HEAD START PROGRAM

Program History

The federal Head Start program was launched in the summer of 1965 as part the "War on Poverty." It was an eight-week summer program for low-income preschoolers designed to give them a "head start" on school and life. From the beginning, it has been a comprehensive program that includes early childhood education, health and nutrition, social services and parent education, and empowers parents to participate fully as decision-makers and effective advocates for their children and their communities.

Since its start, Head Start has served as a model for innovative and high quality services for low-income children and families, and has enjoyed strong bi-partisan support through seven presidencies. Head Start now serves more than 900,000 children nationally with a budget of more than $6 billion.

1965 - Head Start begins in Santa Clara County serving 300 children (Economic and Social Opportunity is   

            the grantee).

1970 – The Santa Clara County Office of Education becomes the Head Start grantee in Santa Clara 

            County.

1975 – Head Start Program Performance Standards are issued.

1984 – The Santa Clara County Office of Education becomes the Head Start grantee for San Benito            
            County.

1990 – Congress passes legislation setting a goal of providing Head Start services to every eligible child.

1994 – Congress passes legislation that creates Early Head Start, a new Head Start program for infants and 

            toddlers.

1996 – Welfare Reform legislation is passed by Congress. Head Start begins to expand full-day Head Start 

            services to families who are working or enrolled in school or training.

1998 – The Santa Clara County Office of Education is awarded an Early Head Start grant to serve infants 

            and toddlers. Revised Head Start Program Performance Standards are issued.

2000 – Congress sharpens Head Start’s emphasis on “school readiness.”

2003 – The Santa Clara County Office of Education Head Start program’s funded enrollment is 2,150 

            children. The program begins collaborations with non-profit childcare agencies to provide Head 

            Start services

Program Services

Early Childhood Development and Health Services

Head Start’s child development and health services support the development of the whole child. The early education curriculum helps children develop preschool competence in:

• Language and literacy
• Mathematics and science
• Creative arts
• Social and emotional development
• Physical health and development

Head Start’s health program includes:

• A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack each school day
• Developmental screening and assessments
• Vision and hearing screening
• Referrals for health, dental, and follow-up care
• Support for children with special needs
• Parent education

Services to Children with Disabilities

• The Head Start program includes services to children with disabilities and reserves 10% of its enrollment slots for children with special needs, such as:
• Children with an Individual Education Program (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Foster children
• Children with high risk factors and/or disabling conditions (such as autism, emotional/behavioral disorders; hearing, health, visual, orthopedic, speech, language or learning disabilities; mental retardation; traumatic brain injuries; or developmental delays)

Family and Community Partnerships

• Head Start supports parents as the first and most important teachers of their children. Parents are involved throughout the Head Start program:
• Setting educational goals
• Volunteering in the classroom
• Participating on parent committees
• Serving on the Head Start Policy Council, which helps make major decisions regarding the Head Start program

Head Start’s ethnically and linguistically diverse staff work closely and respectfully to develop effective partnerships with parents. Through home visits and parent conferences, staff help parents develop educational goals for their children and help them work towards their goals for themselves and for their families. Through participation in Center Committees and the Policy Council, parents help to plan programs and activities for themselves and for their children.

The Head Start program works closely with organizations and agencies to improve the delivery of services to children and families. Head Start’s community partners help to identify and recruit eligible children for the program, provide referral services and follow-up, provide resources to enhance program services, and assist in program planning and evaluation. This collaborative network includes:

• Health care agencies and providers
• Child care and early education agencies and providers
• Social service agencies
• Colleges and universities
• Child and family advocacy organizations
• Local elementary schools and districts
• Cultural institutions and museums

Why Is Head Start Important?

Head Start, a comprehensive early childhood education and holistic development program for children prenatal to five years and their families, is essential because it works–for children, families, and communities.

We use evidence-based best practices and partner with community-based organizations to help remove child and family barriers to success. No other provider of early childhood services seeks at-risk children and families and provides the depth, breadth, and scope of services that Head Start does. This is what makes Head Start so vital–its unrivaled and passionate commitment to helping children and families be successful.

Our commitment to our nation’s children, families, and communities pays off. The Head Start investment is effective and means that children are more likely to graduate from high school and college, are less likely to need special education services, and are less likely to repeat grades. We are proud of the positive impact Head Start has on our society, one child at a time.

Head Start is an integral part of communities across the country. Local Head Start programs are adaptive and reflect the unique cultural and social fabrics of their communities. There is no “one size fits all” approach. Head Start programs work collaboratively with local schools, childcare providers, community service providers, and families to meet the needs of a new generation and ensure all children have a brighter future.

Everyday Head Start programs across the county commit to making our nation’s young children ready to succeed in life.