Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) are child development programs serving children and their families in Riverside. The programs are funded through a Department of Health and Human Services’ Head Start Office federal grant. Both programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children of low income families through the provision of health, educational, transportation, nutritional, social and other services based on family needs assessments. Recruitment and enrollment of children with disabilities is a major priority of these two programs.

Who We Serve

In Head Start – Children 3 to 4 years of age with priority given to 4 year olds.
In Early Head Start – Infants and toddlers through 3.9 years of age in the Beaumont, Perris, and Coachella Unified School District communities.

How We Provide Services

The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) provides Head Start and Early Head Start either throughout the county through sites it operates directly or through delegate agencies that contract with RCOE. There are three types of program options:

Part Day – Children are in a center based class either in the morning or afternoon for 3.5 hours per day.
Full Day – Children are in a center based class for 6 hours per day. Parents must be working or attending school full time in order to qualify for this program option.
Home Based – A teacher visits the home each week and works with the parent and child. Two socializations are also held each month with all the children and their parents.

Parent Involvement

The Head Start and EHS programs include strong parent involvement through the local parent committees, site parent committees and the program-wide parent Policy Council. Having parents volunteer in the classrooms is something we strongly encourage. Many of the staff members in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs were former parents in these programs.

Program Information

If you would like more information on the Head Start or Early Head Start program, please call our toll free number (800) 600-1800.

Click on the Frequent Asked Questions link to view the answers typically asked about the Head Start and Early Head Start programs:

Frequently Asked Questions

Esmirna Valencia, Executive Director
(951) 826-6617
ecep@rcoe.us