How to find free pre-K in Philadelphia

Pre-K is a bit different than child care or day care.

All of those options provide a safe and supportive environment for kids to learn and socialize with others, but, pre-K provides additional education that can help children develop much-needed skills for life.

“Plenty of research shows that pre-K is really important to kids’ development,“ said Diane Castelbuono, the School District of Philadelphia’s administrator for pre-K programming. “High quality pre-K has benefits for years and years.”

If your child is between ages 3 and 5 and lives in Philly, pre-K programs provided through the government are free.

Here’s what you need to know about these programs.

Ages: 3-4

PHLpreK is a pre-kindergarten program provided through the city, largely funded through the city’s “soda tax”. It’s free for any child who lives in Philly, with no income limits or U.S. citizenship requirements for parents or the child. Social Security numbers are also not required. Children must be 3 or 4 years old on Sept. 1 to be eligible.

For more information, call 844-745-7735 or sign-up for the PHLpreK newsletter for updates.

You can find a program near you on the map below:

How to apply:

🌐 phlprek.org, 📞 844-745-7735, ✉️ OCFCommunications@phila.gov

Ages: 3-5

The Philly school district provides free pre-K to children ages three to five through public programs like the city’s PHLpreK, the state’s PreK Counts, or the federal Head Start program. Children must be at least three years old on Sept. 1. Children who turn five years old before Sept. 1 are not eligible for Pre-K and instead qualify for kindergarten.

Pre-K providers are spread all throughout the city, located in district schools or child care centers in the community. While the district’s pre-K programming has a variety of funding sources, children receive the same pre-K education experience across the board.

The district uses one general application, so families don’t have to apply to different programs, figure income limits, or worry about which location is the best (they all meet the same standards). Instead, you provide family information, income, and your preferred provider locations (if you have one in mind or got a recommendation), and the district will pair you with an available spot depending on your needs.

Some providers offer before- and after- school care.

To apply:

🌐 philasd.org, 📞 215-400-4270

Ages: Under age 3

Early Head Start is a free child care program for children under age three provided by the federal government. It’s meant to provide child care for kids before they age into preschool, pre-K, and other child care facilities. There are income limits for this program — up to $55,094 for a family of 8, as of 2018 — check online to see if you qualify.

To apply:

🌐 phlprek.org/early-head-start, 📞 1-866-763-6481

Contact the programs directly first. For additional or in-person assistance, visit the Early Learning Resource Center.

The ELRC in Philly is a one-stop-shop for finding child care services in the region. Here you can get referrals and apply to any of the child care programs listed in this guide, and also ones that aren’t. You’ll find out if you are eligible for financial assistance or public child care programs, and get connected with a child care provider that fits your needs. Call or visit an ELRC in-person.

ELRC Locations (Open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.):

🌐 philadelphiaelrc18.org 📞 1-888-461-KIDS (5437)

» READ MORE: A parent’s guide to finding childcare in Philadelphia

» READ MORE: How to find before and after school care for kids in Philadelphia