Early Head Start / Head Start

Head Start Logo

Head Start gives children from at-risk backgrounds the skills they need to be successful in school and life-supporting more kids, families, and communities on their path to success.

Have questions about Head Start/Early Head Start? Reach out to us at [email protected]

The School Board of Lee County is a Head Start/Early Head Start grantee. Through this federally funded grant, high quality early childhood comprehensive services promoting school readiness are offered to enroll expectant mothers, children and families from pre-birth through age 5.

Head Start is a comprehensive early education program for children from at-risk backgrounds from birth to age 5. From early math and reading skills to confidence and resilience, we help children build the abilities they need to be successful in school and life. Each Head Start program engages parents as partners with their child's teacher and works closely with the local community to adapt to what each area needs. Every child can succeed and together, we’re partnering with millions of children, families, and communities on their path to success.

Program Description

The federal Office of Head Start provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop school readiness skills in the areas of early reading, mathematics and social skills. In 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years significantly impact children's growth and development.

Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, parent engagement, health, nutritional, mental health and disabilities and other services to enrolled children and families. Program staff engage parents in their children's learning experiences and help them make progress toward their family outcome goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the governance of local Head Start programs.

Program Services

Conscious Discipline®

Conscious Discipline® is a research-based program that combines social and emotional learning with school-based discipline and guidance. The program empowers adults to consciously respond to daily conflict by transforming each opportunity to a “teachable moment” through modeling critical life skills to children.

Conscious Discipline® is a vital resource as our program and school district continue to support trauma informed care.

Application and Interview Information

Step 1: Complete the online application for the school year.

If you have previously submitted an application or are a returning parent, even if in the previous school year, please do not submit another application. Instead, send an email to [email protected] with your child's name, date of birth, and requesting school.

Step 2: VPK Application

If the applying child is 4 years of age on or before 9/1/25 then you must apply for your child's VPK certificate. If you do not have a VPK Certificate, apply for the VPK certificate.

If you have already received the VPK certificate, then please upload it in the next step with your other documents. If you need assistance with this step, our staff can help you during the interview.

Step 3: View and gather the required documents that apply to your family to support the interview part of the application process. These documents are required to complete the application.

Step 4: Thank you for your interest in the Head Start/Early Head Start Programs.

Program staff will review and verify all the documents received for the application process.

Things to know about the next steps of the application process:

  • Head Start/Early Head Start programs are not first come, first served.
  • Program staff will reach out to families to schedule in-person interviews by phone, text, and email.
  • Interview priority is based on the age of the applicant(s) within each program and identified family needs.
  • Additionally, interviews will be prioritized based on:
    • Families receiving SNAP (food stamps), SSI, TANF, or Relative Caregiver Allowance
    • Families who are applying for a foster child or applying child are living with a non-parent guardian.
    • Families who have recently lost housing or are in a temporary living situation.
  • After the interview is completed and all documents verified, families are notified via email.