How to Understand Federal Guidelines for Head Start Preschool

In 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed the bill authorizing the development of the Head Start Program. The Head Start Program was developed to give low-income children additional opportunities to succeed. Head Start Preschool provides a variety of high-quality services for children and families. In order to participate in Head Start, a family must meet defined criteria. These guidelines are fairly easy to understand.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Proof of Income

1. The major criteria to qualify for free Head Start services is income. Your gross income must not exceed 100% of federal poverty guidelines. Currently, this means a family with four members may not make more than $20,650. This dollar amount will change each year though. If your family qualifies for TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you meet the income criteria. Income counted includes wages before deductions, income earned through self-employment, social security benefits, unemployment benefits, pensions, scholarships and lottery earnings. Check the National Head Start website to see the program's definition of income for more information.
2. Children in out-of-home placements are counted as having no income, so are automatically eligible for Head Start Preschool. This category includes children in foster care or in relative foster care. Children in this situation are considered most vulnerable to the effects of poverty and are given priority in placement.
3. By law, ten percent of slots in a Head Start Preschool must be reserved for children with special needs that have Individualized Education Plans. If your child has a special need, make sure you inform the program to which you are applying. It may allow your child to become involved in the program sooner.
4. Your child must be at least three years old and no more than five years old to participate in Head Start Preschool. Generally, if your child is eligible to attend kindergarten in your state, he may not attend Head Start Preschool.
5. Head Start Preschool does not have a citizenship requirement. Children of undocumented immigrants that have proof of income eligibility may qualify.
6. By law, ten percent of children participating in Head Start may be over income. If you are over income and interested in Head Start for your child, apply anyway. You have a chance of being accepted into the program. Some Head Start programs have adopted peer models as a part of their program. This means that children from higher income homes are included as a part of the preschool program.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan on your child waiting for a spot in Head Start Preschool. These programs are high quality and free to parents, so often waiting lists exist.