The Head Start and Early Head Start programs are available for low-income families with children ages 5 or younger

The Head Start program is available for children from low-income families between up to 5 years old, including those with special needs. Early Head Start is for children up to 3 years old; Head Start is for children 3-5 years old.

Eligibility

 Applicants must:

  • Meet the 100 percent threshold for income poverty guidelines
    • Refer only to the "100% of Poverty" entry for income eligibility
  • Work at least 20 hours per week; or enrolled in school and/or a job training program

Fees

There is no cost to the parent.

Things to consider

Benefits

  • Classrooms have an excellent teacher to child ratio: 1 teacher to 10 children in Head Start; and 1 caregiver to 4 infants/toddlers in Early Head Start
  • Staff members screen children to determine their overall level of development, and make ongoing assessments to monitor each child's progress
  • Each child is provided with experiences that maximize his or her total development
  • Head Start and Early Head Start is available to children with special needs

How to

  1. Gather the following information:
    • Child's information, such as name, birthdate, language spoken at home, disability status
    • Family information, such as mother and father's names, hours worked, address, phone numbers, marital status, income, public assistance status
  2. Complete the Head Start Application (English) | Head Start Application (Spanish)

What's next

A representative from your closest Head Start location will contact you by phone or letter regarding your application and availability.

Resources

Get help

Department: Head Start
Email: mahornk@hcfl.gov
Phone: (813) 272-5140

Last Modified: 2/13/2024, 1:25:57 PM

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