On March 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law provisions giving Head Start programs additional flexibility to serve children in tribal communities and children of farmworkers. These provisions ensure Head Start programs can more effectively serve the families for whom they were designed. Tribal Head Start programs will be able to prioritize enrolling children who are tribal members or whose family or household members are tribal members, regardless of family income. In addition, any child who has at least one family member primarily engaged in agricultural employment is now eligible for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs.

Letter from the Director

Read Director Garvin’s letter on the changes to Head Start Eligibility Criteria for Regions XI and XII.

Letter to Tribal Leaders

Administration for Children and Families' Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild addresses changes to the eligibility criteria for American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs in this letter to Tribal leaders.

New Head Start Eligibility Webinars

Children in Tribal Programs

In this webinar, learn about the new Head Start eligibility criteria for children in tribal programs. Head Start leaders discuss how the provisions impact American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs.

Children in Agricultural Programs

In this webinar, learn about the new Head Start eligibility criteria for children in MSHS programs. Head Start leaders discuss how the provisions impact MSHS programs.

Letter to MSHS Leaders

Read Director Garvin’s letter to MSHS leaders on the changes to Head Start eligibility criteria for MSHS programs.

Press Release

Read and share this press release to learn more about the changes to the Head Start eligibility criteria for Regions XI and XII.

Last Updated: October 11, 2024