Project Head Start is a national compensatory education program serving economically disadvantaged children from ages 3 to 5. The mission of Head Start is to promote school readiness through education, health, nutrition, and social services. Parental and community involvement are considered key aspects in a comprehensive approach. Students attend preschool at Head Start centers throughout the United States and its territories. Launched in 1965 as an eight-week summer program, Head Start now includes year-round, full-day services.

[Page 349]Newly sworn in President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the War on Poverty. Although many educational and anti-poverty initiatives were discussed under the Kennedy administration, President Johnson began the large-scale effort to leverage government in the fight against poverty. Poverty was considered a generational disease, and the Johnson administration devised ...