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Head Start

Head Start in Indiana

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
163
towns
112
towns have their own Head Start page
9
of all Indiana daycares
5%

Map of Indiana: 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 Indiana

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
146
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
82
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
156
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.

Indiana

Largest towns for Head Start in Indiana

Indianapolis14 centersMerrillville6 centersEvansville5 centersFort Wayne4 centersAnderson3 centersBloomington3 centersGoshen3 centersMuncie3 centersWarsaw3 centersDemotte2 centersEast Chicago2 centersGary2 centers

Programs

Programs in Indiana

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 daycares2,967
Take infants1,952
Child care centers1,502
Accept subsidy2,591
In-home daycares1,465
Christian & church daycares268
Montessori schools26
Preschools & pre-K2,461
24-hour daycare287
Night daycare510
Early morning daycare1,724
Weekend daycare229
Part-time daycare119
Drop-in daycare14
After-school care2,024
Bilingual daycare11
Head Start163

The Indiana state record

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning licenses daycares in Indiana.

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 2021
Cited rules
The inspector's finding, in the state's own words
Corrections
Correction dates as the state records them
Search the Indiana state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Indiana

  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.

Indiana

Cost, inspections and ratios in Indiana

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

A to Z

All 112 Indiana towns with Head Start, A to Z

A3 towns
B6 towns
C13 towns
D3 towns
E4 towns
F3 towns
G7 towns
H5 towns
I1 town
J2 towns
K3 towns
L12 towns
M14 towns
N6 towns
O3 towns
P6 towns
R6 towns
S5 towns
T2 towns
V2 towns
W6 towns

Nearby

Nearby states

Ohio626 centersMichigan427 centersIllinois390 centersKentucky278 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Indiana

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

163 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 112 Indiana 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 Indiana town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Indianapolis, with 14 listed. Next are Merrillville (6) and Evansville (5).

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 Indiana?

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning licenses daycares in Indiana. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.