Homeroom Chicago

Preschool

How to apply for preschool

One application covers CPS school sites and community organizations. There's a spring Initial Application Period with one round of results, and after that you can apply any time of year as seats open.

Initial Application Period

April 7 – April 28, 2026

The Initial Application Period is a set window when families are encouraged to apply for Chicago Early Learning programs for the upcoming school year. Applying during this window improves your child's chances of getting a seat at the programs you prefer.

It is not first-come, first-served. Applications are prioritized by family need, so you can apply on any day inside the window and be considered equally for the first round of placements.

Families who apply during the window get their placement results in mid-May. After it closes you can still apply year-round, but seats get harder to find as the year goes on.

  1. 1

    Check your child's age

    Your child must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year you're applying for. Age decides which seats you can be matched to.

  2. 2

    Gather your documents

    You'll need proof of your child's age (birth certificate or passport), proof of Chicago address, and proof of household income for the last 12 months. Missing income documents is the most common reason an application stalls.

  3. 3

    Apply inside the Initial Application Period

    Preschool does not use GoCPS. It uses the Chicago Early Learning application. The Initial Application Period for next school year runs April 7 – April 28, 2026, and applying inside that window gives you the best shot at your preferred programs. Any day inside the window counts the same - it is not first-come, first-served. One application covers CPS schools and community organizations.

  4. 4

    Pick your locations

    You can list multiple sites. Think about your commute, the length of the day, and whether the site runs through the summer - community organizations often do, school-based sites often don't.

  5. 5

    Watch for your results

    Families who applied during the Initial Application Period get placement results in mid-May. If you applied later in the year, offers come by phone or email from individual sites as seats open. If you don't hear back, call the family hotline at 312-229-1690.

  6. 6

    Register at the site

    Accepting an offer isn't the same as being enrolled. Complete registration paperwork, health forms, and immunizations directly with the school or organization.

What to have ready

  • · Child's birth certificate or passport
  • · Proof of Chicago address (lease, utility bill, or ID)
  • · Proof of household income for the last 12 months
  • · Immunization and physical records (at registration)
  • · IEP paperwork, if your child has one

Stuck? Call the family hotline

Chicago Early Learning staff can check your application status, help with documents, and talk through nearby options in your language: 312-229-1690.

Official CPS how-to-apply page

Already know where you want to look? Find a preschool near you.