Hidalgo County Head Start Program Home

The Hidalgo County Head Start Program has been awarded the prestigious Program of Excellence (POE) Award and Accreditation by the National Head Start Association (NHSA). This recognition, valid for a five-year term, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon Head Start programs nationwide.
Accreditation is granted to programs that demonstrate the highest standards in program management, service delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement. By achieving this designation, Hidalgo County Head Start has shown its dedication to providing high-quality, comprehensive services that support the development and well-being of young children and their families.
Out of approximately 1,600 Head Start programs across the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands, only 12 programs are selected annually for this distinguished recognition. Remarkably, Hidalgo County Head Start is the first Texas program to receive the POE Award in nearly 20 years.
“We are incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Program of Excellence Award,” said Hidalgo County Head Start Program Executive Director Irma Peña. “Our motivation for excellence comes from the children and families we are privileged to serve. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and will continue to strive for excellence well beyond the term of this accreditation.”
The five-year accreditation follows a rigorous peer-review process, during which programs must demonstrate their ability to deliver measurable, accountable, and high-quality services across all areas of operation.
“We could not be more proud of our Head Start team for earning this distinguished recognition,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez. “This award reflects their unwavering dedication to the children and families of Hidalgo County. To be one of only 12 programs in the nation, and the first in Texas in nearly two decades, is a remarkable achievement that highlights the impact and quality of services Head Start provides to our community every day.”
Hidalgo County Head Start provides a full range of services — including education, disability support, health, nutrition, mental health, and family services — to children from birth to age five. For more than 40 years, the program has evolved through the use of evidence-based practices and innovative teaching methods, creating safe, nurturing environments that foster physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth in young children.

The Hidalgo County Head Start Program is proud to maintain strong, year-round collaborations with a wide range of local agencies to provide essential services to the children and families we serve. One of the key ways we foster these partnerships is through our regularly held Network Meetings.
These meetings offer a valuable platform for community agencies to present their services directly to our Family Service Workers (FSWs), who are stationed at each Head Start campus. FSWs play a vital role in supporting families by helping them set and achieve meaningful goals in areas such as housing, healthcare, public assistance, food security, and parenting.
Beyond goal-setting, FSWs assist families in developing personalized action plans and contribute significantly to the success of our Head Start and Early Head Start programs through active involvement in recruitment and enrollment efforts.
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, a Network Meeting was held at Fellowship Baptist Hall in Edinburg, Texas. The event brought together agency representatives and Head Start staff to share resources, strengthen relationships, and continue building a supportive network for families across Hidalgo County.

On August 28, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Angela Dominguez, along with board members and Head Start administrators Dr. Nereyda Cantu, Marissa Reyes, and Sonia Casas, walked through the former Donna Head Start facility to review and discuss plans for its transformation into the new Donna Early Head Start Academy.
It is a collaboration and commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities for its youngest learners. The new Academy is scheduled to open in January 2026 and will serve children from birth to three years old. It will offer a nurturing, developmentally focused environment designed to support early learning, social-emotional growth, and family engagement.
Donna ISD and Head Start are working diligently to ensure the facility meets the needs of both students and families. This initiative reflects a dedication to investing in the future of its community by laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
More updates will be shared as the opening date approaches, and families interested in enrollment are encouraged to stay connected through the district and Head Start’s social media platforms.

Dear Head Start Families and Staff:
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We look forward to welcoming our young students back into our Head Start classrooms. We believe every child entrusted to our care deserves our best support academically and emotionally. The employees of the Hidalgo County Head Start Program are here to help our children achieve great success each and every day. 

Our young students made great progress last school year as a result of the great teamwork shown by our outstanding teachers, involved parents, and the children themselves. This year, we will build on that development as we will collaborate with parents to create great learning opportunities in the classrooms. In addition to the ongoing goal of academic excellence, there will be a focus this year on providing tailored support for our parents. All families are assigned a family services worker which will provide support and assistance with necessary resources.  
One of my favorite days is the first day of school. I love to watch the interactions between our children and their new teachers. Seeing our children meet new friends or reconnecting with old friends and learning about the adventures that lie ahead. It’s always fun to see our new Head Start parents walking up to the school and taking pictures. Parents usually feel excitement and some nervousness, but these milestones are to be remembered and shared with family and friends.

Our Annual Training took place on August 4 & 5, 2025 at the UTRGV Performing Arts building.

Children, First, Always… is the Head Start Way. Thank you again for entrusting the Head Start Program with your most precious children.
Sincerely,

Irma E. Peña
Head Start Executive Director

Congratulations to the Hidalgo County Head Start Program and Donna ISD on the grand opening of the Guzman Head Start Academy!
This remarkable new campus will serve 299 children across 16 classrooms, making it the largest Head Start facility in program history! Our ribbon-cutting took place on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Families will benefit from a wide range of resources, including:
Two Discovery classrooms for hands-on STEM learning, a sensory classroom, a fully stocked library, a computer lab and a central kitchen. In addition, the academy will serve as a one-stop hub for county services, offering high-quality education and essential support through partnerships with:
Hidalgo County Health & Human Services, Hidalgo County WIC Program and
Hidalgo County Community Service Agency.
The Head Start Program provides comprehensive services to low-income families, children with special needs, families experiencing homelessness or involved in the foster care system, families receiving public assistance, other at-risk families, depending on circumstances and availability
The Guzman Head Start Academy is an exciting milestone for Head Start, City of Donna, Donna ISD and Commissioner David Fuentes – Hidalgo County Precinct 1!