Head Start

Since 1965, the Head Start program has been successful in providing low-income children (birth-5) and their families with health, educational, nutritional and social services. Head Start, the largest federal investment in early childhood education has implemented salary enhancements and expanded training provisions for all employees.

During the 1994 reauthorization of Head Start, Congress established the Early Head Start (EHS) program to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family functioning. Currently, EHS has reached 708 community-based programs and serves 61,500 children.

The 1998 reauthorization of Head Start (which included EHS) increased the appropriation of quality improvement funds and places the highest priority of allowable uses of those funds on staff compensation training.

For more information visit:
The Head Start Bureau
The National Head Start Association