12 Head Start Programs Earn Program of Excellence Accreditation

Washington, D.C. – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is recognizing 12 Head Start programs across the country for their excellence in providing high-quality early childhood education and family support services, as part of their 2024-29 Program of Excellence accreditation. 

The Program of Excellence commendation is awarded to top Head Start and Early Head Start programs for delivering a well-rounded classroom experience and comprehensive services associated with robust positive outcomes to children from birth to age five, their families, expectant parents, and their communities.

“Head Start programs serve 800,00 families in every state of the country, across all ethnicities, religions, cultures, linguistic backgrounds, family structures, and learning abilities. These 12 programs exemplify the commitment and excellence that all Head Start programs strive for,” says NHSA’s Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. “NHSA is thrilled to shine a national spotlight on their dedication to providing outstanding education to young children and life-changing support and resources to their families, who might otherwise lack such opportunities. This helps parents build brighter futures and break the cycle of generational poverty.”

The 2024-29 Program of Excellence accredited programs are:

• Black Belt Community Foundation Head Start, Selma, Alabama 
• Centro De La Familia, Salt Lake City, Utah 
• Child Crisis Arizona Early Education Services, Mesa, Arizona
  
• Flowers Early Learning, Paw Paw, Michigan 
• Jefferson County Head Start, Arvada, Colorado 
• KCEOC Community Action Partnership, Gray, Kentucky
  
• Orange County Head Start, Inc., Santa Ana, California
• Pearl River Valley Opportunity, Inc. Head Start & Early Head Start, Columbia, Mississippi 
• Pomona Unified School District, Pomona, California
• Successful Beginnings Wyandotte County Head Start, Kansas City, Kansas 
• Wayne Action Group For Economic Solvency, Inc, Goldsboro, North Carolina
• You Thrive Florida Learning Programs, Woodland Boulevard, Deland, Florida

Program winners will be formally recognized in January 2025 at NHSA’s Winter Leadership Institute, in Washington, D.C.