Head Start is the US federal program providing early childhood education, health, nutrition and family-support services to low-income children, launched in 1965 within President Johnson's War on Poverty. It began as an eight-week summer catch-up program run by the Office of Economic Opportunity and was expanded to a school-year program that same autumn; it now serves more than a million children annually across all fifty states. Jule Sugarman, its creator and first director, is the figure most associated with its design.
Facts
Key ProvisionCreated a federally funded, community-run comprehensive early-childhood program combining education, health, nutrition and family services for low-income preschool children. 2 Enacted / Adopted Year Classification
Policy TypeAccess or Equity Policy 1 Education LevelEarly Childhood Education (ISCED 0) 2 Policy Status
Policy Status (category) FAQs
Was Head Start always a year-round program?
No. It began as an eight-week summer program in 1965.
No. It was launched in 1965 by the Office of Economic Opportunity as an eight-week summer program through its Community Action Program, before it grew into the early childhood program that is known today.
Connections
Associated With
Head Start and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act were both launched in 1965 as flagship education programs of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty.
Source Wikipedia
Sure Start, the UK early-years programme launched in 1998, had similarities to the older, similarly named Head Start programme in the United States.
Source Wikipedia
Sources
1. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 42 U.S. Code 9831, Statement of purpose
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law SchoolSection 9831Quote, Section 9831
It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development,
2. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationHead Start program article, History section
The Office of Economic Opportunity's Community Action Program launched Project Head Start as an eight-week summer program in 1965.
Head Start program article, 1965 launch
Launched in 1965 by its creator and first director Jule Sugarman and Bernice H. Fleiss.
Head Start program article, program design
provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families
Description, education-level classification
Head Start is the US federal program providing early childhood education, health, nutrition and family-support services to low-income children, launched in 1965 within President Johnson's War on Poverty.
In Category: Curriculum, Assessment and Policy, Head Start program article
U.S. federal aid program for low-income childcare.
View the Source 3. Wikipedia: Head Start (program)
Wikimedia FoundationArticle textQuote, Article text
Head Start is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services since 1965 that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and families.
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