In Minnesota, Head Start is funded through Federal and State grants. This two generational program focuses on child and family development, helps low-income families become self-reliant while also helping prepare their children for school success.
With the help of Federal and State funding, especially through the CARES Act. Head Start in Minnesota was able to quickly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the link below for more information on the MN response.
2022 Minnesota Head Start Facts
COVID Response Fact Sheet 2021
2021 Minnesota Head Start Facts
2020 Minnesota Head Start Facts
2019 Minnesota Head Start Facts
Statewide Child Enrollment Data
Statewide Data on Head Start Families
Statewide Program Data
Download PDFs
Minnesota’s 33 Head Start and Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs have remained open serving families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by families’ needs and sound public health guidance, service models have varied from virtual home visits to face-to-face center-based services and child care partnerships. Here is a look at the variety of services offered at different stages of the pandemic.
Download fact sheet here.
Minnesota’s 33 Head Start and Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs have remained open serving families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by families’ needs and sound public health guidance, service models have varied from virtual home visits to face-to-face center-based services and child care partnerships. Here is a look at the variety of services offered at different stages of the pandemic.
Download fact sheet here.
The Federal Office of Head Start collects information from MN Head Start programs annually through the PIR (Program Information Report). Here are some basic facts about Minnesota Head Start Programs. [1]. Each year is a collection of data from the past program year.
The numbers below are not fully representative of ALL Head Start children in MN, as some programs do not include all of their State funded child slots in their Federal reports. They are only required to include them if they use the State funds as matching / non-federal share dollars. For more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.
| STATEWIDE CHILD ENROLLMENT DATA | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
| Total Funded Enrollment | 14,630 | 14,239 | 14,078 | |
| Total Actual Enrollment | 17,732 | 17,200 | 16,810 | |
| Actual Enrollment by Age | ||||
| Under 1 | 1,324 | 1,332 | 1,296 | |
| 1 Year Old | 1,429 | 1,510 | 1,476 | |
| 2 Year Old | 2,300 | 2,321 | 2,381 | |
| 3 Year Old | 5,723 | 5,587 | 5,468 | |
| 4 Year Old | 6,369 | 5,862 | 5,588 | |
| 5 Years and Older | 216 | 229 | 185 | |
| Pregnant Women | 371 | 359 | 416 | |
| Actual Enrollment by Race and Ethnicity | ||||
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 1,674 | 1,613 | 1,569 | |
| Asian | 966 | 955 | 970 | |
| Black or African American | 4,503 | 4,395 | 4,318 | |
| Hispanic or Latino Origin | 3,366 | 3,798 | 3,513 | |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 28 | 92 | 38 | |
| White | 5,307 | 4,886 | 4,928 | |
| Bi-racial or Multi-racial | 1,403 | 1,252 | 1,178 | |
| Other Race | 23 | 20 | 22 | |
| Unspecified | 152 | 189 | 274 | |
| Actual Enrollment by Primary Language | ||||
| English | 12,067 | 11,674 | 11,347 | |
| Spanish | 2,348 | 2,178 | 2,073 | |
| Native Central American, South American and Mexican | 151 | 52 | 62 | |
| Middle Eastern/South Asian | 375 | 298 | 328 | |
| East Asian | 733 | 763 | 772 | |
| European/Slavic Languages | 77 | 38 | 40 | |
| African Languages | 1,893 | 1,942 | 1,964 | |
| Other Languages | 40 | 19 | 60 | |
| Unspecified Languages | 48 | 215 | 164 | |
| Enrollment of Children by Years Enrolled | ||||
| First Year | 9,667 | 9,548 | 9,862 | |
| Second Year | 5,210 | 4,933 | 4,780 | |
| Three (or more) Years | 1,884 | 2,094 | 2,168 | |
| Centers and Classes | ||||
| Total Classes Operated | 801 | 789 | 746 | |
| Total Double Session Classes Operated | 102 | 84 | 84 |
[1] Minnesota Head Start Programs refer to the 33 Federal Early Head Start and/or Head Start programs operating programs in Minnesota including 7 Tribal Head Start and 1 Migrant Head Start program. Primary Data Source is the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) for the past three Program Years. Not all state funded enrollment is counted in the Federal PIR, for more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.
The Federal Office of Head Start collects information from MN Head Start programs annually through the PIR (Program Information Report). Here are some basic facts about Minnesota Head Start Programs. [1]. Each year is a collection of data from the past program year.
The numbers below are not fully representative of ALL Head Start children in MN, as some programs do not include all of their State funded child slots in their Federal reports. They are only required to include them if they use the State funds as matching / non-federal share dollars. For more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.
| STATEWIDE DATA ON HEAD START FAMILIES | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
| Total Number Of Families | 15,538 | 14,901 | 14,596 | |
| Two Parent Families | 8,071 | 7,823 | 7,692 | |
| Single Parent Families | 7,467 | 7,078 | 6,904 | |
| Total Number of Families With One or More Parent Employed | 11,265 | 10,928 | 10,620 | |
| Total Number of Families Receiving TANF Benefits | 2,731 | 2,769 | 2,283 | |
| Total Number of Homeless Families Served | 1,263 | 1,115 | 1,106 | |
| Total Number of Families Receiving Family Service(s) | 11,835 | 10,601 | 11,343 |
[1] Minnesota Head Start Programs refer to the 33 Federal Early Head Start and/or Head Start programs operating programs in Minnesota including 7 Tribal Head Start and 1 Migrant Head Start program. Primary Data Source is the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) for the past three Program Years. Not all state funded enrollment is counted in the Federal PIR, for more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.
The Federal Office of Head Start collects information from MN Head Start programs annually through the PIR (Program Information Report). Here are some basic facts about Minnesota Head Start Programs. [1]. Each year is a collection of data from the past program year.
The numbers below are not fully representative of ALL Head Start children in MN, as some programs do not include all of their State funded child slots in their Federal reports. They are only required to include them if they use the State funds as matching / non-federal share dollars. For more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.
| STATEWIDE PROGRAM DATA | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
| Total Federal Funding For Head Start and Early Head Start | $105.42 million | $112.7 million | $123.55 million | |
| Total State Funding For Head Start and Early Head Start | $25.3 million | $25.1 million | $25.1 million | |
| Average Cost Per Child for Head Start | $8,096 | $9,029 | $9,245 | |
| Average Cost per Child for Early Head Start | $12,763 | $12,885 | $13,413 | |
| Total Number of Staff Members | 3,908 | 3,438 | 3,848 | |
| Total Number of People Providing Volunteer Services | 16,604 | 15,700 | 14,993 | |
| Number and Qualifications of Classroom Teachers | 572 | 569 | 568 | |
| Associate Degree | 216 | 199 | 202 | |
| Baccalaureate Degree | 326 | 324 | 314 | |
| Advanced Degree | 31 | 28 | 23 | |
| CDA Credential | 12 | 16 | 29 | |
| No CDA Credential | 5 | 2 | 0 |
[1] Minnesota Head Start Programs refer to the 33 Federal Early Head Start and/or Head Start programs operating programs in Minnesota including 7 Tribal Head Start and 1 Migrant Head Start program. Primary Data Source is the Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) for the past three Program Years. Not all state funded enrollment is counted in the Federal PIR, for more details contact the State Head Start Collaboration Office, MN Department of Education (651) 582-8463.