Beginning Monday, April 30, Chicago families with preschool-age children can apply to attend preschool for the next school year.
Children must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2018 to be eligible for preschool in the 2018-19 school year. A family can apply for up to two different preschool programs.
Families can apply online at http://chicagoearlylearning.org starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday. They can also apply at a designated Family Resource Center or by phone at (312) 229-1690.
It is important that families apply early to avoid their child being placed on a waitlist. The child will be given a preschool placement in late May.
In coming weeks, the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless will offer outreach and distribute an informational preschool brochure at shelters to help families enroll their preschool-age children.
Please contact Alyssa Phillips with the Law Project at 1 (800) 940-1119 or 1 (872) 588-6800 if you need assistance with preschool enrollment or to arrange an outreach visit at your organization.
Children experiencing homelessness receive priority placement in preschool programs and can be enrolled in preschool without proof of address, income, guardianship or other documents normally needed for enrollment. This includes children living in shelters, sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing or economic hardship (“doubled-up”), or living in other temporary living situations.
Families experiencing homelessness should indicate their living situation on the application and to the person assisting with the preschool enrollment.
Early childhood education is a crucial component to a child’s development and future academic success. Studies show that children who attend preschool are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and stay out of the criminal justice system.
A preschool enrollment FAQ brochure is available here.