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285 – United States of America’s Head Start Programme of 1965,
expanded in 1981 and reauthorized in 2007, United States of America
Responsible body: Department of Health and Human Services (Administration for Children and
Families, in particular the Office of Head Start)
Country of implementation: United States of America
Beneficiaries targeted: Children from low-income families from birth to 5, but also a certain amount of
children from families above the poverty line under certain criteria
(emergency, disabilities…)
SUMMARY
The United States of America’s Head Start Programme started in 1965 and was expanded in 1981 and reauthorized in
2007. It is the oldest and largest federal programme to deliver high-quality early learning opportunities to low-income
children, founded on the idea that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. The programme
provides comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income
children and their families. Since 1972 Head Start programmes had been required to reserve at least 10 percent of their
enrollment opportunities for children with disabilities, with sharpened requirements since 2007.
CONTEXT/P ROBLEMS TARGETED (WITH ADDITIONS FROM THE ZERO P ROJECT T EAM)
Launched in 1965, Head Start was originally conceived as a catch-up summer school programme that would teach low-
income children in a few weeks what they needed to know to start elementary school. A few months later, Head Start
would be expanded to a year-round programme, and from 1966 to 1981, summer-only programs were phased out.
Head Start has long had a special focus on the needs of children who are living with disabilities. Since 1972, before the
enactment of the federal special education law now known as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Head
Start programs have been required to reserve at least 10 percent of their enrollment opportunities for children with
disabilities. In 1975, the first Head Start Programme Performance Standards were published. The Head Start Act of 1981
expanded the programme. In 1994, Early Head Start was introduced servicing children from age 0 to 3. In 1990,
Congress passes the Head Start Expansion and Quality Improvement Act, which includes set-aside funds for quality
improvement and reserves two percent of total funding for training. To reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve
programme quality and to expand access, the Public Law 110-134 (“Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of
2007”) came into force, with bipartisan support. It required that at least 10 percent of enrollees are children with
disabilities and specific provisions to support high-quality early learning opportunities for them have to made.
Requirements are specified since 2009, the Head Start Performance Standards that define standards and minimum
requirements for the entire range of Early Head Start and Head Start services. They are applicable to both Head Start
and Early Head Start programmes.