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Head Start and Early Head Start in Delaware

28 centers in 12 cities and towns, run by 5 programs. 18 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 14offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in Delaware

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Head Start by city in Delaware

2 cities have 3 or more centers and a page of their own, most centers first.

Where to apply in Delaware

You apply to a program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff can tell you which of its centers have room and add you to a waiting list.

  • Delaware Department of Education

    9 centers · Early Head Start

    (302) 735-4096

  • Acelero, Inc.

    8 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    No line reported

  • New Castle County Head Start, Inc.

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (302) 452-1500

  • University of Delaware

    5 centers · Early Head Start

    (302) 831-0584

  • CDI Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    No line reported

Centers in smaller towns in Delaware

16 centers in 10 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Bear · 1

  • Jeffrey E. Benatti Center

    Head Start · 931 Bear Corbitt Rd

    (302) 832-2212

Bridgeville · 1

Claymont · 1

Georgetown · 2

  • Primeros Pasos, Inc.

    Early Head Start · 20648 Savannah Rd

    (302) 856-7406

  • Stockley

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 26351 Patriots Way

Harrington · 2

  • Delaware Early Childchood Center - Harrington

    Early Head Start · Mispillion and west Streets

    (302) 398-3894

  • Wonder Years Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start · 17629 S Dupont Hwy

    (302) 398-5863

Laurel · 2

  • Dunbar

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 1110 W 6th St

    (888) 233-3920

  • Laurel

    Head Start · 30125 Discount Land Rd

Milford · 2

  • Milford

    Head Start · 518 N Church Ave

  • Milford Early Learning Center, Inc.

    Early Head Start · 901 N Dupont Blvd

    (302) 422-6667

New Castle · 2

  • Manor Park

    Head Start · 1 Bassett Ave

    (302) 328-9454

  • New Castle County Head Start, Inc. - EHS

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 19 Lambson Ln

    (302) 655-5070

Newark · 2

  • Early Learning Center - Newark

    Early Head Start · 489 Wyoming Rd

    (302) 831-6205

  • New Directions Early Head Start - U of DE

    Early Head Start · 321 S College Ave

    (302) 831-0584

Smyrna · 1

  • Smyrna

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 4272 Brenford Rd

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Delaware

Having a baby in DelawareBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 217% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Delaware