How can an organization start a Head Start program or become an Early Head Start grantee?
Head Start grantees must be either public or private nonprofit organizations or public school systems. If there is a current grantee in a community, that grantee will continue to serve in that capacity until they decide they no longer want to be a sponsoring agency , or unless Head Start funds going to the agency are terminated for cause. If a grantee gives up or loses funding, Head Start funds will remain in the community of that agency and will be awarded to another eligible organization through a competitive process. In years when additional funds are available for expanding Head Start services, these funds may go to existing agencies to increase their enrollment of children. Otherwise, these funds will be awarded to new grantees through a competitive process, particularly in a geographic area that requires more service to meet the needs of the population. The ten Administration for Children and Families Regional Offices and the Head Start Bureaus American Indian and Migrant Program
