Who We Are
The federal Head Start program was launched in the summer of 1965 as part the "War on Poverty." It was an eight-week summer program for low-income preschoolers designed to give them a "head start" on school and life. From the beginning, it has been a comprehensive program that includes early childhood education, health and nutrition, social services and parent education, and empowers parents to participate fully as decision-makers and effective advocates for their children and their communities.
Since its start, Head Start has served as a model for innovative and high quality services for low-income children and families, and has enjoyed strong bi-partisan support through seven presidencies. Head Start now serves more than 900,000 children nationally with a budget of more than $6 billion.
1965 |
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Head Start begins in Santa Clara County serving 300 children (Economic and Social Opportunity is the grantee). |
1970 |
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education becomes the Head Start grantee in Santa Clara County. |
1975 |
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Head Start Program Performance Standards are issued. |
1984 |
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education becomes the Head Start grantee for San Benito County. |
1990 |
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Congress passes legislation setting a goal of providing Head Start services to every eligible child. |
1994 |
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Congress passes legislation that creates Early Head Start, a new Head Start program for infants and toddlers. |
1996 |
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Welfare Reform legislation is passed by Congress. Head Start begins to expand full-day Head Start services to families who are working or enrolled in school or training. |
1998 |
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education is awarded an Early Head Start grant to serve infants and toddlers. Revised Head Start Program Performance Standards are issued. |
2000 |
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Congress sharpens Head Start’s emphasis on “school readiness.” |
2003 |
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The Santa Clara County Office of Education Head Start program’s funded enrollment is 2,150 children. The program begins collaborations with non-profit childcare agencies to provide Head Start services. |
