Providing Educational, Emotional, and Social Support for Children and Families in Every Tennessee County.

Tennessee's 29 Head Start programs serve more than 20,000 children and their families every year with comprehensive educational, social and health programs for children, plus programs for family and community development. One or more Head Start classrooms are operated by government, private, faith-based, and charitable organizations in every county in the state.

In all, Head Start operates 936 classrooms in 367 pre-school centers. Head Start is aimed specifically at high-risk children, typically those from low-income families in which parents are out of a job or are working, single parents.

Eligibility Requirements

Early Head Start serves children ages 0-3 years old and Head Start serves 3- and 4- year old children. Early Head Start also serves pregnant women and teens. Eligibility requirements for both programs begin with age and family income. Family income is based on Federal Income Guidelines which is based on number in the family.

Selection criteria points which have been approved by the Head Start Policy Council and Agency Board of Directors are assigned for each child based on the child’s age and family income. TANF and SSI income is assigned priority points, as are foster children, homeless and children who have a diagnosed disability supported by an IFSP or IEP, and pregnant teens. Other points are assigned based on family dynamics such as single parent, no high school diploma or GED for head of household, documented child abuse/neglect or domestic violence, etc. Children are ranked on a waiting list for each center based on total points assigned and enrolled in the program in the order as reflected on the waitlist for each center.  Applications are taken on an on-going basis. Contact information for all centers can be found on the center page. 

Documents required for an application: 

• Family income documentation
• Social Security numbers for each family member
• Proof of birth for enrolling child
• Immunization record for enrolling child
• Insurance information
• At least three emergency contact persons, including address and phone numbers

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