Apply for Head Start/Early Head Start

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs are available for low-income families with children ages 5 or younger

The Head Start program is available for children from low-income families between up to 5 years old, including those with special needs. Early Head Start is for children up to 3 years old; Head Start is for children 3-5 years old.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Meet the 100 percent threshold for income poverty guidelines
- Refer only to the "100% of Poverty" entry for income eligibility
Work at least 20 hours per week; or enrolled in school and/or a job training program

Fees

There is no cost to the parent.

Things to consider

See a list of Head Start locations
Hours for all locations are 7 AM to 5:30 PM
After care is not available at any Head Start sites

Benefits

Classrooms have an excellent teacher to child ratio: 1 teacher to 10 children in Head Start; and 1 caregiver to 4 infants/toddlers in Early Head Start
Staff members screen children to determine their overall level of development, and make ongoing assessments to monitor each child's progress
Each child is provided with experiences that maximize his or her total development
Head Start and Early Head Start is available to children with special needs

How to

Gather the following information:
- Child's information, such as name, birthdate, language spoken at home, disability status
- Family information, such as mother and father's names, hours worked, address, phone numbers, marital status, income, public assistance status
Complete the Head Start Application (English) | Head Start Application (Spanish)

What's next

A representative from your closest Head Start location will contact you by phone or letter regarding your application and availability.

Resources

Get help

Department: Head Start
Email: mahornk@hcfl.gov
Phone: (813) 272-5140