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• The 2025–2026 Chicago Early Learning Application will open on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
  • Applications submitted during the initial application period are not considered on a first-come-first-served basis. However, applying within this window will help increase your child’s chances of getting into your preferred programs.

• Free Early Learning for SNAP Families! Find a Head Start or Early Head Start program near you using the filters on the Locations Page.

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The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMMR) is proud to share the Know Your Rights Resource Guide—a comprehensive tool to help protect and empower our communities. This guide includes critical information about:

• Legal services and hotlines
• Key protections like the Welcoming City Ordinance
• Emergency family planning resources
• Healthcare options for all, including undocumented individuals
• How to recognize and report hate crimes and hate incidents

Click here to download resources and view FAQ's.

Agency Staff Only: If you are having trouble with CSD CARES and need support, please make sure you submit a ticket directly through the system. Included are steps on how agencies can submit a support ticket when needed.

Families with children up to age five can still apply for a Chicago Early Learning Program! Within 48 hours of submitting their child's application, they should receive placement notifications at the email used for their guardian login. They can accept their offer online by logging into their account at chicagoearlylearning.org, recommend accepting families accept their offers as soon as possible, even if they are waitlisted for a program they ranked higher. For Community-Based Early Learning Program applications, we encourage them to contact the preferred program directly to arrange a tour and get questions answered.

Families across the city will be able to complete their application and begin the enrollment process for their child’s early education enrollment for the 2024–2025 school year at all CPS Pre-K programs and city-funded Community-Based Preschool and Early Learning programs.

Community-Based Preschool and Early Learning Programs operate at the same high standard, offer the same curriculum, are staffed by highly qualified teachers, and have a minimum of two educators in the classroom.

When applying, families will be able to choose from over 500+ high-quality early learning programs for every child in every neighborhood in Chicago.

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Community-Based Early Learning Programs and Preschool Programs that offer

• Early Head Start infant-toddler programs for children under the age of 3
• Head Start/Early Head Start programs for preschool-aged children
• Home-visiting programs for families who qualify
• Doula programs for pregnant mothers

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Click here to learn more!

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Many families have already enrolled their children in one of our 500+ high-quality early learning programs across the city. While our applications are open all year, seats are limited.

Do you still need to enroll your child in a program? Don't worry! There are open seats available at programs citywide. Apply today for the best chance of getting a seat in one of the available programs before they fill up.

Read our step-by-step guide below if you need help finding an early learning program with open seats.

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Community-Based Preschool and Early Learning Programs are citywide educational programs for children from 6-weeks to 5 years old, with options for home-visiting programs and prenatal services.

Community-Based Programs provide a wide range of support for families with little ones, including extended hours, smaller class sizes, and support services for the whole family. Community-Based sites include Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, Infant-Toddler programs and more.

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The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services is dedicated to supporting a continuum of coordinated services to enhance the lives of Chicago residents, particularly those most in need, from birth through the senior years.  The department works to promote the independence and well-being of individuals, support families and strengthen neighborhoods by providing direct assistance and administering resources to a network of community-based organizations, social service providers and institutions.

Being protected against COVID-19 is easier than ever. The City of Chicago operates vaccination sites that are open to children 6 (six) months and older.

Head Start programs can help families by:

• Learning about your state’s process and resources.
• Check your state’s timeline.
• Visit your state’s Medicaid and CHIP websites for resources and support.
• Sharing key information and messages with families.
• Show families how to update their contact information with their state’s Medicaid program, if needed.
• Encourage families to check their mail for an official letter with information about completing a renewal form and to submit it as soon as possible.
• Ask families if they would like help completing their renewal form. Remind them to report any changes to their address, phone number, email, household, job, income, disability status, or pregnancy.
• Making these resources available in your program and sharing them with families.
• Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals: A Communications Toolkit
  This 21-page toolkit includes strategies to help inform people about steps to renew their coverage or find other health care choices.
• Preserving Medicaid and CHIP Coverage
  Scroll down to the “State Unwinding Flyers” for state-specific posters in English and Spanish with phone numbers and websites for Medicaid and low-cost insurance options.
• Helping families who are no longer eligible for Medicaid find other types of free or low-cost insurance.

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Send your questions and comments to the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety at health@ecetta.info or (toll-free) 888-227-5125.

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