Head Start and Early Head Start Programs

This website is operated and supported by the Riverside County Office of Education and while the Riverside County Office of Education is a Head Start grantee, neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the Riverside County Office of Education and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

Now Accepting Applications for Our 2025-26 Programs

We are actively accepting applications for the start of the new 2025-26 program year which will begin on Tuesday September 2, 2025. All of our Head Start and Early Head Start centers will be open and enrollment is quickly filling up for all program options.

Use the links above to submit a new application and all required eligibility documents from the convenience of your computer and/or camera enabled mobile device.

Enroll Now as classes are quickly filling up!

Head Start/Early Head Start

Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start Infant and Toddler programs offer comprehensive center and home-based preschool options specifically designed to provide children and their families the most critical support and resources for kindergarten success and to develop lifelong learners.

Our programs are staffed by a skilled team of professional educators, dedicated Community Assistants and content experts in the areas of health, nutrition, mental health, disability and family services. No other preschool program comes close to offering the level of comprehensive student and family services that makes Head Start/Early Head Start a national leader in early childhood education.

Head Start is committed to serving all children in well-planned and welcoming classroom settings throughout Riverside County.

To be eligible for Head Start/Early Head Start, an applicant must be determined age and income or categorically eligible as per the following:

Age Eligibility

For Early Head Start (EHS) Pregnant Women: Any age for expectant mothers
For Early Head Start (EHS): Ages birth to under 3 years old
For Head Start (HS): Child must turn 3 years old by September 1st or may be enrolled after their 3rd birthday and not yet age-eligible for Kindergarten
Head Start/Early Head Start is committed to enrolling students with disabilities by offering over-income waivers* and reserving 10 percent of its enrollment to children with disabilities.

* Over-income waivers limited to 10 percent of total program enrollment and the child must have a current Individualized Family Services Program (IFSP) for Early Head Start or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Head Start.

Income Eligibility

To qualify based on income, a family’s gross annual income must be at or below the mandated Poverty Guidelines . In addition, over-income waivers are available as noted above for children with an IFSP or IEP.

Categorical Eligibility

A family is eligible in any of the following categories, regardless of total gross income:

Applicant is placed in 24-hour out-of-home Foster Care
Public Assistance: Family is receiving ongoing Cash Aid benefits through the CalWORKs (TANF) program or CalFresh (SNAP) benefits
Applicant or family member living with and supported by the child’s Parent(s) or Guardian(s) is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Family is experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Documents Required To Determine Eligibility

Applicant’s Birth Certificate or other Age Verification
Applicant’s Immunization Records (must be up to date for age)
Completed TB Assessment and/or TB Test Results
Income Verification (prior 12 months)
Proof of legal custody (if the child is in foster care or guardianship)
Notice of Action or Passport to Services (if receiving CalWORKs Cash Aid)
Proof of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), if applicable
Homelessness verification (if applicable and available)
Current IEP (Head Start) or IFSP (Early Head Start), if applicable
Full-Time Employment or Full-Time School/Training Verification (to receive full-day prioritization)

The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) provides Head Start and Early Head Start either throughout the county through sites it operates directly or through 11 delegate agencies (school districts) that contract with RCOE (use the Head Start Center Locator to find the nearest center and agency in your area). There are three types of program options:

Part-Day: Children are in a center-based class either in the morning or afternoon for 3.5 hours per day
Full-Day: Children are in a center-based class for 6.5 hours per day. Priority points are awarded to parents working or attending school/training full-time
Home-Based: A teacher visits the home once a week for 1.5 hours and works directly with the parent(s) to provide an engaging and strategically developed program in home. Two socializations are also offered each month for all enrolled children and their parents. The socializations may be held in a center-based classroom, a community center or a community field trip with emphasis on peer group interactions.

The program implements a research-based curriculum that enhances each child’s developmental competence in:

Approaches to Learning
Social and Emotional Development
Language and Literacy Development
Mathematics and Science
Creative Arts
Perceptual, Motor and Physical Development

Children enrolled in the program receive developmental, medical, dental, vision, hearing, and nutritional screenings with appropriate follow-up services. Nutritious meals and snacks are provided and accommodations are made for special nutritional needs when feasible.