DREAM receives $28 million in Head Start grant

by | Jan 8, 2026 | 0 comments

DREAM has secured a historic, five-year, $28 million Head Start grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. This represents one of the most significant investments in our organization’s history. The grant will allow us to serve an additional 230 children (ages 0–4) each year, including 3K and Pre-K programs at all three DREAM campuses. The program is planned to launch in early 2026.

Head Start is a nationally recognized early childhood program that supports the whole child and whole family. This grant reflects a powerful expansion of our mission and impact. In alignment with our commitment to the long-term continuum of care, we will now be able to serve families with our youngest DREAM students — providing access to high-quality early learning and care from the very beginning of a child’s life and educational journey.

Beyond academics, the program includes health screenings and medical referrals, nutritious breakfast and lunch daily, social-emotional learning and mental health support, and connections to community services families may need. In addition, partnership with families and caregivers is built into the program through dedicated family advocates.

This approach aligns with DREAM’s core belief: when we invest in children early and support families deeply, we build stronger foundations for long-term success

The data from our own schools show a consistent pattern. Students who start at DREAM in Kindergarten achieve at significantly higher levels than those who join us in later grades. The difference isn’t small. Early childhood is when children develop the building blocks for reading, mathematical thinking, self-regulation, and social skills. Starting even earlier gives educators the opportunity to nurture these critical abilities before formal schooling begins, catch and address developmental concerns sooner, and build trusting relationships with families from day one.

We are deeply grateful for this opportunity that brings us closer to realizing our vision for cradle-to-career success. We look forward to welcoming our littlest DREAMers and their families into our community this year.

If you’re interested in enrolling into our early childhood programs, please fill out this interest form.
For more information on the program, contact us at
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To learn about open roles, email us at

<a href="https://blog.wearedream.org/author/prabarna/" target="_self">DREAM</a>

DREAM

DREAM started in 1991 as Harlem RBI, a volunteer-run Little League for 75 kids in East Harlem. Three decades later, the organization serves 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a growing network of inclusive, extended-day, extended-year charter schools and community sports-based youth development programs. By developing an education model that is responsive to the unique academic and social needs of every child, DREAM is creating a future where all children are equipped to fulfill their vision of success.

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