Head Start and Early Head Start: Who Can Enroll

1Why this matters

For families who cannot afford preschool or infant care, Head Start can provide years of free early education, health checks and meals, along with help for parents. Because it is run by local organizations rather than a single agency, families often do not know where to apply, and places fill quickly. This guide explains who qualifies, what the programs provide, and how to apply and keep a place.

2What do the programs provide?

Head Start and Early Head Start are more than classrooms. Programs provide:

• Early learning that prepares children for kindergarten, in centers, family child care homes or through weekly home visits.
• Health services: developmental, vision, hearing and dental screenings, usually within the first weeks, and help getting follow-up care.
• Nutritious meals and snacks during the program day.
• Services for children with disabilities, coordinated with early intervention and special education.
• Family support: help with goals such as work, training, housing and health coverage, and a role for parents in running the program.

Programs vary in hours. Some run part day during the school year, others full day or year round, and some combine with child care to cover a working day.

3Who is eligible?

Eligibility depends mainly on family income at or below the federal poverty guidelines. For 2026 they are $15,960 for one person, $21,640 for two, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C., with higher figures in Alaska and Hawaii. Programs verify income with documents such as tax forms, W-2s or pay stubs.

Some children qualify regardless of income: children in foster care, children experiencing homelessness, and children in families receiving TANF cash assistance or SSI. Separate programs serve migrant and seasonal farmworker families, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

4Can families above the income line enroll?

Yes, in limited numbers. Programs may enroll up to 10 percent of their children from families above the guideline, and in some cases up to 35 percent from families with incomes between 100 and 130 percent of it, if they show they are serving all eligible families below the line first.

Programs must also reserve at least 10 percent of their places for children with disabilities who qualify for early intervention or special education, and children with disabilities are welcome in every program. Priority for places goes to the families with the greatest need, as each program defines it.

5Choosing a program option

Many areas offer more than one way to take part, and the right one depends on your work schedule and your child:

• Center-based: classes at a Head Start center, part day or full day, often with transportation.
• Home-based: a home visitor works with you and your child each week, with regular group activities with other families. This is common for infants and toddlers and in rural areas.
• Family child care: care in a licensed provider's home that is part of the program, which can suit parents with longer working hours.
• Combination: some center days and some home visits.

Ask each program about its hours, whether it runs year round, transportation, and how it works with child care for the rest of the day.

6Children with disabilities

Head Start welcomes children with disabilities, and programs cannot turn a child away because of the type or severity of a disability. If your child already has an individualized family service plan or an individualized education program, share it, and the program will work with your early intervention provider or school district. If staff notice a possible delay during screening, they will talk with you about an evaluation.

7How to apply

Apply directly to a local Head Start or Early Head Start program. The Office of Head Start's locator finds programs near your address, and local school districts and social services offices can also point you to them. Many programs take applications all year, with the largest enrollment in spring and summer for fall.

Have your child's birth certificate, proof of income or of TANF, SSI, foster care or homelessness, and proof of where you live, along with immunization records if you have them. There are not enough places for every eligible child, so ask to be put on the waiting list if there is no space, apply to more than one program if you can, and keep your contact details current.

8After your child is enrolled

A child found eligible generally stays eligible through the end of the next program year, so you do not have to prove income again right away even if it rises. A child moving from Early Head Start to Head Start has eligibility checked again.

Parents are expected to take part, through home visits, conferences and the parent policy council that helps run the program. Tell staff about other needs: programs can connect families with health coverage, food assistance, child care and housing help. They also check that children have a regular doctor and dentist and are up to date on immunizations, and help arrange both.

If you move, ask your current program to help transfer your child's records to a program in the new area, where your child's eligibility is reviewed again.

9Related help for young children

Pregnant women and children under 5 may also qualify for WIC, which provides healthy foods and nutrition support. Children who are not covered may qualify for health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP. If you need care during working hours that Head Start does not cover, see our guide to child care assistance. Once children start school, free school meals continue the nutrition support.

10Common mistakes

• Waiting until late summer to apply, when places are already filled.
• Assuming income slightly above the guideline rules a child out, when some places are set aside for those families.
• Not mentioning TANF, SSI, foster care or homelessness, which qualify a child regardless of income.
• Applying to only one program and not getting on a waiting list.

12What this does not tell you

Local programs make the final eligibility decision and have limited places. This guide describes the federal rules and cannot say whether a space is available near you.

Public pre-kindergarten programs run by states and school districts have their own eligibility rules and are not covered here.