Early Childhood Education
NYC Bright Starts provides families residing in New York City, with children aged six weeks to five-years-old, with free or low-cost high-quality early childhood education in a variety of New York City Public School (NYCPS) settings across all five boroughs.
Our programs and schools provide rich and nurturing learning environments that:
- Honor and celebrate each child and their individual strengths, interests, and culture
- Engage children in learning experiences that foster social-emotional, physical, language, problem solving, literacy, and math skills
- Center strong family partnerships, ensuring two-way communication between families and programs/schools to extend children’s learning at home
- Offer children and their families comprehensive resources and supports based on the individual goals and needs of each family
Enroll Year Round!
Infants and Toddlers
For children six weeks of age through three-years-old (who are not age-eligible for 3K) there are two types of programs available to families, both of which are year-round and include extended hours throughout the school week:
Early Head Start Programs
What do Early Head Start programs offer families?
- Free care and learning for children ages 13 months through three-years old (who are not age-eligible for 3K)
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find an Early Head Start program?
- NYCPS’ Early Head Start partner programs are located in community-based organizations
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for an Early Head Start program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
- Please note, citizenship and immigration status verifications do not apply to Early Head Start eligibility requirements for children and their families
Extended Day and Year Programs
What do Extended Day and Year programs offer families?
- Free or low-cost care and learning for children
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find an Extended Day and Year program?
- NYCPS’ Extended Day and Year partner programs include:
- Community-based organizations
- Family Child Care Networks that offer home-based care led by licensed providers
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for an Extended Day and Year program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
Please note, pursuant to the McKinney Vento Act, children living in temporary housing may not be denied admission or enrollment due to a lack of required documentation. Programs and schools will work with families living in temporary housing to obtain all required documents after the child is enrolled.
3-K
For children that turn three-years-old by December 31, there are three types of 3K programs available to families. Two of these options, Head Start and Extended Day and Year 3K programs, are available for children that turn three-years-old after December 31 if they are not currently enrolled in a NYCPS’ toddler program.
School Day and Year
What do School Day and Year programs offer families?
- Free care and learning for children
- Six hours and twenty minutes a day of programming from September to June
Where can families find a School Day and Year program?
- NYCPS’ School Day and Year programs include:
- Community-based organizations
- Non-public schools
- Elementary schools and standalone Pre-K Centers
- Family Child Care Networks that offer home-based care led by licensed providers
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for a School Day and Year program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Please note, citizenship and immigration status verifications do not apply to School Day and Year eligibility requirements for children and their families
Head Start Programs
What do Head Start programs offer families?
- Free care and learning for children
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find a Head Start program?
- NYCPS’ Head Start partner programs are located in community-based organizations
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for a Head Start program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
- Please note, citizenship and immigration status verifications do not apply to Head Start eligibility requirements for children and their families
Extended Day and Year Programs
What do Extended Day and Year programs offer families?
- Free or low-cost care and learning for children
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find an Extended Day and Year program?
- NYCPS’ Extended Day and Year partner programs include:
- Community-based organizations
- Family Child Care Networks that offer home-based care led by licensed providers
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for an Extended Day and Year program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
Please note, pursuant to the McKinney Vento Act, children living in temporary housing may not be denied admission or enrollment due to a lack of required documentation. Programs and schools will work with families living in temporary housing to obtain all required documents after the child is enrolled.
Pre-K
For children that turn four-years-old by December 31, there are three types of Pre-K programs available to families.
School Day and Year
What do School Day and Year programs offer families?
- Free care and learning for children
- Six hours and twenty minutes a day of programming from September to June
Where can families find a School Day and Year program?
- NYCPS’ School Day and Year programs include:
- Community-based organizations
- Non-public schools
- Elementary schools and standalone Pre-K Centers
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for a School Day and Year program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Please note, citizenship and immigration status verifications do not apply to School Day and Year eligibility requirements for children and their families
Head Start Programs
What do Head Start programs offer families?
- Free care and learning for children
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find a Head Start program?
- NYCPS’ Head Start partner programs are located in community-based organizations
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for a Head Start program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
- Please note, citizenship and immigration status verifications do not apply to Head Start eligibility requirements for children and their families
Extended Day and Year Programs
What do Extended Day and Year programs offer families?
- Free or low-cost care and learning for children
- Year-round programming for eight or ten hours a day
Where can families find an Extended Day and Year program?
- NYCPS’ Extended Day and Year partner programs include:
- Community-based organizations
- To find a program, visit MySchools.nyc
How can a family learn more about eligibility and apply for an Extended Day and Year program?
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity! To access NYC’s online connection to City services and benefits, go to mycity.nyc.gov
Please note, pursuant to the McKinney Vento Act, children living in temporary housing may not be denied admission or enrollment due to a lack of required documentation. Programs and schools will work with families living in temporary housing to obtain all required documents after the child is enrolled.
Enroll Now!
We are here to support families in enrolling in NYCPS early childhood programs!
For immediate enrollment, families can:
- Contact or visit a program! To find a convenient location, go to MySchools.nyc
- Contact or visit a Family Welcome Center! To find the nearest location, go to schools.nyc.gov/FWC
- Visit MyCity at mycity.nyc.gov
- Please note, pursuant to the McKinney Vento Act, children living in temporary housing may not be denied admission or enrollment due to a lack of required documentation. Programs and schools will work with families living in temporary housing to obtain all required documents after the child is enrolled.
For additional information: