INTERMEDIATE UNITS are playing a lead role in helping to meet the needs of early learners. Through federal and state programs, IUs provide high quality early childhood education programs to nearly 50,000 children before they enter kindergarten.

Preschool Early Intervention supports the needs of families with children age three to five who have developmental delays and disabilities.

Pre-K Counts offers high quality half-day and full-day prekindergarten to eligible 3 and 4 year olds in Pennsylvania for students at risk of school failure and living in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal income poverty level. 

Head Start is a federally funded program that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children under age 5 and their families.