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Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 4:35:45 AM |
Program History
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. |
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