HEAD START and Early Head Start
Learn, Play, Socialize — Your Child Belongs Here!
Learning and play go hand in hand at Shelby Scholars. We have partnered with Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford — where highly trained teachers develop skills through fun, inclusive, high-quality learning experiences. We are one of more than 35 independently operated early childhood programs throughout Chicago and Suburban Cook County to use proven Head Start and Early Start methods to provide free preschool and child care.
Benefits
- Prepare your child for success with an emphasis on social skills.
- Build neighborhood connections with other families that have children age 0-5.
- Support your child’s learning and development with highly trained and culturally informed teachers.
- Support your family’s unique needs with flexible scheduling.
- Trust in a safe environment where your child will thrive.
- Free learning and care for 7 hours each day (up to 12 hours available per day).
Support is available to assist your family with:
- Child care supplies (diapers, food, car seat)
- Transportation
- Employment
- Stable housing
- Financial literacy
- Access to technology and more!
Program Features
Early Head Start for Children 0-3
Center-based
- High-quality play and learning instruction.
- Licensed child care facility with small class sizes: 1 teacher to 4 toddlers.
- Support for health and physical development, including pediatrician/dentist referrals.
Home-visiting
- Weekly, in-home visits to strengthen relationships between child and parents/caregivers.
- Support and coaching for expectant mothers and for families of children up to age 3
- Support for health and physical development, including pediatrician/dentist referrals.
Head Start for Children 3-5
- High-quality instruction that mirrors school curriculum.
- Curriculum and care to develop academic and social/emotional skills, preparing children for kindergarten.
- Specially trained teachers and staff support children with IEPs (Individualized Education plans) and children with disabilities.
Eligibility
Head Start and Early Head Start eligibility is based on this criteria. Children do not have to meet all criteria to be eligible.
For help determining if your family is eligible, please complete the enrollment form below or call 708-330-4490
Age requirements
- Early Head Start: Child must be younger than 3 at the time of enrollment.
- Head Start: Child must be at least 3 and cannot be eligible for kindergarten at the time of enrollment.
- Home-Visiting Early Head Start: Currently pregnant people and families with children ages 0-3.
Income (must meet ONE of the following criteria)
- Family Income: Family income is at or below the federal poverty guidelines (for the previous 12 months or previous calendar year).
- Public Assistance: Family is currently eligible for or receiving SNAP, TANF or SSI.
- Homeless: Your child is experiencing homelessness or resides in foster care.
- Over Income — If a child does not meet any of the above, enrollment is still possible. Up to 10% of the program’s funded enrollment may be children from families with income above the Head Start income guidelines.