Data Sources

Listings on HeadStartPrograms.org are built from a combination of sources:

Federal service-location data

Publicly available federal Head Start and Early Head Start service-location datasets, which identify grantees, delegate agencies, and the centers they operate.

Program-provided updates

Information submitted directly by program staff through our listing correction and update forms.

Public agency sources

Publicly published information from state and local agencies that fund, license, or oversee early childhood programs.

User and provider corrections

Corrections and updates submitted by parents, program staff, and other members of the public through the "Report or Update This Listing" action on a listing page.

Review and synchronization cadence

Listings are not updated in real time. Federal source datasets are refreshed periodically, and individual listings also show a "last reviewed" date when that history is known, so you can judge how current a specific listing is.

Limitations

• Source data may lag behind real-world changes such as closures, moves, or new locations.
• Not every field is available or current for every listing (for example, some centers have no listed phone number or address, and some centers do not have a discoverable website).
• We do not independently verify every submitted correction before it appears; see our Corrections Policy for how that review works.

Always confirm application steps, eligibility, hours, and availability directly with the local Head Start program before relying on directory information.