Montgomery County school officials announced a pilot program Tuesday that will make full-day Head Start preschool available to 260 area low-income students during the 2007-08 school year. The county received a $715,000 federal grant to test the full-day Head Start option at 10 schools that receive Title I funding for serving economically disadvantaged areas.

Half-day sessions will remain available for approximately 310 4-year-olds and 45 3-year-olds. Claudia Simmons, supervisor of Montgomery County pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs, said eligibility is determined by the federal poverty guidelines.