Final answer:
The Head Start program is a federally funded initiative providing early childhood education and other services to children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families, helping to prepare them for school.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federally funded national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children ages 3, 4, & 5 is known as the Head Start program. This program is focused on early childhood education and is directed at families with limited educational and financial resources. The Head Start program was established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. It is part of the federal government's safety net, which includes other programs aimed at assisting low-income families, such as government-subsidized school meals, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Medicaid.
In addition to educational services, Head Start provides health, nutritional, and social services to ensure that the nation's poorest children have the support they need to begin their educational journey. The depth of support offered aims to give children from low-income families a strong foundation upon which to start kindergarten.