Head Start

Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness. Head Start enhances the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. Nearly 25 million children, ages 3 to 5, have benefited from Head Start.

How Can I Obtain Head Start Funds?
Grants are often available to Head Start programs through state or local educational agencies. Visit the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Grant Opportunities Web site for more information on Head Start funding opportunities.

Head Start: Featured Products
Teaching Strategies is proud to offer resources designed specifically to support your work with children, families, and staff members of Head Start programs. In many cases, our products align directly with the early learning standards specified in federal funding requirements. Click the links below or visit www.teachingstrategies.com/expansion.

Teaching Strategies Preschool Sets

Compiled to support teachers who use The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool, The Teaching Strategies Preschool Classroom Set (English and Spanish) addresses curriculum implementation, assessment, and family connection for new programs.

The Renewal Set (English and Spanish) is for programs already implementing The Creative Curriculum.

The Program Leadership Set (English only) specifically supports administrators and educational coordinators with off-the shelf professional development resources and planning tools.

See how The Creative Curriculum® aligns to the Head Start Outcomes Framework and the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Click the links below to view PDFs of the alignments.

Head Start/Early Head Start and the ARRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a funding increase of $2.1 billion for Head Start; $1.1 billion of which is for Early Head Start expansion. In addition, as part of the FY 2009 appropriations process, Congress has provided a $234.8 million funding increase for Head Start.

The additional funding available for Head Start will be appropriated in the following ways:

  • Cost of living increase: $325,577,000
  • Quality Improvement funding: $353,779,000
  • Head Start expansion: $219,612,000
  • Early Head Start expansion: $199,612,000
  • Increased T/TA funding: $30,820,000
  • State Advisory Councils: $100,000,000
  • Increased program support: $3,410,000
  • Centers of Excellence: $2,000,000

For additional information on ARRA's impact on Head Start and Early Head Start, including instructions on applying for funds, visit the Head Start Funding Increase section of the Administration for Children and Families Web site.

More questions about ARRA's impact on Head Start? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions document (PDF).