Head Start Awareness Month

Head Start Awareness Month is observed throughout October as an opportunity to recognize the lasting impact of Head Start programs on children, families, and communities. These programs help prepare young children for school and beyond by supporting early learning, health, emotional well-being, and family engagement—especially for children and families who may face economic challenges.

Throughout the month, communities are encouraged to learn more about Head Start, celebrate the educators and staff who make these programs possible, and highlight the achievements of the children and families they serve. It is also a time to appreciate the importance of strong early-childhood experiences and to support efforts that give every child a positive foundation for lifelong learning.

Head Start Awareness Month is observed throughout October to recognize the history and continuing work of the Head Start program. Head Start began in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Created through the Economic Opportunity Act and administered initially by the federal Office of Economic Opportunity, the program was designed to help preschool children from families with low incomes enter school ready to learn. Its first summer program served more than 560,000 children, establishing a national model that combined early education with health, nutrition, and family support.

The program developed from a short-term demonstration into a permanent federal initiative. Community organizations, school systems, and local agencies became important providers, allowing Head Start to adapt its services to the needs of individual communities. Congress made the program permanent in 1968, and later reforms strengthened requirements for health screenings, nutrition services, parental involvement, disability services, and educational quality. In 1994, Early Head Start extended comprehensive services to infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, reflecting a broader understanding of the importance of early development before preschool.

Over time, Head Start also became more inclusive and comprehensive. Programs expanded services for children with disabilities, children learning more than one language, and families experiencing homelessness or other serious challenges. Later federal reauthorizations placed greater emphasis on school readiness, program accountability, collaboration with local schools, and professional standards for staff. Although the structure and expectations of Head Start have changed, its central purpose has remained helping young children and families access resources that support healthy development and educational opportunity.

During October, Head Start Awareness Month highlights this history and brings attention to the contributions of children, parents, educators, volunteers, and community partners. It also reflects the cultural significance of a program built around the idea that early education is connected to family well-being, health, economic opportunity, and community participation. Awareness activities can include family events, classroom projects, public discussions, and recognition of local Head Start staff and alumni. In this way, the observance links the program’s origins in the 1960s with its continuing role in communities across the United States.