Our Mission: to enrich and empower young children and their families by
providing opportunities for personal growth and development through
comprehensive services and community partnerships.
Head Start
A typical day at Head Start
Class offerings and locations
Comprehensive Services
Federal Income Guidelines
Parent Handbook English
Guia de Padres
Volunteers are Welcome
Head Start Reports

Other Helpful Resources
Office of Head Start
 Minnesota Parents Know
 Childcare Resource and Referral
Social & Emotional Foundations

Class offerings and locations

Semcac Head Start serves 374 children in 26 classes in 12 cities and towns at 16 different sites.  Our class size is 15 – 17 children with a teacher and two staff.  Of our 19 teachers, 12 have a Bachelors degree.  The others have, or are working towards an Associates degree.

Center Based Head Start

Children attend a half-day preschool program at a licensed center four days per week.  A nutritious breakfast or lunch and a snack are provided under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Program.  In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Semcac Head Start is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 202050-9410, or call (800)795-3272 or (202)720-6382 (TTY).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Transportation may be provided for families.  The decision depends on where the family lives and how the bus route is set up.

Semcac Head Start operates licensed Centers in the following cities/towns:

  • Austin, Mower County
  • Caledonia, Houston County
  • Hayfield, Dodge County
  • Hokah, Houston County
  • Houston, Houston County
  • Kasson, Dodge County
  • Ostrander, Fillmore County
  • Owatonna, Steele County
  • Preston, Fillmore County
  • Rushford, Fillmore County
  • St. Charles, Winona County
  • Winona, Winona County

Partnership Centers

A few of our centers are operated with partners.

The Austin school district (ISD) partnership operates two integrated Head Start/ECSE classes at the ISD’s Community Learning Center (CLC).  We share staffing in the class (Head Start provides one teacher and one paraprofessional) and operate a double session in a conventional center-based option based on Head Start performance standards.  Returning Head Start students are given this option with the view that they would be more settled in the classroom routine which would be more conducive to the needs of ECSE children.  Also, because we are not able to provide transportation, the family must make other arrangements. 

We collaborate with Houston and Rushford-Peterson schools to offer one class with each school.  Head Start supports eligible families and children in the schools’ pre-school programs four days for 3.5 hours each which are integrated with ECSE two days per week. There is a Head Start teacher in the class to work in tandem with each school’s staff. 

Tri-Valley Migrant Council is our partner in Owatonna.  The partnership basically is an agreement that we use their staff and facilities to offer a conventional center-based program that begins its year following the closure of the summer migrant program.  This collaboration helps us reach Hispanic families we might not otherwise. 

At the Winona State University Maxwell Children’s Center, families can access full day services.  The parent is responsible for services beyond Head Start’s four days at 3.5 hours each.  Head Start eligibility includes whether the parent is employed or in job training with no caregiver present in the home and the geographic location of the family’s residence because there is no bus service provided.