Head Start in Idaho
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
- 52
- towns
- 37
- towns have their own Head Start page
- 3
- of all Idaho daycares
- 6%
Map of Idaho: each dot is a town with Head Start and Early Head Start centers, sized by how many are listed
Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start in Idaho
- Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
- 51
- Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
- Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
- 19
- For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
- on the federal Head Start site list
- 51
- 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.
Idaho
Largest towns for Head Start in Idaho
Programs
Programs in Idaho
Counts come from the state record and what each daycare says it offers. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.
| Program | Listed |
|---|---|
| All daycares | 924 |
| Take infants | 69 |
| Child care centers | 687 |
| Accept subsidy | 27 |
| In-home daycares | 237 |
| Christian & church daycares | 59 |
| Montessori schools | 28 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 192 |
| Early morning daycare | 124 |
| Part-time daycare | 48 |
| Drop-in daycare | 11 |
| Head Start | 52 |
The Idaho state record
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare licenses daycares in Idaho.
- License list
- The state's public list of licensed child care
- Ages served
- On some licenses only; elsewhere shown where the daycare gives them
- Inspections
- Every visit the state publishes back to 2017
- Cited rules
- The inspector's finding, in the state's own words
- Corrections
- Correction dates as the state records them
Before you enroll
Applying to Head Start in Idaho
- 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
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
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
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.
Idaho
Cost, inspections and ratios in Idaho
A to Z
All 37 Idaho towns with Head Start, A to Z
A2 towns
- Aberdeen1 center
- American Falls1 center
B5 towns
- Blackfoot1 center
- Boise1 center
- Bonners Ferry1 center
- Buhl1 center
- Burley2 centers
C2 towns
- Caldwell5 centers
- Coeur D'Alene3 centers
D1 town
- Donnelly1 center
E1 town
- Emmett1 center
G2 towns
- Garden City1 center
- Gooding1 center
H1 town
- Hansen1 center
I1 town
- Idaho Falls5 centers
J1 town
- Jerome1 center
K1 town
- Kellogg1 center
L1 town
- Lewiston2 centers
M4 towns
- Malad1 center
- Marsing2 centers
- Meridian1 center
- Mountain Home2 centers
N1 town
- Nampa1 center
P4 towns
- Paris1 center
- Payette1 center
- Post Falls1 center
- Preston1 center
S3 towns
- Saint Maries1 center
- Sandpoint1 center
- Shoshone1 center
T1 town
- Twin Falls1 center
W1 town
- Weiser2 centers
No town on this list matches. Check the spelling, or search by ZIP code above.
Nearby
Nearby states
Questions
Questions about Head Start in Idaho
How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Idaho?
52 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 37 Idaho 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 Idaho town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?
Caldwell, with 5 listed. Next are Idaho Falls (5) and Coeur D'Alene (3).
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 Idaho?
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare licenses daycares in Idaho. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.