Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any one of the questions below to view the answer.
Eligibility for the Head Start program is based on the following:
- age of the child
and - family income level
or - categorical eligibility such as foster care status, homelessness or family enrollment in a public assistance program.
Additional points are given to children with a documented disability.
The Head Start program enrolls children who are 3 to 5 years old. To be eligible for Head Start, a child must be at least three years old prior to August 31st of the enrollment year. Some exceptions are made for those children who have documentation of a disability. Please call 302-452-1500 for more information.
No, it is not required that the child be potty trained to enroll in the program.
Income requirements are set by the Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines developed each year by the federal government. Qualification is based on the income level and the number of people in the family.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is firmly committed to serving children with disabilities. The program reserves a minimum of 10% of the funded enrollment spaces for children with disabilities.
Parents who wish to enroll their child in the Head Start program should call the Head Start center located closest to them to make an enrollment appointment with a Head Start staff member who will assist the parents through the application process. Head Start requests that parents bring the following documentation to their enrollment appointment:
- 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.
- Proof of enrollment in a Public Assistance program, e.g., Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Social Security Income.
- Foster care documentation
- Medical insurance card
- Documentation of child health appraisal or physical including tuberculosis, lead, hemoglobin, hearing, height and weight.
Once the application is complete, all families are assigned a weighted scale number depending on the demand factors or need associated with their family. Additional points are given to children with a documented disability, foster care status, public assistance program or homelessness. Those families with the highest weighted scale number, i.e. those families with the greatest need, will be given enrollment priority. The program is continually accepting applications and assigning families to the wait list. Once an enrollment slot becomes available, the family with the highest weighted scale number will be offered the program opening. This process ensures that New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is always providing services to those families with the greatest need.
All families who apply will be sent a letter stating whether they have met the enrollment qualifications. Included with that letter may be a list of additional documentation that the program will need upon, or shortly, after enrollment including, child health appraisal, e.g., physical, dental records and immunization records. The New Castle County Head Start, Inc. program is required to obtain this information for all enrolled children in the program. Head Start staff will assist parents to ensure that all the required information is obtained.
From the time the application is completed with all required documentation, it takes approximately one week to process. Please wait at least one week before calling to inquire about the status of an application.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc centers operate from 9:15am to 1:15pm, 5 days a week.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. operates nine centers throughout New Castle County. For location information, please find a center near you or call 302-452-1500.
All students receive a full breakfast and lunch daily.
Parents must provide a doctor’s note for any food allergies or restrictions and must provide a written document of any special dietary requests, e.g., vegetarian. New Castle County Head Start, Inc. does not serve any foods containing pork or peanuts.
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. provides transportation to a small number of students based on family need and distance from a center. As long as there is space available on the bus, parents can ride with their child to the center.
No, a child will remain on the waiting list until a vacancy occurs in the requested center. If the family moves, a request should be submitted to New Castle County Head Start, Inc. for a different center location. Parents must update their family income information if their child is not enrolled before March, which is the start of the enrollment process for the upcoming year.
No, all children are enrolled according to the weighted scale number.
Classroom assignments are distributed to families in August. Classroom visits are scheduled before the start of school so parents and children have an opportunity to meet with classroom teachers and staff members. Teachers will also make a home visit before children start school in September. In addition, an Open House for parents only is scheduled at each center before the start of school.