Home > H Words > Head Start Program

Head Start Program

Definition of Head Start Program

(noun) A federal program in the United States launched 1965 and expanded in 1981 to provide universal access to emotional, mental, and social support though education, health, and nutrition services to preschool students of low socioeconomic status and their families.

Head Start Program Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: head start pro·gram

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /hEd stAHRt prOH-gram/
  • British English – /hEd stAHt prOH-gram/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /hɛd stɑrt ˈproʊˌgræm/
  • British English – /hɛd stɑːt ˈprəʊgræm/

Usage Note

  • Plural: Head Start Programs

Additional Information

Related Video

Related Terms


Works Consulted

Griffiths, Heather, Nathan Keirns, Eric Strayer, Susan Cody-Rydzewski, Gail Scaramuzzo, Tommy Sadler, Sally Vyain, Jeff Bry, Faye Jones. 2016. Introduction to Sociology 2e. Houston, TX: OpenStax.

Cite the Definition of Head Start Program

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “head start program.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved March 28, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/head-start-program/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

head start program. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/head-start-program/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “head start program.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/head-start-program/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“head start program.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/head-start-program/>.