The Head Start Policy Council was created when Head Start began in 1965, based on a core belief: parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. From the beginning, Head Start’s founders knew that families receiving services should have a meaningful voice in deciding how those services support their children and their community.
Today, every Head Start program is required to have a Policy Council as part of its leadership structure. The Council gives parents a real role in shaping the program — from how funds are used, to what children experience in the classroom, to how the program partners with the community.
Our Policy Council is a parent‑ and community‑led leadership group that works in partnership with program management to guide the direction of our Head Start program. Members are elected by parents and participate in decisions about program planning, budgeting, and services. Through this shared leadership, families have a strong and active voice in shaping the services that support their children and the broader community.
