About Head Start

What is Head Start?
Head Start is made up of four program components: Head Start (or Preschool Head Start), Migrant Head Start, American Indian Head Start and Early Head Start. Head Start and its four components are comprehensive child development programs which serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

Statewide Program Components

Preschool Head Start
Head Start programs provide comprehensive, developmental services for low-income pre
school children ages three to five and social services for their families. The purpose of the Head Start program is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social and other services. The cornerstone of the program is parent and community development.

Migrant Head Start
Migrant Head Start programs modify the method of service delivery to meet the unique needs of migrant and seasonal farm-worker families. Migrant Head Start programs have an emphasis on serving infants and toddlers as well as pre-school aged children, so that they will not have to be cared for in the fields or left in the care of very young siblings while parents are working. Migrant Head Start programs provide a comprehensive array of services.

American Indian Head Start
American Indian Head Start programs support the rich, diverse and unique Indian language, heritage, and legacy. Programs are encouraged to integrate language and culture into their curriculum and program goals as they provide comprehensive, developmental services for pre-school children ages three to five and their families.

Early Head Start
Early Head Start programs provide early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services on a year-round basis to low-income families. The purpose of the Early Head Start program is to enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency.