Schools
Hillsborough Head Start Now Accepting Enrollment Applications
Apply now for Hillsborough County's Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
![Apply now for Hillsborough County’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/22976176/20210731/074322/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1763950991___31194230887.jpg)
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Looking for an enriching educational experience and a nurturing environment for preschoolers with teachers that offer a fun and creative classroom experience?
Hillsborough County’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs are now accepting enrollment applications for the 2021-2022 school year.
Hillsborough County Early Head Start is enrolling newborns to toddlers who are up to 35 months old. Head Start is enrolling children who are 3 to 4 years old. The program also offers Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for children who are 4 years old.
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The mission of Hillsborough County’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs is to provide early childhood education that will put children on track to be ready for school and success later in life. The programs offer comprehensive educational, health, and social service support for children and their parents or guardians.
Each classroom offers an excellent teacher-to-student ratio, and regular assessments are provided throughout the school year to evaluate each child’s progress. Both programs are offered for children with special needs.
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Head Start and Early Head Start offer easy access at 23 locations throughout the County, including Ruskin, Plant City, Temple Terrace, and Tampa, and each center is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, the County offers the Expectant Parent Program that serves as a support and resource for expectant parents.
As the locations reopen, leadership has addressed safety protocols and has taken steps to help keep the children, families, and staff safe from COVID-19. Facilities teams will perform daily cleaning routines. Staff will continue to be required to practice social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing. Firm drop-off and pick-up routines for parents and families will remain in place. And outside vendors will be prohibited from entering each location.
To apply for Head Start or Early Head Start, visit HCFLGov.net/HeadStart. To learn more about Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Expectant Parent Program, call 813-272-5140.
This press release was produced by Hillsborough County. The views expressed here are the author's own.