Preschool for All (4-year-olds)
Age 4 by Sept 1 · Full school day · Free
Chicago's commitment is a free, full-day preschool seat for every 4-year-old. Seats sit in CPS elementary schools and in community-based organizations across the city.
Preschool
Types of preschool seats
Chicago preschool isn't one program. The seat you're offered depends on your child's age, your household income, whether your child has an IEP, and what's open near you.
Preschool for All (3-year-olds)
Age 3 by Sept 1 · Mostly half day - a few sites run full day · Free at most sites
Three-year-old seats are more limited than four-year-old seats, and most of them are half day. The handful of sites that run a full day for 3s are the most popular option in the city and fill fastest, so list several locations and apply inside the Initial Application Period.
Head Start & Early Head Start
Birth to 5 · Full day and full year at many sites · Free, income-eligible
Federally funded programs with family support services built in - health screenings, home visiting, and parent programming. Mostly run through community organizations.
Blended & special education preschool
3 to 5 · Varies · Free
Classrooms that serve children with and without IEPs together, plus instructional and therapy supports. Placement runs through your child's evaluation and IEP team.
Tuition-based preschool
3 to 4 · Full day · Sliding-scale tuition
A smaller set of CPS schools offer tuition-based seats for families who do not qualify for a free seat or who want a specific school. Availability changes year to year.
Where these sit
Every type above can be found at a CPS elementary school or at a community-based organization. The program name tells you who it serves; the location tells you what the day feels like.
CPS pre-K grade level page