Head Start is one of many preschool programs available to children under 5 in the county, and one of the most desirable because it offers a full day — six and half hours — of instruction.

"We can't set a bunch of money aside. I wish we could, I wish we had a secret stash, but we don't," said Kelly Neidel, executive director of Two Rivers Head Start in Elgin.

Center-Based Child Care Early Head Start has a full-day, full year child care program that is free of cost for low income families with children under the age of 3. Early Head Start's four child care ...