A National Commitment

Every Child Receives an Opportunity to Succeed in School and Life 

Head Start is the national commitment to give every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. In the 50 years since its inception, Head Start has improved the lives of more than 32 million children and their families. Head Start alumni - or “Head Start babies,” as they often call themselves - are in all walks of the nation’s life. More than one million children and families have had a head start in life and school because of this national commitment.

Educators, doctors, lawyers, military personnel, artists, engineers, religious and civic leaders, and scientists - from all across the country - remember Head Start as the place where, at an early age, they acquired a life-long love of learning.

In addition to life and school preparedness, Head Start is also the nation’s laboratory for early learning innovation. Head Start offers a unique whole child/whole family program design coupled with a delivery system that includes local programs, national standards, monitoring, professional development, and family engagement. This has been the basis for many subsequent statewide and community initiatives.