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Head Start and Early Head Start in Sarasota, FL

8 centers in Sarasota. 7 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 4 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 4 programs, which report 348 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 Sarasota

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

  • Dalbeck Center

    Early Head Start

    2036 Oak St, Sarasota, FL 34237

    Run by Children First, Inc. · 15 funded slots

    (941) 957-1210
    CallDirections

  • Dr. Elaine Marieb Early Childhood Education Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1723 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34234

    Run by Children First, Inc. · 93 funded slots

    (941) 953-3877
    CallDirections

  • Helen Payne Annex

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1742 Dr Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota, FL 34234

    Run by Children First, Inc. · 49 funded slots

    (941) 363-0312
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Early Learning Parkland

    Head Start

    6432 Parkland Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start · 80 funded slots

    (941) 750-6667
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Early Learning Parkland

    Early Head Start

    6432 Parkland Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. Early Head Start · 48 funded slots

    (941) 750-6667
    CallDirections

  • Rise and Shine Parkland/Services for Pregnant Women

    Early Head Start

    6428 Parkland Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243

    Run by Step Up Suncoast, Inc. EHS Exp 2 · 8 funded slots

    (941) 750-6667
    CallDirections

  • Riverview Teen Parent Program-Sarasota

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1 Ram Way, Sarasota, FL 34231

    Run by Children First, Inc. · 39 funded slots

    (941) 361-6240
    CallDirections

  • Ross

    Early Head Start

    1912 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34234

    Run by Children First, Inc. · 16 funded slots

    (941) 953-3877
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Sarasota

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 Sarasota.

  • Children First, Inc.

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (941) 953-3877

  • Step Up Suncoast, Inc. Early Head Start

    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