
Head Start and Early Head Start

ATCAA Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start offer child enrichment, education, health, nutritional and developmental services as well as parent education and involvement opportunities. ATCAA offers:
-
Head Start preschool and State Preschool programs to prepare children 3 - 5 for kindergarten
-
Early Head Start for pregnant women and children 0 - 3
-
Home Base program that serves pregnant woman and children 0 - 5
Quality Early Childhood Services
Explore different aspects of ATCAA's Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool programs by clicking "Read more" under each title below.
Early Head Start
Early Head Start programs provide family-centered services for low-income families with very young children. These programs are designed to promote the development of the children and to enable their parents to fulfill their roles as parents and to move toward self-sufficiency. Early Head Start programs provide similar services as preschool Head Start programs, but they are tailored for the unique needs of infants and toddlers. Early Head Start programs promote the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving. This prepares these children for continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life. Following the general Head Start model, Early Head Start programs support parents, both mothers and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children. Programs assist families in meeting their own personal goals and achieving self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security.
Home Base Program
Many children and parents receive Early Head Start and Head Start services right in their own home! Home visitors come and work with parents and their children. Together, the home visitor and parents watch and think about the child. They plan ways to help the child learn using parent-child interactions, daily routines, and household materials. A small group of children, parents, and their home visitors also get together on a monthly basis for group socializations.
Head Start Food Program
ATCAA Head Start's Nutrition Initiative ensures the complete well-being of your growing child through healthy living, nutritious food, and physical activities. Our goal is to help children develop healthy habits for a healthy future. We ensure that the food we serve Head Start students is well-balanced, homemade, nutritious, and delicious! Our meals are made daily from scratch by on-site cooks at each Head Start location. We make healthy choices for healthy kids including: • Each meal includes fresh fruits and vegetables that we purchase locally. • We prioritize organic food as much as possible. We serve nutritious whole grains loaded with fiber and vitamins. • Head Start meals are free of artificial dyes, added sugars, and high fructose corn syrup. •We serve low- or nonfat, rBST-free milk (whole milk for age 2 and under) • We accommodate your children’s needs into our daily menus. • All the meat we serve is hormone free, if not organic. • We encourage children to try new flavors more than once! Weekly menus are approved by a registered nutritionist. All servings comply with USDA portion size and nutrition requirements for children. We serve meals family-style to teach children how to share while working on their fine motor skills as they serve themselves. We are committed to each child’s dietary needs, so we are diligent about allergy restrictions and religious beliefs




Ready to apply?
Step 1:
Click Apply Now to fill out an online application.
Step 2:
Wait for a call from a Family Advocate to finish your enrollment.

Apply In-Person or Online
New Families: click here to fill out your application online. Then wait for a call from one of our Family Advocates to complete enrollment.
Returning Families: please click to download and fill out the application below and return to our office. A Family Advocate will follow up to complete enrollment.
Printable Applications
Select an application below based on your county of residence and primary language. Download and print to fill out.
Head Start and Early Head Start Locations
Administrative Offices
Sonora Service Center
427 N. Hwy 49 Suite 202
Sonora CA 95370
(209) 533-0361 ext. 240
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Closed on Fridays
In Amador County:
Jackson Head Start/State Preschool and Early Head Start
151 Shopping Dr. Jackson
(209) 223-7333
Ione Head Start/State Preschool and Early Head Start
108 W. Marlette St., Ione
(209) 274-0395
In Tuolumne County:
Blue Bell Head Start/Early Head Start
18080 Blue Bell East, Sonora
(209) 532-5455
Jamestown Head Start/State Preschool
18234 4th Ave., Jamestown
(209) 984-1715
Jamestown Early Head Start
10550 Seventh Street, Jamestown
(209) 984–1715
Soulsbyville Head Start/State Preschool
20300 Soulsbyville Road, Soulsbyville
(209) 533-3143
Summerville Head Start/State Preschool
18451 Carter Street, Tuolumne
(209) 928-3651
Reviews and Disclosures
ATCAA Head Start and Early Head Start value high-quality services and transparency. Click on available reviews and disclosures below to download and learn more.
Early Head Start and Head Start 2023 Annual Report
Results of Head Start Federal Monitoring Review
Download Integrated Pest Management Plan for Amador and Tuolumne Locations
Click on the year for each program below to see how we are performing in our Head Start and Early Head Start programs:
Office of Head Start - Program Information Report (PIR) | PIR Indicator Report

Head Start

Early Head Start
This website is supported by Grant Number 0CH011917 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of ATCAA Head Start and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
Have questions?
We're happy to help! Submit a quick message and a Head Start Team Member will reach out to you.