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Head Start and Early Head Start in Palmetto, FL

5 centers in Palmetto (Manatee County). 2 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 3 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 5 programs, which report 279 funded slots here. 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 Florida

$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

Centers in Palmetto

Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.

  • FLDSWR Palmetto MSHS

    Head StartMigrant and Seasonal

    906 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221

    Run by Grow Early Learning, Florida West Region · 91 funded slots

    (941) 803-7910
    CallDirections

  • RCMA Palmetto Child Development Center

    Head StartMigrant and Seasonal

    2725 16th Ave E, Palmetto, FL 34221

    Run by Redlands Christian Migrant Association · 68 funded slots

    (941) 723-4563
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Early Learning Palmetto

    Early Head Start

    1315 2nd Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. EHS Exp 1 · 16 funded slots

    (941) 941-6667
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Early Learning Palmetto

    Head Start

    1315 2nd Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start · 72 funded slots

    (941) 750-6667
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Palmetto

    Early Head Start

    1315 2nd Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. EHS Exp 2 · 32 funded slots

    (941) 750-6667
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Palmetto

You apply to the program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff check whether you qualify, tell you which centers have room, and add you to the waiting list if they're full. Counts are centers in Palmetto.

  • Grow Early Learning, Florida West Region

    1 center · Head Start

    (919) 926-3348

  • Redlands Christian Migrant Association

    1 center · Head Start

    (239) 658-3560 ext. 255

  • Step Up Suncoast, Inc. EHS Exp 1

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (941) 750-6667 ext. 7001

  • Step Up Suncoast, Inc. EHS Exp 2

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (941) 750-6667 ext. 7001

  • Step Up Suncoast, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    (941) 750-6667 ext. 7001

New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Florida

Having a baby in FloridaBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 196% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveVoluntaryMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Florida