Parents are the primary educators of their children. Head Start assists parents by providing various opportunities geared toward the development of their children. Head Start also encourages families' participation and decision-making throughout their children's Head Start early learning experience.

Parents in the Classroom

Head Start staff recognize that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. Staff work as partners with parents to help their child grow and learn.

Parents in Decision Making

Parents are one of Head Start's most valuable resources -not only as primary educators of their children but also as policy makers of their children's local Head Start program. Annually, Head Start parents nominate and elect other Head Start parents to participate on the (parent) Policy Council. The Policy Council (PC) is designed to provide parents the opportunity to participate in policy and decision making areas of the Head Start program such as annual budgets, program planning, operations, personnel, policies, and procedures.