Chicago Public Schools Opens Applications for Preschool 2025-26 Programs

CHICAGO – Many Chicago Public Schools are opening doors this week for families interested in exploring the District’s free full-day preschool program for four-year-olds and half-day preschool program for three-year-olds. The School Year 2025-26 application opens today, April 8, on the Chicago Early Learning website and application portal.

“It is never too early to start joyful learning, and there are more options than ever for families who need and are interested in early learning opportunities for their young children,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We have seen the many benefits of jump starting a high quality education as soon as possible and that is why our District has been prioritizing and putting resources into programming for every child, of every age, in every neighborhood.”
More than 90 percent of CPS preschools meet ExceleRate Illinois' Gold Circle of Quality, with the remaining earning the silver and bronze awards. All sites meet federal, state and local education standards.

CPS offers families a choice of high-quality preschool programs for all four-year olds as well as a limited number of part-day programs for three year olds in 372 elementary schools, with the goal of improving educational options and social outcomes for all children, particularly those with the greatest needs. CPS partners with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) which provides childcare services at community-operated locations from birth to age 5.

Various schools across the District will be hosting open houses and reading nights the Week of April 8 to offer families the opportunity to learn more about preschool offerings. Community members can browse this calendar to explore events by date and choose which schools they would like to visit.]

“These programs have shown long-term benefits for children that prepare them to develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed,” said Leslie McKinily, CPS’ Chief of Early Childhood Education. “We highly encourage families to explore these free high quality early learning programs, which are available in every Chicago neighborhood.”

Over the last several years, the District has expanded early childhood learning opportunities, beginning with the most under-resourced neighborhoods, as part of a city-wide initiative with the DFSS to ensure every four-year-old in each of the city’s 77 communities has access to high-quality preschool programming. CPS preschool classrooms use a standardized curriculum to provide a research-based structure that supports student growth and learning. The programs aim to boost academic skills, fuel intellectual curiosity, foster independence, and instill a lifelong love of learning.

The District's preschool programs meet all federal, state and local education standards and all schools are engaged in continuous quality improvement. Preschool programs are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Circle of Quality on an annual basis as determined by ExceleRate Illinois, which conducts an independent evaluation. Ninety-three percent of CPS preschool programs met the Gold Circle of Quality for instructional quality during the last evaluation cycle and the remainder earned the silver and bronze awards.

More information about CPS Preschool programs is available on the District’s website. Parents may also call the Chicago Early Learning Hotline at 312-229-1690 for application support in both English and Spanish.