The head start programs I was familiar with were the ones I had to rate for a child care management agency....and they were exactly what I described. Now that was 15 years ago and they could have changed. I never ranked them well but one positive was it probably was a better environment than where they lived and that was not saying much. :/
Here is what I found on the first item of a search:
Teachers must at minimum have an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE); OR
Baccalaureate or Advanced Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE); OR
Associate, Baccalaureate or Advanced Degree in a field related to early childhood education and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children. (see below **)
Additionally current teachers must have a minimum of 15 hrs of classroom focused training annually (per program year).