setting. No cost to eligible families.
• Preschool & Pre-K — 3 – 5 years · Play-based learning that builds kindergarten-ready skills. Offered in partnership with local school districts, with a sliding fee scale.
• Child Care — Birth – 5 years · Full day care at 5 locations. Hours vary by location. Publicly funded child care assistance accepted.
• Home-Based Services — Prenatal – age 3 · A trained home visitor comes once a week for a 90-minute visit, bringing activities, developmental screenings, and support for the family.
• School-Age Wrap-Around Care — Kindergarten – grade 2 · Wrap-around care for school-age children through second grade, with care that fits around the school day for working families.

At a glance

• Ages: 0–8 years old
• Facility hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

About the provider

For more than 60 years, Lawrence County families have trusted the Academy. Its mission is to measurably improve the well-being of the community by providing opportunities for those in need, starting with its youngest members. Every Academy site holds a Gold rating from Ohio's Step Up to Quality program and is licensed and inspected by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.

Head Start and Early Head Start are provided at no cost to income-eligible families. Children in foster care, families receiving public assistance, and children with disabilities may qualify regardless of income. Preschool and child care options are available for families of every income, and publicly funded child care assistance is accepted. Expecting mothers can begin home-based services during pregnancy. Every child receives breakfast, lunch, and snacks at no cost to enrolled families. Allergy and special diet accommodations are available.

Last updated October 16, 2026.