Head Start

The Head Start program promotes school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to their enrollees - low-income children and families, including those on federally recognized tribal reservations and migratory farm workers. The program is designed to involve parents in their child�s learning and development, and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Head Start also emphasizes the significant involvement of parents in the administration of their local Head Start programs. The Head Start Program Performance Standards outline the requirements and expectations of programs in delivering these services. Local Head Start programs are expected to collaborate with other early care and education programs in their communities, and to work closely with local school systems to continue the gains children achieve in Head Start. Program implementation emphasizes increasing parental choice, improving health, education, nutrition, and employment outcomes, increasing operational efficiency, and strengthening parental engagement, refocusing the program on its original goals, established 60 years ago, to help American families escape poverty. Through Early Head Start programming, the focus includes child development and enabling parents to fulfill their roles while moving toward self-sufficiency. These local programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of...

Any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency which meets the requirements listed in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may apply for an award. However, applications will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific opportunity, published at the following website address: http://www.grants.gov, which solicits proposals to expand Head Start/Early Head Start programs or establish new ones. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity.

Recipients are required to meet a 20% non-federal share match requirement under section 640(b) of the Head Start Act. However, programs can request to waive the non-federal share match, if necessary. Per, 45 CFR 1303.44(c), non-federal share associated with facilities activities becomes part of the federal share of the facility