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Give your child a head start with an excellent early childhood education.

Are you ready to start an online application? Apply today!

Not sure how to start the application process? Call a center near you and ask to speak with a Family Advocate. 

Enrollment Eligibility Criteria 

• Age
  • Early Head Start – home-based services
    • Pregnant mothers women and people who intend to enroll their child(ren) in Head Start
    • Children under 3 years of age 
  • Head Start – center-based program
    • Children age 3 to 5 years
• Income
  • Families with incomes at or below the federal poverty level are given priority. A limited number of families whose incomes exceed the guidelines may enroll in the program.
• Categorical Eligibility
  • Priority is given to families in certain categorical groups, including foster care and homelessness.

Required Documentation

Parents, please be ready to provide the following documentation to complete an enrollment application:

• Proof of family income for one month, e.g., pay stub or W2 tax return
• Proof of the child’s age, e.g., birth certificate or hospital footprint card
• Proof of enrollment in a public assistance program, e.g., Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI)
• Foster care documentation

Application Process Overview

Complete an online application.

Applications will be assigned a weighted scale number depending on the demand factors or needs associated with the family. Enrollment priority is given to families with the highest weighted scale number. Additional points are given to families with a child who has a documented disability. 

All families will receive a letter stating whether they have met the qualifications to enroll. Included with that letter may be a list of required documentation that NCCHS will need upon enrollment, including physical, dental, and immunization records. Our team will assist parents in obtaining the necessary documents.

NCCHS continually accepts applications and assigns families to the waitlist. Once an enrollment slot becomes available, the family with the highest weighted scale number is offered the program opening. View our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more details. 

Ages & Stages Questionnaires

New Castle County Head Start, Inc. participates in the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) with Christina, Colonial, Brandywine, and Red Clay School Districts. These questionnaires assess your child’s current skills in the areas of communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and social-emotional to determine if your child is meeting the milestones for his/her age. The two Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) are online questionnaires for parents to complete.  

Please use the following links to complete the questionnaires:

• NCCHS Absalom Jones Center (English)
• NCCHS Bear Center (English)
• NCCHS Claymont Center (English)
• NCCHS Lambson Center (English)
• NCCHS Manor Park Center (English)
• NCCHS Early Head Start Center (English)