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Head Start and Early Head Start in Columbia, MD

5 centers in Columbia (Howard 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 2 programs, which report 104 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 Maryland

$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 Columbia

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

  • Bauder Education Center at Long Reach

    Early Head Start

    8775 Cloudleap Ct, Ste 110, Columbia, MD 21045

    Run by Community Action Council of Howard County, MD. Inc. · 10 funded slots

    (410) 313-6443
    CallDirections

  • Bauder Education Center at Long Reach

    Head Start

    8775 Cloudleap Ct, Ste 110, Columbia, MD 21045

    Run by Community Action Council of Howard County · 18 funded slots

    (410) 313-6443
    CallDirections

  • Children's Learning Center at HCC

    Early Head Start

    5600 Dragon Place, Columbia, MD 21044

    Run by Community Action Council of Howard County, MD. Inc. · 22 funded slots

    (410) 313-5383
    CallDirections

  • Dasher Green Head Start

    Head Start

    6680 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

    Run by Community Action Council of Howard County · 36 funded slots

    (410) 313-6210
    CallDirections

  • Old Cedar Lane Head Start Center

    Head Start

    5451 Beaverkill Rd, Columbia, MD 21044

    Run by Community Action Council of Howard County · 18 funded slots

    (410) 313-7246
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Columbia

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 Columbia.

  • Community Action Council of Howard County

    3 centers · Head Start

    (410) 313-6443

  • Community Action Council of Howard County, MD. Inc.

    2 centers · Early Head Start

    (410) 313-6443

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Maryland

Having a baby in MarylandBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 264% FPLWICYesPaid family leavePendingMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Maryland