The compensatory education movement of the 1960s was a key factor in the development of early childhood special education. The main principle behind it was to compensate -as the word states- for the poor environmental conditions of children living in poverty, and to provide them with early learning experiences to better prepare them for school.

One of these compensatory programs was Project Head Start. It came into existence in 1964 as President Lyndon Johnson declared War on Poverty.

Head Start serves as an umbrella to address the needs of children and families through comprehensive services on education, health, mental health, nutrition, social services, and special needs.

The program has several options which include:

• Head Start
• Early Head Start
• Migrant Head Start
• Native American Head Start