Welcome

The Jackson County Intermediate School District provides professional development for preschool providers -- owners, teachers, assistants, etc. -- and partners with the Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County and the Great Start Readiness Preschool program to help ensure that every child is healthy, thriving, and developmentally ready to succeed when entering kindergarten.  Together, the JCISD and the Great Start Collaborative recognize that education begins at birth, not when a child first enters school.

Focusing on children ages 0-8, the Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County forms a countywide network with diverse sectors of the community, including: education and child care, health and human services, businesses, faith-based organizations, and families.  Together, we work to ensure Jackson County children are born healthy, developmentally on track, ready to succeed when entering school, and are reading proficiently by the end of third grade.  Currently, the Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County has over 30 community partners, providing information and services to families and young children in a wide range of areas, including: 

• Physical Health
• Social-Emotional Health
• Family Supports
• Basic Needs, Economic Stability & Safety
• Parenting Education
• Early Education & Child Care