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Head Start

Head Start in Montana

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
86
towns
46
towns have their own Head Start page
7
of all Montana daycares
7%

Map of Montana: 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 Montana

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
66
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
29
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
58
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.

Montana

Largest towns for Head Start in Montana

Great Falls10 centersBillings8 centersButte6 centersHelena5 centersHavre3 centersLibby3 centersPoplar3 centersBelgrade2 centersBozeman2 centersBrowning2 centersCut Bank2 centersGlasgow2 centers

Programs

Programs in Montana

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 daycares1,163
Take infants655
Child care centers646
Accept subsidy38
In-home daycares517
Christian & church daycares46
Montessori schools68
Preschools & pre-K881
Early morning daycare72
Part-time daycare40
Drop-in daycare21
After-school care711
Head Start86

The Montana state record

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Montana.

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 2018
Cited rules
Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Search the Montana state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Montana

  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.

Montana

Cost, inspections and ratios in Montana

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

A to Z

All 46 Montana towns with Head Start, A to Z

A1 town
B8 towns
C2 towns
D2 towns
E2 towns
F1 town
G3 towns
H5 towns
J1 town
K1 town
L3 towns
M3 towns
P4 towns
R3 towns
S3 towns
T2 towns
W2 towns

Nearby

Nearby states

Idaho52 centersNorth Dakota39 centersWyoming31 centersSouth Dakota698 daycares

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Montana

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

86 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 46 Montana 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 Montana town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Great Falls, with 10 listed. Next are Billings (8) and Butte (6).

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 Montana?

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Montana. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.