Editing Head Start (program) (section)

== Eligibility ==
Eligibility is largely income-based, although each local program includes other eligibility criteria, such as disabilities and services needed by other family members. Families must earn less than 100% of the [[Poverty in the United States|federal poverty level]]. Programs may accept up to 10% of the total children over poverty given the program has unfilled spots and the over poverty is less than 130%.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} 
{| class="wikitable"
|+2023 Federal Poverty Level<ref>{{Cite web|title=HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2023 - HealthCare.gov Glossary|url=https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines/|access-date=2023-05-30|website=aspe.hhs.gov|language=en}}</ref>
|-
!Family Size
!Income
|-
|2
|$19,720
|-
|3
|$24,860
|-
|4
|$30,000
|-
|5
|$35,140
|-
|6
|$40,280
|-
|7
|$45,420
|-
|8
|$50,560
|}
The federal poverty line measure is not absolute, and it changes yearly to account for inflation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beyond the Poverty Line (SSIR)|url=https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines/prior-hhs-poverty-guidelines-federal-register-references|access-date=2023-05-30|website=aspe.hhs.gov|language=en-us}}</ref> Families may also qualify under a categorical eligibility category—receipt of [[Temporary Assistance to Needy Families]] (TANF) funds, [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]] (SNAP),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/im/acf-im-hs-22-03 | title=Head Start Categorical Eligibility for Families Eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program &#124; ECLKC | date=April 20, 2022 }}</ref> Supplemental Security funds, or Homeless, as per the [[McKinney-Vento Act]]. Up to 10% of any funded program's enrollment can be from higher income families or families experiencing emergency situations. All programs are required to provide services to children with disabilities, who must comprise 10% of their total enrollment. Per the Head Start Act (2007), programs may elect to serve families whose income is between 100-130% under certain circumstances. Programs must also complete additional reporting requirements if this is appropriate for their community.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Military families stationed abroad can apply for Sure Start.<ref name="Communications">{{Cite web|last=Communications|first=DoDEA|title=Preschool|url=https://www.dodea.edu/curriculum/preschool/index.cfm|access-date=2021-04-10|website=www.dodea.edu|language=en-us}}</ref> Sure Start is the military version of Head Start and is overseen by the Department of Defense Education Activity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-12|title=Sure Start for Military Children|url=https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-children-and-youth/pre-k-to-12-education/get-your-child-the-right-start-with-sure-start/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Military OneSource|language=en-US}}</ref> There are four priority tiers for Sure Start, and like Head Start, not all eligible families are guaranteed a spot. The tiers are based on the sponsor's rank and are, in order, E1-E4, E5, E6-E7, and E8-E9.<ref name="Communications"/>



{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ HHS POVERTY REGISTER<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines/prior-hhs-poverty-guidelines-federal-register-references|title=Prior HHS Poverty Guidelines and Federal Register References|website=ASPE}}</ref>
|-
! YEAR !! First Person !! Each Additional Person !! Four Person Family !! Page with Complete Details
|-
| 2023 || $14,580|| $5,140|| ($30,000)|| Federal Register 2023
|-
|2022 || $13,590 || 	$4,720 || 	($27,750) || 	Federal Register 2022
|-
|2021 || $12,880 || 	$4,540 || 	($26,500) || 	Federal Register 2021
|-
|2020 || 	$12,760 || 	$4,480 || 	($26,200) || 	Federal Register 2020
|-
|2019 || 	$12,490 || 	$4,420	 || ($25,750) || 	Federal Register 2019
|-
|2018 || 	$12,140 || 	$4,320 || 	($25,100) || 	Federal Register 2018
|-
|2017	 || $12,060 || 	$4,180 || 	($24,600) || 	Federal Register 2017
|-
|2016 || 	$11,880 || 	Varies || 	($24,300) || 	Federal Register 2016
|-
|2015 || 	$11,770	 || $4,160 || 	($24,250) || 	Federal Register 2015
|-
|2014	 || $11,670 || 	$4,060	 || ($23,850) || 	Federal Register 2014
|-
|2013 || 	$11,490	 || $4,020 || 	($23,550) || 	Federal Register 2013
|-
|2012 || 	$11,170 || 	$3,960	 || ($23,050) || 	Federal Register 2012
|-
|2011 || 	10,890 || 	3,820	 || ( 22,350) || 	Federal Register 2011
|-
|2010 || 	10,830 || 	3,740	 || ( 22,050) || 	Federal Register 2010 (Jan)Federal Register 2010 (Aug)
|-
|2009 || 	10,830 || 	3,740 || 	( 22,050) || 	Federal Register 2009
|-
|2008 || 	10,400 || 	3,600 || 	( 21,200) || 	Federal Register 2008
|-
|2007 || 	10,210 || 	3,480 || 	( 20,650) || 	Federal Register 2007
|-
|2006 || 	9,800 || 	3,400 || 	( 20,000) || 	Federal Register 2006
|-
|2005 || 	9,570 || 	3,260	 || ( 19,350) || 	Federal Register 2005
|-
|2004 || 	9,310	 || 3,180	 || ( 18,850)	 || Federal Register 2004
|-
|2003 || 	8,980 || 	3,140 || 	( 18,400) || 	Federal Register 2003
|-
|2002 || 	8,860 || 	3,080 || 	( 18,100) || 	Federal Register 2002
|-
|2001 || 	8,590	 || 3,020 || 	( 17,650) || 	Federal Register 2001
|-
|2000 || 	8,350	 || 2,900 || 	( 17,050) || 	Federal Register 2000
|-
|1999 || 	8,240 || 	2,820 || 	( 16,700) || 	Federal Register 1999
|-
|1998 || 	8,050 || 	2,800 || 	( 16,450) || 	Federal Register 1998
|-
|1997 || 	7,890 || 	2,720 || 	( 16,050) || 	Federal Register 1997
|-
|1996 || 	7,740 || 	2,620 || 	( 15,600) || 	Federal Register 1996
|-
|1995 || 	7,470 || 	2,560 || 	( 15,150) || 	Federal Register 1995
|-
|1994 || 	7,360 || 	2,480 || 	( 14,800) || 	Federal Register 1994
|-
|1993 || 	6,970 || 	2,460 || 	( 14,350) || 	Federal Register 1993
|-
|1992 || 	6,810 || 	2,380 || 	( 13,950) || 	Federal Register 1992
|-
|1991 || 	6,620 || 	2,260 || 	( 13,400) || 	Federal Register 1991
|-
|1990 || 	6,280 || 	2,140 || 	( 12,700) || 	Federal Register 1990
|-
|1989 || 	5,980 || 	2,040 || 	( 12,100) || 	Federal Register 1989
|-
|1988 || 	5,770 || 	1,960 || 	( 11,650) || 	Federal Register 1988
|-
|1987 || 	5,500 || 	1,900 || 	( 11,200) || 	Federal Register 1987
|-
|1986 || 	5,360 || 	1,880 || 	( 11,000) || 	Federal Register 1986
|-
|1985 || 	5,250 || 	1,800 || 	( 10,650) || 	Federal Register 1985
|-
|1984 || 	4,980 || 	1,740 || 	( 10,200) || 	Federal Register 1984
|-
|1983 || 4,860 || 	1,680 || 	( 9,900) || 	Federal Register 1983
|-
|1982 || 	4,680 || 	1,540 || 	( 9,300) || 	Federal Register 1982

|}