Early Care & Education Programs for New York City Families

New York City offers many free or low-cost child care and educational programs for families that qualify. These programs provide care and education for children from birth to thirteen years old (or up to 19 years old for children with disabilities), all year round. Eligibility is based on your family’s income and reason for care. If you qualify and there is a seat available, your child can begin any time.

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Options

EarlyLearn - DOE EarlyLearn programs, including Early Head Start, provide early care and education for infants and toddlers.

• Ages: 0 - 2 years old.
• Program: Center and home based
• Hours: All year, up to 10 hours a day

3-K for All - NYC families can apply to free, full-day, high-quality 3-K for All. These programs are available to families in all school districts, but seats in some districts are limited. Families can apply to 3-K in the calendar year that your child turns three.

• Ages: 3 years old
• Program: Center, school, and home based
• Hours: All year, up to 10 hours a day

Pre-K for All - NYC families can apply to free, full-day, highquality Pre-K for All. These programs are available to all families in all school districts, regardless of income or needs. Families can apply to Pre-K in the calendar year that your child turns four.

• Ages: 4 years old
• Program: Center and school based
• Hours: All year, up to 10 hours a day

Child Care Vouchers - Child care vouchers help cover the cost of child care at hundreds of home-based and centerbased providers across the city. Vouchers may also be used to pay approved relatives, neighbors, or friends for care.

• Ages: 6 weeks - 13 years old (or to 19 years old for children with disabilities)
• Program: Center and home based
• Hours: All year, up to 24 hours a day

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Eligibility

Your family may qualify for an ACS child care voucher or a DOE Head Start, EarlyLearn or Extended Day/Year program if 1)
your family’s income falls at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and 2) you have one of the following reasons for
seeking child care: you work 10+ hours per week, are in an educational or vocational training program, have been looking
for work, live in temporary housing, or are attending services for domestic violence. You can take a short survey to check your eligibility.

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How to Apply For EarlyLearn, 3K for all, or Pre-K for All:

Identify a Program

• Visit My Schools for a directory of EarlyLearn, 3K, and Pre-K For All programs.
• Use the "More Filters" tab and select "Head Start" or "Extended Day/Year" if you're interested in programs providing year-round care (including during summer months)
• Call 718-935-2009, email: ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov or visit a DOE Family Welcome Center for help

Apply For: Early Learn, 3K for All or PreK for All Extended Day/Year Programs

• For Head Start Programs:
  • Apply directly through the program (visit their website or call for instructions).
• For All Other Programs:
  • Fill out an application form
  • Submit your application to your program, or to DOE by emailing it to CCapplication@schools.nyc.gov or mailing it to NYC DOE - Family Welcome Center, 333 7th Avenue 12th floor, New York, NY, 10001

Apply For: 3K for All or PreK for All School Day/Year Programs

• Call the 3K or Pre-K program directly to learn about immediate openings or when a seat may become available. These programs do not require any eligibility determinations!

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How to Apply for Child Care Vouchers

Identify a Program

• Visit DOHMH’s Child Care Connect portal to see a directory of licensed early care and education centers, school based programs, and permitted summer camps or OCFS’s Child Care Search Tool to see a directory of registered home based providers.
• If you don't know which program to attend, that's okay - you can submit the child care application without this information included.
• Call (212) 835-7610 for help.

Apply

• Fill out an application form
• Submit your application form to ACS by emailing it to temporaryhousingRA@acs.nyc.gov or mailing it to NYC Children - EDU, PO Box 40, Maplewood, N.J., 07040.
• If eligible, you will be issued a voucher which you'll complete and return to ACS.