Welcome to The Academy! Head Start's home for professional learning.
Head Start was founded with the mission to empower marginalized Americans by partnering with families to prepare their children for success in school and life.
Head Start plays an essential role in the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of children and families all across the country.
The Head Start Read Aloud Challenge is an NHSA national initiative to read more.
What is the Census?
Turning shared, everyday moments, into brain-building moments
Communicate More Effectively by Using the Head Start Language Playbook
Gro More Good Garden Grants seek to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to more Head Start children and families, increasing healthy food access and fostering a lifelong love of gardening.
Supporting Whole Health for Children, Families and Staff
Bringing Inclusive Sports to Head Start
Developing Data Capacity
It is time to invest in what is already working and expand Head Start’s capacity to treat children and families harmed by the opioid crisis.
We want to share amazing transformation stories of Head Start children and families in local media outlets in every community across the nation.
The Data Design Initiative aims to bring down the barriers that are hindering programs' abilities to collect, analyze, and share data and other evidence.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Toolkit
NHSA and CCSSO have released a comprehensive toolkit to help school districts meet new federal requirements that they formally partner with Head Start.
This month, we encourage you to think about how you are grateful for Head Start! Whether you are a parent who has received job training, a teacher who had the opportunity to change the lives of children, or an alum who started your path to success at Head Start, we invite you to post and give thanks for Head Start!
Measuring family engagement through parents' own words
NSHA is excited to announce that thanks to PNC Grow Up Great Head Start teachers are now eligible to register for DonorsChoose.org!
National Reading Month
In honor of National Reading Month this March NHSA is partnering with actor and author Taye Diggs to promote cultural understanding and pride while wishing Congress a Happy National Reading Month.
Pay for Success in Early Childhood
Winners Announced!
Starting America Early
As a new president is inaugurated, let’s recommit ourselves to serving Head Start children and families.
The Real Risk of Lead
NHSA and the NAACP began an historic partnership in 2016 aimed at empowering Head Start families by facilitating voter registration opportunities, health care enrollment, and fair housing advocacy.
In 1965, our nation made a commitment to open a window of opportunity for at-risk children through "Project Head Start." In the 50+ years since, nearly 33 million Americans have attended Head Start. Are you one of them?
Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships
The NHSA Quality Initiative: Head Start Performance Excellence and Quality Recognition program is the only program of its kind recognizing and supporting excellence and outstanding performance of Head Start programs across the nation.
The Two Generations Together Initiative is focused on increasing awareness of two-generation adult education and job training models that are part of the comprehensive child and family services delivered by Head Start programs across the country.
The First Advocates Pilot Project will nurture parent voices and empower a select group of Head Start parents as leaders who can carry out a variety of strategic advocacy activities in their communities and around the nation.
NHSA is excited to be launching a partnership with the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) that will provide grants of over $160,000 over three years to five Head Start programs to enhance their family engagement work by incorporating NCFL's Family Learning program.
