The Office of Early Childhood Education’s (OECE) mission is to ensure all Chicago children and families engage in high-quality early learning experiences that lead to success in early grades and beyond.
We are committed to engaging children in experiences which support and respect the unique potential of each child through instructional best practices and meaningful family and community engagement.
The Chicago Early Learning website provides information about early childhood learning programs for Chicago children. The website also provides and accepts online applications.
Programs
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Preschool
Preschool programs are for children ages three to four. Chicago Early Learning is the application platform for preschool at CPS elementary schools as well as at neighborhood sites through community-based early learning programs.
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Universal Pre-Kindergarten
The City of Chicago and CPS are working towards providing all four-year-olds with universal, free, full-day pre-kindergarten.
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Child Parent Centers
The Child Parent Center (CPC) program model provides enhanced family supports and services for children ages three to five. CPCs focus on the needs of the entire family and emphasize the importance of continuity from preschool through third grade. CPCs are located at 19 CPS elementary schools.
To be eligible for a CPC program, children must be three or four years old on or by September 1st of the school year in which they are entering. Four-year-old children are prioritized for full-day programs.
Apply to the CPC program at Chicago Early Learning.
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Community Early Learning Programs
The Office of Early Childhood Education collaborates with the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to provide child care services birth to five years old, and preschool programs for ages three and four, in communities across the city.
Apply to community early learning programs at Chicago Early Learning.
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Magnet Pre-K Programs
CPS offers three magnet Pre-K programs: Drummond Montessori, Suder Montessori, and Inter-American (four-year-olds only). These pre-K programs feed directly into the school’s kindergarten. Students at these schools do not have to submit an application in order to attend kindergarten at the school where they are enrolled for Pre-K.
For information about a specific Magnet Pre-K school, use the School Search Page on the Chicago Early Learning website to search for the school profile.
Apply for CPS Magnet Pre-K programs through the Chicago Early Learning website.
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Kindergarten
Children who turn five on or before September 1 of the current school year are eligible for enrollment in kindergarten.
Children who turn five between September 2 and December 31 are eligible to apply for early entrance to kindergarten for the following school year.
Apply for kindergarten on GoCPS.
Additional Contact Information
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CPS Colman Office
(Chicago Early Learning Application Office)
773-535-1225
4655 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60609 -
Community Partnership Programs
Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS)
312-743-0300
312-743-0400 (Fax)
1615 W. Chicago Ave.
5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60622