Basic Educational Skills as Defined by Head Start
"The goal of Head Start is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children, regardless of race, economic circumstances, language and geographic location by providing a comprehensive child development experience within the context of his/her family and community. Social competence embraces the child's intellectual, affective and physical development at home, in school and in the neighborhood. Developmental-appropriate educational skills are those which are necessary for the later acquisition of skills and learning commonly recognized as reading, writing, mathematics, language, science, problem-solving and the development of positive attitudes toward learning.
The Head Start curriculum involves mastering now the preschool work of "doing and experiencing". These experiences are groundwork for social competence and formal academic learning. It does not mean implementing in Head Start what children do in Kindergarten and first grade. The assumption of this project is that a program which fosters the acquisition of basic skills must not only be developmentaly-appropriate, but must be implemented in the context of the Head Start philosophy of a comprehensive approach to children and families.

Classroom Structure
The Head Start education classrooms are comprised of three year olds. They are staffed by classroom teachers including a certified teacher, and a full-time and a part-time assistant. Classroom support staff includes bilingual assistants, speech and early intervention specialists, family service staff, mental health consultants, and a registered nurse."