Head Start

Objectives: The Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to their enrollees - low-income children and families, including those on federally recognized tribal reservations and migratory farm workers. The program is designed to involve parents in their child’s learning and development, and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs. The Head Start Program Performance Standards outline the requirements and expectations of programs in delivering these services. Local Head Start programs are expected to collaborate with other early care and education programs in their communities, and to work closely with local school systems to continue the gains children achieve in Head Start. Program implementation emphasizes increasing parental choice, improving health, education, nutrition, and employment outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and strengthening parental engagement, refocusing the program on its original goals, established 60 years ago, to help American families escape poverty. Through Early Head Start programming, the focus includes child development and enabling parents to fulfill their roles while moving toward self-sufficiency. These local programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving, preparing children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life. Since 2014 through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, access is expanded to meet the needs for infant and toddler care in communities through traditional Early Head Start programming or through partnerships with center-based and family child care providers who agree to meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards. To achieve their goals, local programs are supported by a robust training and technical assistance system (national, regional, and local). The Office of Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) System improves the knowledge, skills, and practices of recipient staff to implement their local programs which, in turn, improve the outcomes of children and families. The TTA system provides assistance on program management and fiscal operations; early childhood development; teaching and learning; engagement of parents, families, and the community; and health, behavioral health, and safety. Awards are also issued to Tribal Colleges & Universities for establishing or enhancing partnerships with local Head Start programs to effectively increase the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start programs.