Foundation for Early Childhood Education Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool Programs

Foundation for Early Childhood Education Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool Programs offers daily activities that include art, blocks, computers, cooking, discovery, dramatic play, library time, music and movement, outdoor play, sand and water play, and toys and games. The program provides Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool options along with no cost meals at school for enrolled children, including breakfast, lunch, and snack.

• Ages: 18 months to kindergarten entry
• Schedule: Head Start and State Preschool are 7-hour programs, 5 days a week, Monday–Friday, with State Preschool also offering a part-day option of at least 3½ hours; Early Head Start classrooms operate from August to June, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, Monday–Friday, and Head Start and Head Start/State Preschool generally operate from September to early or late June with calendars similar to the local school district (LAUSD)
• Price: The program is provided at no cost to eligible families; State Preschool is a no cost part-day program for low income and disabled preschool children, and the Nutrition program provides no cost breakfast, lunch, and snack at school

In 1965, a group of Teacher Directors of community-based cooperative nursery schools established this non-profit organization. Foundation for Early Childhood Education, Inc. states that it is committed to promoting the growth and development of children, families, and staff and to providing an environment that fosters respect and understanding of all individuals and their cultural backgrounds. The organization provides child care services to low income families, including education and nutrition services, and administers a Head Start–State Preschool Program, a full-day Child Development Center funded by the California State Department of Education, and a Parent Education Project funded by the Office of Child Development. Current funding provides services to approximately 500 children ages 18 months to kindergarten entry, and services include education, nutrition, disabilities, social services, health, mental health, and parent involvement.

Head Start serves 3- to 5-year-old children from low income families in the local community, with priority given to four-year-old children, families at risk and/or in crisis, and children with disabilities, and its services include social, health, mental health, nutrition, and parent involvement. Early Head Start is for children under 3 years of age and enrolls children who are 18 months of age until their 3rd birthday. Head Start and State Preschool at Foundation are provided at no cost to eligible families, and families are prioritized on the waitlist for enrollment based on income, at-risk/DCFS referral, and homelessness. Each program has its own calendar that is similar to that of the local school district, LAUSD.

Foundation receives funds from the Los Angeles County Office of Education Head Start/State Preschool Division and is funded by the Los Angeles County Office of Education for Head Start and Early Head Start. The California Department of Education provides funds for the State Preschool program, General Child Care & Development program, and Nutrition services, and the organization is directly funded by the California Department of Education Child Development Division for the State Preschool program. CDE and CAFP fund the Nutrition program. The Foundation was selected by the Office of Child Development to pioneer a federal demonstration project, the Head Start Continuation Learning Program, in which Head Start assistant teachers accompany Head Start children into elementary school classrooms through the third grade. The website for the program is supported by Grant Number #09CH012684 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Last updated July 14, 2026.