Head Start and Early Head Start | Office of Head Start

Status Update (February 2026)

HeadStart.gov currently confirms there is no single national annual application window. Enrollment is handled by local programs, and families should use the Center Locator and contact the local grantee directly.

If no slot is available, families can ask to be placed on a waiting list.

What Head Start Provides

Head Start and Early Head Start provide integrated early-learning and family services, including:

• early education support,
• health and developmental services,
• nutrition and family engagement support.

This is an enrollment-based service program, not a one-time cash benefit.

Eligibility Framework (Current Rules)

Federal regulation (45 CFR 1302.12) and Office of Head Start guidance identify key eligibility pathways. A child or pregnant participant may qualify based on criteria such as:

1. Family income at or below the poverty line,
2. Public-assistance eligibility context,
3. Homelessness,
4. Foster care status.

Rules also allow limited enrollment of over-income families under specific caps/conditions when programs have capacity.

Current federal standards also include capped flexibility bands for children from families above income eligibility thresholds, so local programs can fill seats while prioritizing highest-need households under the regulation.

Age and Program-Type Matching

• Early Head Start: infants, toddlers, and certain pregnant participants.
• Head Start Preschool: children generally starting at age 3 under local school-age rules.

Correct program matching matters because local programs verify age and eligibility against federal standards.

How to Apply Efficiently

1. Use the Head Start Center Locator.
2. Contact the local grantee by phone/email immediately.
3. Complete intake forms and submit requested documents.
4. Ask about waiting-list status and update frequency.
5. Follow up regularly if no immediate slot is open.

Families who maintain consistent contact are often better positioned when openings occur.

Documents Commonly Requested

• Child age documentation,
• household income records,
• residence information,
• immunization/health records,
• records supporting categorical eligibility where relevant.

Programs can work with families facing documentation barriers, especially in unstable housing situations.

Common Mistakes

• Waiting for a national enrollment season that does not exist.
• Assuming ineligibility without speaking to local intake staff.
• Missing follow-up requests after initial application.
• Not requesting waitlist placement when slots are full.

If You Are Waitlisted

Ask the local program how often you should check in and what events can change priority status (for example, housing instability or other categorical eligibility updates). Keep your contact details current so staff can reach you quickly if a slot opens.

Families on waitlists should still complete all requested forms and document updates. Programs can move quickly when openings appear, and incomplete records can slow placement.

Eligibility Duration Reminder

Head Start regulations include eligibility-duration protections once a child is determined eligible and enrolled, which can reduce disruption from short-term household income fluctuations. If your circumstances change after enrollment, ask the local program how current federal duration rules apply in your case rather than assuming immediate loss of services.

Practical Enrollment Tip

Call the local grantee, then calendar follow-ups every 2 to 3 weeks. Head Start capacity shifts during the year, and consistent follow-up can materially improve placement outcomes.

Official Sources

• How to Apply: https://www.headstart.gov/how-apply
• Head Start Center Locator: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator
• Head Start regulations (45 CFR 1302.12): https://headstart.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii/1302-12-determining-verifying-documenting-eligibility
• Office of Head Start home: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs