Siu Head Start-Southern Illinois University

What Siu Head Start-Southern Illinois University does

SIU Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive preschool program operated by Southern Illinois University Carbondale under Grant Number 05CH011588-05 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program delivers center-based early childhood education for children three to five years of age from income-qualifying families in Jackson and Williamson Counties in Southern Illinois, with supplementary services for children with disabilities. Operating capacity is approximately 290 children distributed across four physical centers: Carbondale (134 enrollment), Marion (54), Murphysboro (66), and a John A Logan College partnership site (36).

The core product offering is a planned early-childhood curriculum organized around structured learning interest centers (block, dramatic play, computer, ABC, sand and water, book, art, science, math, and writing) and integrating language, literacy, math, creative arts, social-emotional development, approaches to learning, and physical health and development. Service layers wrap this curriculum, including Health Services (medical, dental, mental health, nutrition), Mental Health Services with family support for substance abuse, domestic violence, or stress, Nutrition Services through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, on-request Transportation Services for medical and social-service appointments, Disabilities Services with identification, evaluation, and dual-enrollment coordination, and a Family and Community Partnerships program with assigned caseworkers and at least one annual home visit.

The business model is a non-market, grant-funded operation. There are no parent fees for half-day morning and afternoon sessions; parent fees exist for qualified families for full-day school-year sessions, with limited over-income slots available. Distribution is community-led: families apply in person at the Carbondale administrative site or through an online pre-application portal at siuc.mycopa.com, and acquisition relies on parent referrals, community partnerships, word-of-mouth, and the SIU website. The program reports children scored at or above national average in Language and Literacy skills. The entity is a component of a public state university rather than an independently incorporated business, and detailed financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Siu Head Start-Southern Illinois University

Legal name

Southern Illinois University Carbondale Head Start

Website

https://headstart.siu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SIU Head Start is a federally funded preschool program operated by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, serving approximately 290 income-qualifying children ages three to five across four centers in Jackson and Williamson Counties under U.S. HHS Office of Head Start Grant 05CH011588-05.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Federally funded preschool
• Head Start programs
• Family support services
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Carbondale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grant Funding: SIU Head Start operates on a federal grant (Grant Number 05CH011588-05) from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is the primary funding source for the comprehensive preschool program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SIU Head Start is a federally funded preschool program operated by Southern Illinois University Carbondale that provides comprehensive early childhood education services to children ages 3-5 in Jackson and Williamson Counties. The program offers education, nutrition, health services, transportation, and family/community engagement support to qualifying low-income families at no cost.

Product overview

SIU Head Start is a federally funded comprehensive preschool program operated by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, serving children three to five years of age from qualifying families in Jackson and Williamson Counties. The program operates as a unified center-based early childhood education service with multiple delivery models (half-day and full-day programs) across four locations. Core offerings include the Child Development Curriculum with specialized learning centers, Family and Community Partnerships with home visiting services, Health Services, Mental Health Services, Nutrition Services (enrolled in Child and Adult Care Food Program), Transportation, Disabilities Services, and Parent Involvement opportunities. The program uses a well-planned curriculum promoting language, literacy, math, creative arts, social emotional development, and physical health. All services integrate to provide comprehensive support for children's developmental needs while empowering families and strengthening communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preschool Education Program Comprehensive half-day preschool program for children ages 3-5, focused on school readiness through structured curriculum and learning centers.
• Full-Day Child Care Extended full-day child care option available to qualifying families for a parent fee, providing care beyond the standard half-day preschool hours.
• Nutrition Services Meals and nutrition support provided to enrolled children as part of the comprehensive Head Start program.
• Health Services Health screenings, immunizations tracking, and medical/dental referral support for enrolled children.
• Transportation Services Transportation to and from program centers provided to enrolled children to support program access.
• Family and Community Partnership Services Family engagement, parent involvement activities, and community partnership programming supporting enrolled families.
• Program Site at John A. Logan College Head Start center operated at John A. Logan College, serving families in the region.
• Carbondale Center Head Start center located in Carbondale providing preschool services.
• Marion Center Head Start center located in Marion providing preschool services to families in Williamson County.
• Murphysboro Center Head Start center located in Murphysboro providing preschool services.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• John A Logan CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJohn A Logan College partners with SIU Head Start to provide classroom space at 700 Logan College Rd, D-270, Carterville, Illinois 62918. The location serves 36 enrolled children with dedicated classrooms at the college facility.
• Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCFS is referenced as the regulatory oversight body for Head Start operations. Teachers must meet Head Start/DCFS qualifications. Volunteers complete DCFS background checks and fingerprinting requirements. DCFS also clears Head Start drivers to transport children.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Goddard School: Franchised private preschool system using a proprietary STEAM-based curriculum for infants through pre-kindergartners. Comparable in offering structured preschool curriculum for ages 3-5; differs in tuition-funded private model.
• The Learning Experience: National franchised daycare and preschool operator with proprietary curriculum for ages 6 weeks to 6 years. Comparable in offering preschool education with structured curriculum; differs in tuition-funded commercial model vs. Head Start federal grant.
• KinderCare Learning Centers: National for-profit chain providing center-based early childhood education, including preschool programs. Comparable in offering age 3-5 preschool with structured curriculum, but operates commercially rather than under federal Head Start grant funding.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large national operator of employer-sponsored early childhood education and care centers. Comparable to SIU Head Start in core service (center-based preschool for ages 3-5) but operates a for-profit, employer-funded model rather than a federally funded nonprofit grantee.
• Learning Care Group: Operator of multiple early childhood education brands including Childtime, La Petite Academy, and Tutor Time. Comparable as a multi-brand center-based preschool operator serving ages 3-5; differs in for-profit tuition model vs. Head Start federal funding.
• Primrose Schools: National franchised network of private early childhood education schools serving infants through pre-kindergartners. Comparable to SIU Head Start on the core preschool offering for ages 3-5, with proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum, though funded via tuition.
• Childcare Network: Large regional operator of early childhood education centers across the southeastern U.S. Comparable in center-based preschool delivery for ages 3-5 with structured curriculum; differs in commercial tuition model.

Others

• John A Logan College Adult Education: Community college partner that hosts SIU Head Start's Carterville location and shares the Southern Illinois service region. Adjacent rather than competitive - acts as a facilities partner to SIU Head Start and represents the regional educational ecosystem the program operates within.
• National Head Start Association: National membership organization representing Head Start grantees including SIU Head Start. Not a direct operator, but the policy and advocacy body that influences federal funding decisions critical to SIU Head Start's operating model.

Regional players

• Coordinated Youth Services: Illinois-based community agency operating Head Start and Early Head Start programs in surrounding counties. Direct peer as another Illinois Head Start grantee providing center-based preschool; competes for the same federal funding pool and shares regulatory framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/siu-head-start-southern-illinois-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Siu Head Start-Southern Illinois University