School Readiness/Early Learning Programs
Childcare money is available for eligible families who:
- Have children younger than 13 who need care
- Are economically disadvantaged:
- Gross income is at or below 150% of federal poverty level for family size
- Parent(s) / guardian(s) are working or attending school at least 20 hours per week, for a combined 40 hours per week for 2-parents (or are exempt from work due to age or disability)
If you believe you may be eligible, please click the blue button below, which will take you to our PARENT PORTAL. Log in or create an account to complete an application. See the yellow button below for a training video on creating a Parent Portal account. Once you have completed and submitted your application, our staff will follow up with you by email within 20 days.
The #1 reason a parent does not have a successful appointment is because they do not have the required documents. Click on the link below to be prepared for your appointment.
List of documents needed for School Readiness appointments
Research has shown that early learning programs increase children’s chances of achieving future educational success and becoming productive members of society. These programs:
- are developmentally appropriate and research-based
- involve parents as their child’s first teacher
- serve as preventative measures for children at risk of future school failure
- enhance the educational readiness of children
- support family education
Community programs integrate a seamless system of services and link to all domains of child development – physical health, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development and communication skills.
School Readiness Fact Sheet (Spanish)
For example, children ready to enter school are those who play well with others, pay attention and respond positively to teacher’s instructions, communicate well verbally, and are eager participants in classroom activities. They can recognize some letters of the alphabet and are familiar with print concepts (e.g. English print is read from left to right). Ready children can also identify simple shapes (e.g. squares, circles, and triangles).
A second, and equally important, component of early learning programs through the Coalition include financial assistance for child care for eligible low-income families who work that have children ages birth through 12 years. Parents are responsible for a co-payment based on a sliding fee scale based on their household income. Research has shown that parents whose children are in a stable, safe, quality early education environment miss fewer days of work and are more productive at work.