Head Start helps to build a foundation for children's success. The program has grown from a brief, eight-week summer program for preschoolers in 1965 to a year-round program today, serving children from birth to age five and pregnant women. Since 1965, over 160 million children and their families have received Head Start comprehensive services. Head Start provides children from low-income families with daily nutritious meals and many opportunities for social, emotional, and intellectual growth that can prepare them for success in school and in life. The program also connects children to a health care source and provides vital support services to their families.
Head Start has expanded to serve infants and toddlers. Early Head Start, a program for infants and toddlers, was initiated in response to the changing needs of low-income families and to research indicating how critical the period from birth to age three is to a child's healthy growth and development. Beginning in 1995, sixty-eight Early Head Start programs were funded to serve more than 5,000 pregnant women and families with children under age three. In subsequent years, Early Head Start has more than doubled in size and now serves families in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Head Start has set high standards. Head Start has established comprehensive standards for program design and operation and strictly enforces them with on-site monitoring to ensure that all Head Start children and their families receive the highest-quality service. The standards reflect the latest research on the best methods for working with young children and their families. The Head Start Program Performance Standards were developed by a diverse team of child development and health experts, teachers, and program staff, with input from community partners. The Head Start Program Performance Standards provide valuable direction on virtually every aspect of Head Start services.
Head Start actively supports high-quality services. Head Start maintains a nationwide training network to assist local program staff. The regional network engages experts from a wide variety of fields, who are available to train, guide and support the Head Start programs. The network also provides an information channel to help each Head Start program stay abreast of successful practices as well as the latest research and technology. To support delivery of high-quality services, all Head Start programs are required to maintain effective and efficient management systems and to recruit and hire staff who meet qualifications specified in the Head Start regulations. In addition, Head Start staff receive ongoing training and professional development to enhance their skills.
Head Start measures its outcomes for children. Head Start four-year-olds perform above the levels expected for children from low-income families who have not attended center-based programs. They develop a sense of structure and are better prepared for elementary school. Head Start research is pioneering methods to evaluate these and other benefits to ensure that Head Start programs continue to be accountable to the families they serve and to the wider community.
The Head Start Philosophy is reflected in the array of services provided to children and families.