Eligibility for Early/Head Start is based on the
federal poverty income guidelines which are updated each year by the Census Bureau.
Head Start families' incomes must be below the poverty line as depicted for 2005
on the following chart.
Early/Migrant-Seasonal/Head
Start Family Income Guidelines
Family Size
Income
$9,570
$12,830
$16,090
$19,350
$22,610
$25,870
$29,130
$32,390
For each additional person
$3,260
Nationally, Head Start is
only reaching about
one-third of eligible
families, despite the
program's growth.
