Head Start/Early Head Start Eligibility Requirements

Ernestine Townsend

Head Start Program Coordinator, ERSEA

(Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, Attendance)

972-348-1668

Denise Roach

Family Involvement Consultant

972-348-1688

Liz Haywood

Family Involvement Consultant

972-348-1584

Primary eligibility for prospective Head Start students

The family's income must fall within the federal poverty income guidelines.
The child must meet district age eligibility requirements. (Some districts also serve 3 year old students.)
The child must live within school district boundaries (with the exception of students meeting the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act)

Head Start also accepts over-income students with disabilities based on Head Start and school district criteria.

The family's income must fall within the federal poverty income guidelines.
The child must meet district age eligibility requirements (must be birth to three years of age).
The child must live within the school district boundaries of Sherman ISD, McKinney ISD, and Rockwall ISD (with the exception of students meeting the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act).
Pregnant women and teens that meet the above eligibility criteria may apply for Early Head Start services.

Early Head Start also accepts over-income students with disabilities based on Early Childhood Intervention and school district criteria.