A guide to early childhood education programs in California

Jan 5

December to January is the time to enroll your child into early childhood education programs. These programs aim to provide high-quality learning environments for young children under the age of five and provide support to the families who need it the most. However, the enrollment process can sometimes be overwhelming; there are lots of options available and depending on certain eligibility requirements, it can be difficult to figure out which programs you can apply for and which ones are best for your family. This guide is designed to help parents in California understand the enrollment process and provide valuable resources so that you can make the best decision for your family.

What programs are available?

In California, there are a mixture of state and local programs you can apply to. Federal and state programs include the Head Start, California State Preschool Program (CSPP), and Universal Transitional Kindergarten (U-TK). To qualify for some of these programs you must meet certain criteria such as your income level and your child’s age. Here’s an overview of the age groups that each program caters to:

Head Start is for 0-5 year olds
California State Preschool Program (CSPP) is for 3-4 year olds
Universal Transitional Kindergarten (U-TK) is for 4 year olds

The availability of these programs will depend on where you live. To find out what programs you're eligible for, you need to find out which school district you reside in, to do this you can use the map on greatschools.org. If you need help navigating this tool, we’ve created this tutorial to help you.

Who runs these programs?

To make an application for CSPP or U-TK it’s best to first contact your local school district to see if they offer the program you’re interested in. To apply for Head Start, contact the center serving your community using the Head Start Locator tool. Your local program will provide the required forms and answer your questions. Some programs may require you to go in person to make the application.

Here’s an overview of the different program providers and who you should contact to make an application.

Head Start is run by local Head Start Centers which are overseen by the Office of Head Start, a federal organization.
California State Preschool Program (CSPP) is run by the the California Department of Education; contact your local school district to make an application.
Universal Transitional Kindergarten (U-TK) is run by the the California Department of Education; contact your local school district to make an application.

When does enrollment start?

Enrollment for most programs begin at the end of the year and application deadlines are usually in January. Each program will have a slightly different timeline for applications, so it’s important to check the application dates for each program to give yourself enough time to apply. To find out when enrollment opens, contact your local provider.

Here’s an overview of enrollment timelines:

Head Start - applications are accepted year round, but many centers have enrollment windows beginning in January. You can contact your center to find out the best time to apply.

California State Preschool Program (CSPP) - enrollment begins in the early part of the year. It might be as early as January or around March. You can find out when your district begins enrollment by going to their website.

Universal Transitional Kindergarten (U-TK) - Enrollment begins in the early part of the year. It might be as early as January or around March. You can find out when your district begins enrollment by going to their website.

Open enrollment is a window of time that lets you apply to send your child to a school other than the one they are assigned to based on your address. Each year most public school districts have a period of time, usually a month or two, when they accept open enrollment applications for the following school year. So you get to decide and request which school seems like the best fit for your child, as long as that school has room and enough teachers for more students.

For more information on school enrolment, check out this resource.

What is the application process?

To enroll into a program you’ll need to provide certain information to prove your eligibility. This can include: home address, family size, ages of children, household income, employment status, and other benefits-related information. Each program will differ slightly in the information they require you to provide. If you’re unsure about what documents you need to include or how to apply, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide with a checklist to help you with your application.

Final things to keep in mind

Each school district and provider will have its own specific procedures and requirements, so it's crucial to reach out directly to your local program offices for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

This guide only covers a few key programs available to families in California, there are many more early childhood education programs that are available across the state. Be sure to check out any local programs that you might be eligible for. For example, if you live in San Francisco, you may be able to apply for the following programs: