Young African American girl sitting under a tree readingHead Start is a federally-funded program that promotes school readiness in children from birth to age five for eligible families by providing resources and supports to enhance cognitive, social and emotional development. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teachers and partners with parents and families to ensure the child’s well-being and ability to thrive.

Delaware Head Start Programs

Delaware offers child care options to families who are deemed eligible or who meet program requirements. These programs focus on academics, social skills, health and nutrition to better prepare all children for school success.

Head Start and Early Head Start programs support eligible children from low-income families as well as children with disabilities and those who are homeless from birth to their transition into kindergarten. Early Head Start programs offer services to pregnant women as well.

The Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) is for preschool-age children from income-eligible families as well as for children with documented delays or disabilities, regardless of income. Foster children, children who are homeless and families on TANF are also eligible. ECAP programs follow the Head Start Program Performance Standards and must also maintain a Delaware Stars 4 rating or higher. Pre-enrollment takes place each spring and again in August for the September-May school year.

The First Start Delaware Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) program supports partnerships between new or existing Early Head Start programs and child care providers who agree to meet the Head Start Program Performance Standards. It is part of the Federal Early Head Start program.

Below is a list of Head Start, Early Head Start, ECAP and EHS-CCP programs:

Head Start Programs

Program NameStreet AddressCityStateZipPhone
Children and Families First     
Administrative Office25448 PrimeHook Rd, Suite 400MiltonDE19968(302) 934-1642
LOCATIONS     
Bridgeville2 Laverty LnBridgevilleDE19933(302) 337-2285
Colonial Gardens1000 Hayes CirDoverDE19904(302) 741-2499
Cool Springs28607 W Meadowview DrMiltonDE19968(302) 553-3326
Dover / White Oak195 Willis RdDoverDE19901(302) 736-5932
Dunbar1110 W 6th StLaurelDE19956(302) 553-3321
Georgetown /Annex308 N Railroad AveGeorgetownDE19947(302) 604-3793
Harrington112 East StHarringtonDE19952(302) 398-9252
Laurel30125 Discount Land RdLaurelDE19956(302) 553-3348
Milford518 N Church AveMilfordDE19963(302) 553-3326
Seaford517 Bridgeville HwySeafordDE19973(302) 553-3348
Selbyville28229 Dupont BlvdSelbyvilleDE19975(302) 604-3793
Smyrna4272 Brenford RdSmyrnaDE19977(302) 653-3862
Stockley26351 Patriots WayGeorgetownDE19947(302) 553-3311
      
New Castle County Head Start    
Administrative Office256 Chapman Road, #101NewarkDE19702(302) 452-1500
LOCATIONS     
Absalom Jones310 Kiamensi RdWilmingtonDE19804(302) 998-8480
Bear931 Bear Corbitt RdBearDE19701(302) 832-2212
Claymont3301 Green StClaymontDE19703(302) 792-9065
Lambson19 Lambson LnNew CastleDE19720(302) 655-5070
Manor Park1 Bassett AveNew CastleDE19720(302) 328-9454
      
Wilmington Head Start     
Administrative Office100 West 10th Street, Suite 1016WilmingtonDE19801(302) 421-3620
LOCATIONS     
West 3rd Street1021 W 3rd StWilmingtonDE19805(302) 691-3584
Van Buren Street Center1021 W 3rd St, 2nd floorWilmingtonDE19805(302) 691-3584
Leslie Johnson Center2401 Northeast BlvdWilmingtonDE19802(302) 762-8038
West End Center1725 W 8th StWilmingtonDE19805(302) 472-3452

Early Head Start (EHS)

Program NameStreet AddressCityStateZipPhone
Children and Families First
    Dunbar Location1110 W 6th StLaurelDE19956(302) 553-3321
    Harrington Location112 East StreetHarringtonDE19952(302) 398-9196
    Stockley Location26351 Patriots WayGeorgetownDE19947(302) 553-3331
Delaware Early Childhood Center – Harrington100 West Mispillion StHarringtonDE19952(302) 398-8945
Discovery Cove Learning Center12034 County Seat HwyLaurelDE19956(302) 875-7733
Discovery Island Early Care and Preschool32352 Smith DrDagsboroDE19939(302) 732-7529
Early Learning Center – Newark489 Wyoming RdNewarkDE19716(302) 831-6205
Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center1018 W 6th StWilmingtonDE19805(302) 656-3224
Kids-R-Us Learning Center425 Webbs LnDoverDE19904(302) 678-1234
Latin American Community Center / LaFiesta403 N Van Buren StWilmingtonDE19805(302) 655-7338
Little Sprouts425 East Stein HighwaySeafordDE19973(302) 853-0619
Little Sprouts Learning Academy425 W Stein HwySeafordDE19973(302) 629-3317
Milford Early Learning Center, Inc.901 N Dupont BlvdMilfordDE19963(302) 422-6667
Neighborhood House Early Learning Center1218 B StWilmingtonDE19801(302) 654-1420
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. – EHS19 Lambson LnNew CastleDE19720(302) 777-5104
New Directions Early Head Start – U of DE321 South College AvenueNewarkDE19711(302) 831-0584
Our Future Childcare3400 N Market StWilmingtonDE19802(302) 765-2020
Parents and Children Together at Tech – (PACTT)17099 County Seat HwyGeorgetownDE19947(302) 856-3490
Precious Moments Education & Community Center4607 S Dupont HwyDoverDE19901(302) 698-4696
Primeros Pasos
    Primeros Pasos Location122 East Pine StreetGeorgetownDE19947(302) 856-7406
    Primeros Pasos, Inc. Location20648 Savannah RdGeorgetownDE19947(302) 856-7406

Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) &
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP)

Program NameStreet AddressCityStateZipPhone
A Leap of Faith, Inc.1715 West 4th StreetWilmingtonDE19805(302) 543-6256
Appoquinimink Preschool Center502 S. Broad StreetMiddletownDE19709(302) 376-4400
Brandywine School District701 West 34th StreetWilmingtonDE19802(302) 761-7420
Cadence Education, LLC dba Tender Loving Kare22 Peoples PlazaNewarkDE19702(302) 650-4815
Capital School District – Early Childhood Lab165 Commerce WayDoverDE19904(302) 857-4257
Christina Cultural Arts Center, Inc.705 N. Market StreetWilmingtonDE19801(302) 652-0101
Christina School District – Early Educ Center620 E. Chestnut Hill RoadNewarkDE19713(302) 454-2720
Colonial School District – Early Educ Program12 Landers LaneNew CastleDE19720(302) 323-2700
Delaware Early Childhood Center100 West Mispillion St.HarringtonDE19952(302) 398-8945
DelTech Child Development Center21179 College DriveGeorgetownDE19947(302) 259-6566
Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center1018 West 6th StreetWilmingtonDE19805(302) 656-3224
Indian River School District – Project V.I.L.L.A.G.E31 Hoiser StreetSelbyvilleDE19975(302) 732-1346
Kingswood Community Center Inc.2300 Bowers StreetWilmingtonDE19802(302) 743-9312
Latin American Community Center, Inc.403 North Van Buren StreetWilmingtonDE19805(302) 295-2782
Milford Early Learning Center, Inc.901 North DuPont BlvdMilfordDE19963(302) 422-6667
New Castle County Head Start, Inc.256 Chapman Road, Suite 103NewarkDE19702(302) 452-1500
Precious Moments Education Center4607 South Dupont HwyDoverDE19901(302) 698-7165
Primeros Pasos, Inc.20648 Savannah RoadGeorgetownDE19947(302) 856-7406
University of Delaware – Early Learning Center210 Hullihen HallNewarkDE19716
Wilmington Head Start, Inc.100 West 10th StreetWilmingtonDE19801(302) 421-3620