Head Start Preschool Program

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Head Start Services

Head Start serves preschool-age children and their families. Many Head Start programs also provide Early Head Start, which serves infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level.

Over a million children are served by Head Start programs every year, including children in every U.S. state and territory and in American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. Since 1965, nearly 30 million low-income children and their families have received these comprehensive services to increase their school readiness.

Head Start programs offer a variety of service models, depending on the needs of the local community. Programs may be based in:

• Centers or schools that children attend for part-day or full-day services
• Family child care homes
• Children's own homes, where a staff person visits once a week to provide services to the child and families

Children and families who receive home-based services gather periodically with other enrolled families for a group learning experience facilitated by Head Start staff.

Information provided by the Office of Head Start

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©Maggie Andrew    Margaret Andrew