Now Accepting Applications for Our 2024-25 Programs

We are actively accepting applications for the start of the new 2024-25 program year which will begin on Tuesday September 3, 2024. 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 diversity and serving children in well-planned and inclusive classroom settings throughout Riverside County.

Who We Serve

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 and not yet age eligible for Kindergarten 
• Head Start/Early Head Start is committed to the inclusion of all children in all classrooms 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
• Family is receiving ongoing Cash Aid benefits through the CalWORKs program
• 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)

How We Provide Services

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 Locater 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 provide and accommodations are made for special nutritional needs when feasible.

Parent Partnership and Family Support

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs encourage strong parent involvement through participation on site parent committees, the program-wide parent Policy Council, personnel interviews and other program activities.  Parent volunteerism is strongly encouraged.  Parent involvement helps families gain the skills and knowledge that will help them become stronger advocates for their children as they move through the K-12 systems.

Head Start/Early Head Start supports parents as their child’s first and most important teacher by directly involving them in:

• Setting educational goals for their children
• Participating on parent committees
• Leadership opportunities on the Head Start Policy Council, the program’s major decision making body

Head Start/Early Head Start helps families access community resources and critical family support services such as:

• Social services assistance
• Job training and employment assistance
• Medical and Dental services
• Nutrition assistance and counseling
• Adult Education such as English classes (ESL) and General Equivalency Diploma classes (GED)

How To Apply

Use the Head Start Center Locater to enter a city name or zip code to locate the nearest Head Start/Early Head Start Center.  Clicking on any center will pull up the agency abbreviation, center name and contact information. 

Please note that centers will be operated directly by either the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) or one of its eleven delegate school districts (e.g. LEUSD, RUSD, HUSD, DSUSD, etc.). If a center is operated by RCOE, the application and document submission buttons on the top of this page as well as below in the bulleted links can be used to apply remotely to any RCOE operated center.

RCOE Operated Online Application Links

• English Application Submission
• Spanish Application Submission
• English Eligibility Document Submission (for uploading required eligibility documents after submitting and application)
• Spanish Eligibility Document Submission (for uploading required eligibility documents after submitting and application)

In addition, fillable/printable English Application PDF and Spanish Application PDF language applications can also be downloaded by clicking in the respective links.  Hard copy applications can be submitted to via email or in person to any center during normal operating days/hours.

In addition, prospective families are also welcome to submit on online Head Start Interest Form and have an RCOE Head Start representative contact them directly.

Delegate School District Applications

Below are the eleven delegate agencies offering Head Start or Head Start and Early Head Start (as noted).  In addition to the general phone number provided, utilizing the Head Start Center Locater will provide the center and designated contact information for each site.

• Coachella Valley USD (Head Start)
  (760) 848-1030
• Desert Sands USD (Head Start)
  (760) 771-8678
• Hemet USD (Head Start)
  (951) 765-1648
• Jurupa USD (Head Start)
  (951) 222-7850
• Lake Elsinore USD (Head Start/Early Head Start)
  (951) 253-7091
• Moreno Valley USD (Head Start)
  (951)571-4716
• Palm Springs USD (Head Start/Early Head Start)
  (760) 416-8090
• Palo Verde USD (Head Start)
  (760) 922-4164
• Riverside USD (Head Start)
  (951) 788-7135
• San Jacinto USD (Head Start)
  (951) 654-1531

RCOE Contact Phone Number

For additional  information or to connect directly with a program representative at the main office, please call our toll free number (800) 600-1800.

Our Frequently Asked Questions page provides answers typically asked about the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Our Resources page offers links to additional Web sites for parents seeking services.