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Head Start

Head Start in Connecticut

Head Start is free preschool for children 3 to 5 from families who qualify, and Early Head Start serves babies and toddlers. Families qualify by income, or when they receive public assistance, a child is in foster care or the family has no stable home.

Head Start and Early Head Start centers listed
53
towns
28
towns have their own Head Start page
5
of all Connecticut daycares
2%

Map of Connecticut: each dot is a town with Head Start and Early Head Start centers, sized by how many are listed

Head Start
What puts a daycare on this listThe Office of Head Start lists a Head Start or Early Head Start site at the daycare, or its name, its own website or its state record says Head Start.Head Start programs also run classrooms in public schools and home-based services that may not be on this list; the Office of Head Start's locator lists every site.

Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start in Connecticut

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
42
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
35
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
46
The Office of Head Start lists a site at these daycares. The others say Head Start in their name, on their website or on their state record.
How to apply for Head Start (Office of Head Start)

Head Start sites: Office of Head Start, Head Start service locations (Administration for Children and Families), 2026.

Connecticut

Largest towns for Head Start in Connecticut

Bridgeport8 centersNew Haven8 centersWest Haven4 centersDanbury3 centersStamford3 centersBristol2 centersNew Britain2 centersNorwalk2 centersWaterbury2 centersAnsonia1 centerDanielson1 centerDayville1 center

Programs

Programs in Connecticut

Counts come from the state record and what each daycare says it offers. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.

ProgramListed
All daycares3,228
Take infants856
Child care centers1,445
Accept subsidy95
In-home daycares1,783
Christian & church daycares96
Montessori schools40
Preschools & pre-K1,149
Night daycare313
Early morning daycare1,012
Weekend daycare152
Part-time daycare165
Drop-in daycare21
After-school care1,028
Bilingual daycare24
Head Start53

The Connecticut state record

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Division of Licensing licenses daycares in Connecticut.

License list
The state's public list of licensed child care
Ages served
The ages on each license
Inspections
Every visit the state publishes back to 1990
Cited rules
Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Search the Connecticut state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Connecticut

  1. 1

    Check that you qualify

    Families qualify by income, or when they receive TANF, SSI or SNAP, a child is in foster care or the family has no stable home. Programs may take some other children too.

  2. 2

    Have your papers ready

    Ask the program which papers to bring, such as proof of your child's age and of your family's income or benefits.

  3. 3

    Ask about the waitlist

    There are not enough places for every child who qualifies. If no place is open now, ask to join the waitlist.

  4. 4

    Ask about the day

    Some programs run full days, some part days or the school year only, and some visit families at home. Ask which fits your family.

Connecticut

Cost, inspections and ratios in Connecticut

Daycare cost in ConnecticutWeekly prices by age and countyWhat Connecticut inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in ConnecticutHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for ConnecticutQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 28 Connecticut towns with Head Start, A to Z

A1 town
B2 towns
D3 towns
G1 town
M3 towns
N5 towns
P1 town
S4 towns
T3 towns
U1 town
W4 towns

Nearby

Nearby states

New York469 centersMassachusetts178 centersRhode Island21 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Connecticut

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Connecticut?

53 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 28 Connecticut towns. Head Start programs also run classrooms in public schools and home-based services that may not be on this list; the Office of Head Start's locator lists every site.

Which Connecticut town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Bridgeport, with 8 listed. Next are New Haven (8) and West Haven (4).

Who qualifies for Head Start?

Children from families whose income is at or below the federal poverty guidelines, families that receive TANF, SSI or SNAP, children in foster care and children experiencing homelessness. Programs may also take some children who do not meet these rules, so ask.

Is Head Start free?

Yes. Head Start and Early Head Start cost nothing for families who qualify.

What ages does Head Start serve?

Head Start preschool is for children 3 to 5. Early Head Start is for babies and toddlers from birth to 3, and many programs also serve expectant families.

How do I apply for Head Start?

Call or visit the Head Start program near you; it explains the papers you need. If no place is open now, ask to join the waitlist. The Office of Head Start's apply page links to its national locator.

Who licenses daycares in Connecticut?

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Division of Licensing licenses daycares in Connecticut. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.