Head Start Awareness Month

Head Start Awareness Month is observed every October, honoring a program that has given generations of young children a stronger beginning. President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed it on October 22, 1982, noting that the National Head Start Program had already helped over eight million low-income preschool children and their families. Congress authorized the proclamation through House Joint Resolution 588, and the recognition has continued every October since. It is a month for celebrating early childhood education and the communities that make it possible. It is a time to recognize the program’s considerable, ongoing impact on early childhood development and the families who trust it with their children.

The story begins in the summer of 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson launched Head Start as part of his War on Poverty. That summer, half a million disadvantaged children between the ages of three and seven took part in a bold federal experiment: the idea that children lacking basic medical, nutritional, and educational support could be given a genuine head start before entering school. Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, was instrumental in creating the program, envisioning it as a comprehensive child development effort for low-income preschoolers. When Head Start was first launched in 1965, the idea of providing comprehensive health, nutrition, and education services to children in poverty was groundbreaking. The Head Start model, developed over the decades, has been built on evidence-based practices and is constantly evolving to meet the needs of local communities.

What set Head Start apart then, and now, is that it treats the whole child and the whole family. The program provides preschool education, health services including immunizations and dental, medical, mental health, and nutritional care, and early identification of health problems. Parents are involved in planning and implementation, serving on policy councils and committees, joining classes and workshops, and volunteering in classrooms. Social services help families connect with the resources they need. The model, developed over decades on evidence-based practices, keeps evolving with the best available science and teaching techniques. Head Start takes a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young children across four major areas of development, including education, and provides a variety of learning experiences to help children grow intellectually, socially, developmentally, and emotionally. Health services include immunizations, dental, medical, and mental health and nutritional services, along with early identification of health problems.

The scale of the impact is remarkable. Since its inception, Head Start has served more than 35 million children and their families, giving them access to learning tools, health care, and family support. Today, Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded initiatives that together serve pregnant women and children from birth to age five, preparing young children for school and for lives of independence. Children who participate enter school on par with their peers, carrying skills and confidence that shape everything after. The program also extends support to the families of these children, recognizing that a child’s success is tied to the strength of the home around them.

Perhaps the most significant factor in the program’s success, as President Reagan himself noted, has been the involvement of parents, volunteers, and the community. Their commitment, alongside the dedication of Head Start staff, created a program that truly gives young children a head start in life. The alumni list reflects that legacy: from renowned figures like Shaquille O’Neal to teachers, nurses, and community leaders across the country, Head Start graduates continue to show what an early investment can grow into. From renowned celebrities to local program directors, the list of successful Head Start alumni continues to grow nationwide as the program keeps providing young children with a head start in life.

October is a time to honor that work and to keep it going. Head Start centers, educators, and families mark the month with ceremonies, classroom celebrations, and conversations about early childhood policy. It is also a moment to thank the teachers and staff whose daily care shapes young minds, and to support the program’s future. Sharing #HeadStartAwarenessMonth on social media helps more people learn what the program does and why it matters. Head Start centers and other educational and community groups are called on to draw attention to Head Start activities with appropriate ceremonies and celebrations throughout the month.

Head Start Awareness Month is, at its heart, a celebration of possibility. Every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, deserves a chance to succeed in school and in life. The program’s sixty-year record shows what happens when a nation invests early: children learn, families strengthen, and communities flourish. This October, take a moment to honor the teachers, parents, and volunteers who give millions of children their first and most important start. For these reasons, the recognition continues year after year: because when the nation invests in its youngest children, the returns are measured in lifetimes. When the people at the center of the observance are children, the month becomes a promise: every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, will get a fair chance to succeed. That is the heart of the month: possibility, made real.

THE STORY BEHIND HEAD START AWARENESS MONTH

📆 October 22, 1982
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Head Start Awareness Month, by authority of Congress through House Joint Resolution 588. The proclamation praised the program’s success in early childhood education and development.

🎓 Summer 1965
President Lyndon B. Johnson launched Head Start, and that summer half a million children ages three to seven joined the first classes. The idea of providing comprehensive services to children in poverty was groundbreaking at the time.

👥 35 Million
Since its inception, the program has served more than 35 million children and their families. Head Start and Early Head Start now serve pregnant women and children from birth to age five.

👷 Sargent Shriver
Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, was instrumental in creating Project Head Start in 1965.

⭐ A Famous Alum
Head Start alumni include renowned figures such as Shaquille O’Neal, alongside teachers, nurses, and leaders nationwide.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

📚 Read Aloud to a Child
Spend extra read-aloud time with a young child this October and ask a local Head Start classroom if it needs book donations.

👪 Thank an Early Educator
Write a note to a preschool teacher or Head Start staff member whose daily work gives children a head start in life.

💬 Join the Conversation
Talk with friends about early childhood policy and share #HeadStartAwarenessMonth to honor the program’s impact.

Celebrate Head Start Awareness Month

All through October 2027, honor the program that gives millions of children their first and most important start. Read to a child, thank an early educator, and speak up for early childhood education in your community. The earliest years shape everything that follows. Celebrate them this October.