Welcome to
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Head Start and Early Learning Division
Discover the Power of Early Learning
We give children and families the head start they deserve!
Head Start is not just an early education program for children and their families. Head Start helps children of all abilities build the skills they need to succeed in school and life.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education Head Start and Early Learning Division offers a tuition-free comprehensive early learning program for children under five and their families. We partner with families, communities, and providers to give children of all abilities the skills to succeed in school and life. Head Start serves the whole child by providing healthy meals, nutrition, education, social skills, vision and hearing screenings, and resources that support the entire family’s health and well-being. A great Head Start experience is just a click away!
Pregnancy Support Services
A healthy baby begins with a healthy pregnancy. When expectant parents enroll in Early Head Start, they receive support to take the best care of their babies before and after birth.
Services include:
Home visits by trained staff
Support for the entire family
Prenatal health, nutrition, and post-partum screenings
Breastfeeding and lactation education
Home visit with newborn within first two weeks
Referrals to doctors, insurance, mental health support, and other resources
Guaranteed enrollment in Early Head Start after your baby is born
Ages birth – 3
What they learn and how they learn can have lifelong effects. In a family home or center-based setting, infants and toddlers learn through routine, play, and exploring their environment. We read and talk to your infant and toddler to build vocabulary and social skills.
Activities vary based on your child’s needs:
Small groups
Read aloud
Floor activities
Outdoor play
Paint with water
Bubble play
Ages 3-5
Children who attend Head Start are more ready for kindergarten. Children who are ready for kindergarten are more successful in school.
Activities include:
Songs and read aloud
Flannel board stories
Block play
Manipulatives
Puzzles
Music and movement
Art expression
Large/small group play
Free play
Field trips
Head Start leads to positive and strong growth in vocabulary and the ability to understand spoken or written language.
Find a Head Start program near you
You have choices! If you are ready to begin your child’s early learning adventure, we are ready to help. Programs are located all over Los Angeles County. It’s as simple as clicking the link below to find the program closest to you.
Strong support for everyone’s success
The LA County Office of Education (LACOE) receives state and federal funds that support 16 agencies. Our Head Start and Early Learning Division uses those funds to provide high quality early education programs and family services for children (birth to age five) and their families. Working closely with school districts and nonprofit agencies, we serve thousands of LA County children of all abilities through Early Head Start, Head Start, and State Preschool programs.
We provide funding to agencies and make sure they comply with program rules and regulations. LACOE trains staff, provides ongoing assistance and support, and offers additional community resources for our valued agencies to deliver the best services possible. Unless otherwise noted, all agencies offer Early Head Start and Head Start.
Our Agencies:
Private Nonprofit Providers
Blind Children’s Center
CEO: Sarah Orth
Director of Early Childhood Education: Bianca Ciebrant
323-664-2153
https://www.blindchildrenscenter.org/
Children’s Institute, Inc.*
Director: Justine Lawrence
jlawrence@childrensinstitute.org
323-753-2401 (FAX 323-905-1090
https://www.childrensinstitute.org/early-childhood/
Foundation for Early Learning Childhood Education, Inc.*
Director: Marcie Houchen
mhouchen@foundationheadstart.org
626-572-5107 (FAX 626-602-7813)
https://www.foundationheadstart.org
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation*
Director: Sonia Guerrero
sguerrero@maof.org
323-588-7320 (FAX 323-588-8179)
https://www.maof.org/child-care-development/
Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment*
Director: Kellie Konysky
kkonysky@pacela.org
FAX 213-989-3296)
Head Start Office 213-989-3244
PACE Main Office 213-989-3270
https://pacela.org/our-work/education/
Para Los Niños*
Director: Angela Capone
acapone@paralosninos.org
https://www.paralosninos.org/what-we-do/early-education/
Plaza De La Raza Child Development Services, Inc.*
Executive Director: Dr. Sandra Gonzalez
sandragonzalez@pdlr.org
562-551-6205 (FAX
https://www.plazadelarazacds.org/
St. Anne’s Family Services*
Vice President of Childhood Education: Deborah Paratore
dparatore@stannes.org
213-381-2931
https://stannes.org/contact-us/
Volunteers of America+
Director: Felix Cruz
cruz@voala.org
818-980-2287 (FAX 818-980-7634)
https://voala.org/services/children/
Public School Providers
ABC Unified School District **
Director: Cynthia Santos
cynthia.santos@abcusd.us
https://www.abcusdcd.us
Bassett Unified School District*
Director: Rosie Ducoing
rducoing@bassettusd.org
626-931-3161 (FAX 626-931-3150)
https://cdc.bassettusd.org/
El Monte City School District*
Director: Juan Castillo
jcastillo2@emcsd.org
626-452-9164 ext. 3101/3106 (FAX 626-442-3284)
https://cdp.emcsd.org
Garvey School District*
Director: Rose Guerra
rguerra@gesd.us
626-307-3396 (FAX 626-573-3424)
https://www.garvey.k12.ca.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=442203&type=d&pREC_ID=954603
Mountain View School District*
Director: Alma Gonzales
agonzales@mtviewschools.net
626-652-4250 (FAX 626-552-4033)
https://mtviewschools.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=445642&pageId=573874
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District*
Director: Laurel Parker
parker_laurel@nlmusd.org
562-921-7610 (Ramona Sch.) (FAX 562-921-1605)
https://www.nlmusdpreschool.org/
Pomona Unified School District*
Director: Eileen Carrillo-Lau
eileen.carrillo.lau@pusd.org
909-397-4622 (FAX 909-629-7546)
https://proudtobe.pusd.org/apps/pages/Pomona4Kids
*EHS & HS Provider
**HS Provider Only
+State Preschool Only
There are other agencies in Los Angeles County that also provide Head Start and Early Head Start programs. If you live outside of our service area, you can still find a program near you by entering your address here!
Make a difference
The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Head Start and Early Learning Division is a great place to work! We offer a supportive environment for you to grow your career and to make an impact for children and families in our communities. If you’re interested in a career with us, see openings in our division through LACOE’s Personnel Commission.
LACOE Head Start Delegate Agencies are hiring for:
- Associate/ Assistant Teachers
- Head Start Teachers (Ages 3-5)
- Early Head Start Teachers (Ages Birth– 3)
For more information, visit these agency career pages:
- St. Anne’s Family Services | https://stannes.org/jobs/ (See subheading “Early Learning Center”)
- Plaza De La Raza | https://www.plazadelarazacds.org/careers
- Para Los Niños | https://www.paralosninos.org/joinourteam/
- Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment | https://pacela.org/about/work-at-pace/ (filter for ECE)
- Mexican American Opportunity Foundation | http://www.maof.org/beta/job-postings/
- Foundation for ECE | http://www.foundationheadstart.org/employment-opportunities/
- Pomona School District | https://www.edjoin.org/PUSD
- El Monte School District | https://www.edjoin.org/emcsd
- Mountain View School District | https://www.edjoin.org/mtviewschools
- Garvey School District | https://www.edjoin.org/garveyschooldistrict
- Volunteers of America Los Angeles | https://voala.org/voala-job-fairs/
- Bassett Unified School District | https://www.edjoin.org/bassettusd
- ABC Unified School District | https://www.edjoin.org/abcusd
- Blind Children’s Center | https://www.blindchildrenscenter.org
Explore these agencies for more opportunities:
Pomona USD Child Development is hiring for these positions. Click on the links below to get more information.
Child Development Teacher https://prekkid.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/26-Child-Dev-Teacher-21-22.pdf
Foundation for Early Childhood Education, Inc. (Foundation) is hiring in Head Start and Early Head Start. For more information, go to http://www.foundationheadstart.org/employment-opportunities/
Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) has multiple Early Head Start and Head Start vacancies, for more information, go to http://www.maof.org/job-postings/
Organized for success
To ensure every child and family receives the quality services they deserve, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Head Start and Early Learning Division has four areas of focus that together help us deliver outstanding programs:
Administration
Just like the administration of any school or business, our team is responsible for the oversight of all our programs and services. Working with the Superintendent, County Board, and the Policy Council, the administration team sets the policies for all division programs, and makes sure each agency understands and follows them.
Program Design & Effectiveness (PDE)
Program Design & Effectiveness makes sure the programs we fund are providing the best possible service to families and children. PDE provides training and support and monitors program content and operations to make sure each agency meets federal and state requirements and the needs of their families.
Planning & Resources Development (PRD)
Planning & Resources Development is in charge of tracking and reporting how our programs perform (enrollment, self-assessment, and outreach), so we can plan for the future. From managing information systems and services to establishing procedures for eligibility and enrollment, this group helps make sure we provide the right support at every level.
Fiscal Controls & Accountability (FCA)
Fiscal Controls & Accountability ensures that the funding we receive, and provide, to our agencies is put to good use. This team provides our agencies the administrative and operational support they need to wisely manage their funds.
Children of mothers who attended Head Start are more likely to graduate high school and less likely to become teen parents.
Delegate Agencies
Centers
Years Established
Children Served
LACOE is proud to support Head Start, Early Head Start, and state programs through funding from the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services, the California Department of Education, and the California Department of Social Services.