What is Head Start?

Head Start promotes school readiness for children in low-income families by offering educational, nutritional, health, social, and other services. Since its inception, Head Start has served more than 37 million children, birth to age 5, and their families. In 2019, Head Start was funded to serve nearly 1 million children and pregnant women in centers, family homes, and in family child care homes in urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the nation. Learn more about the history of Head Start here.

Indiana County Head Start, Inc. provides Head Start and Early Head Start services throughout Indiana County. The agency enrolls 333 children birth through school age. Indiana County Head Start engages the child's family to assist in the preparation of their children's future success. and has become an established and trusted member of the human services and educational system of Indiana County.

Indiana County Head Start is a federally funded program whose purpose is to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development in a learning environment that supports children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning. This includes the provision of low-income children and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs, to be necessary.

**Head Start admission is open to all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability**

The importance of early childhood development is now widely recognized-thanks in great part to the achievements of Head Start. The overwhelming success of Head Start programs at improving the cognitive and social abilities of preschoolers has helped to focus the nation’s attention on the most critical period in a child’s life-the first five years!

Why Choose Indiana County Head Start?

We enroll children all year long!

Head Start is a preschool program that is designed to give children a "Head Start" on their education so that when they enter the school system they are ready to learn. Our preschool program recognizes that children are only little once and their childhood should be celebrated.

High qualified teachers and aides

Curriculum that helps children grow academically

Provides essential school readiness skills

Small class sizes

Children do not have to be potty trained

Free to income eligible families

Quality learning materials

Half day and full day options to meet individual children and family needs

Breakfast, lunch and snack are free

Assist families with meeting dental and physical requirements

Behavioral Consultant on staff

Nutritionist available for consultation

Family Service Worker to help meet individual needs of each family

Fun evening activities for the entire family


Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parents can volunteer in their child's classroom at anytime

Active voice in the program

Provides a smooth transition into kindergarten

Busing available

Seat belts and harness on the bus

Focusing on the entire family by encouraging parental involvement in your child's education and understanding that you are your child's most important teacher.