launched in 1965 by its creator and first director jule sugarman, head start was originally conceived as a catch-up summer school program that would teach low-income children in a few weeks what they needed to know to start elementary school. the head start act of 1981 expanded the program. the program was revised and reauthorized in december 2007. , more than 22 million children had participated. the current director of head start is dr. deborah bergeron