Pre-K (Ages Birth-5)

Pre-K Programs

The City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and their partners offer families a choice of high-quality preschool and childcare programs for children from birth to five years old at over 600 sites. The key to choosing the right program is determining what works best for your child and your family. Here are items to consider as you search for the right program to fit your needs:

• Location
• CPS school-based program or community-based program
• Ages served 
• Language preference
• Full-day or half-day program
• School year or year-round program
• Quality rating

Pre-K for All

Our mission is to provide all Chicago children and their families access to high-quality, equitable early learning experiences leading to success in elementary school and beyond. The City of Chicago and CPS  are working towards offering enough seats for every four-year-old child in the city to attend full-day Pre-K at no charge by 2024.

CPS preschool classrooms use a standardized curriculum, Creative Curriculum Literacy Approach, to provide a research-based structure to support student growth and learning. 

All our early childhood programs: 

• Boost academic skills
• Fuel intellectual curiosity
• Foster independence
• Instill a love of lifelong learning

Chicago Early Learning

If you have a child who will be three years or four years old on or by September 1, and are interested in a preschool program, visit the district-wide information and application site, Chicago Early Learning, during the spring before your child will start school. Chicago Early Learning provides access to most early childhood education options in both elementary school and community-based settings. On the Chicago Early Learning website, you can learn about each program’s quality rating, schedule, and ages served and search for locations near your home or work address. You can also apply to the programs that interest you on the same website. The Chicago Early Learning application is open year-round.

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District Managed Pre-K Programs

CPS offers different types of Pre-K programs at nearly 373 elementary schools, so parents can choose the option that best fits their needs. The application for all programs is available through Chicago Early Learning.

Community-Operated Childcare and Preschool Programs

The Office of Early Childhood Education collaborates with the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to provide childcare services for infants and toddlers and preschool for three- and four-year-olds in community-operated locations across the city. Community-based programs are designed to meet the needs of working parents and guardians. These programs offer childcare and high-quality learning environments where certified early childhood educators support children's health and development. There are no attendance boundaries for community-operated programs, so you can select a location near your home or place of work. Program hours by site.

Families can explore community early learning programs and submit an application through the Chicago Early Learning website. For additional information about community-operated programs, contact the Department of Family and Support Services at 312-743-0300.