What is Head Start/Early Head Start?

Head Start

Head Start is a comprehensive child development program serving children ages 3 through 5 and their families.  Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has promoted the healthy development of children from low-income families, as well as provided inclusive service for children with disabilities.

Based on strong evidence from research and practice, Head Start’s positive  track record demonstrates that young children involved in quality early childhood programs are substantially more successful in both school and life environments.

Head start is the ONLY national program of its kind that utilizes a comprehensive service approach to early childhood education. These comprehensive services include three major areas:

Early Childhood Development and Health Services
Family and Community Partnerships
Program Design and Management

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Early Head Start

Early Head Start is a federally funded community-based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is:

  • to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women,
  • to enhance the development of very young children, and
  • to promote healthy family functioning.

In New York and nationally, Head Start programs (for children ages 3-5) and Early Head Start programs (for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers) promote school readiness for children in low-income families by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and social services. Parents play a large role in the programs, both as primary educators of their children and as participants in local programs. Both programs provide pre-literacy and literacy experiences in a multi-cultural environment.

From the beginning, New York’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs have focused on the well being of the whole child through in-depth nutrition, health, education and family development services for children.

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    Studies have shown that Head Start children experience increased achievement test scores, decreased grade repetition and special education needs, and increased graduation rates
    (Barnett, 2002; Garces, Thomas and Currie, 2002)