EarlyLearn

Who is Eligible?

Early Head Start and Head Start programs are free, high-quality early childhood education programs that support the whole family. Programs run for at least 8 hours per day, and offer a safe, positive learning environment for children to learn, play, and build the skills that get them ready for kindergarten and beyond. Programs also provide services and resources for families to ensure holistic support for the entire family. Additionally, programs run all year long, offering care and education during the school year and in the summertime. The Department of Education (DOE) offers these programs through our community-based early childhood partners.

Early Head Start provides care for toddlers ages two-years old and Head Start serves three- and four-year-old children in centers. Both programs provide nutritious meals and health screenings for enrolled children, and support in accessing health services for their families. The programs also help parents and families achieve their own goals, including employment, housing, and adult education.

Head Start is funded by federal grants, which require families of children in the programs to be eligible for services. Qualifying children can begin a program any time during the year. Families may qualify if one or more of the following criteria apply: 

• Family income falls within the federal guidelines
• Live in temporary housing
• Receive HRA Cash Assistance
• Receive SNAP
• Receive SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance)
• Enrolling a child who is in foster care

The best way to find out if your family is eligible for Head Start is to contact a program directly. Visit MySchools to find a program near you. The program will ask you for one or more documents to verify your eligibility. These documents may include:

• Income Tax Form 1040
• W-2
• TANF documentation (i.e. Cash Assistance)
• SSI documentation
• Pay stub or pay envelopes

Eligible families are welcome to enroll in Head Start programs regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Programs may not ask for proof of citizenship or legal immigration status when applying for Head Start.

Head Start Income Eligibility: HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2022

Persons In Family/Household	Poverty Guideline
1	$13,590
2	$18,310
3	$23,030
4	$27,750
5	$32,470
6	$37,190
7	$41,910
8	$46,630

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,720 for each additional person.

Programs may be able to enroll a small number of families that have incomes over this threshold. If you are interested in a Head Start program and your family income is higher, you are still encouraged to apply; the program will reach out if they have capacity to serve additional families. 

If you are not eligible or are seeking other early childhood services

There is a free Pre-K for All seat for all four-year-olds in New York City, and a free 3-K for All seat for three-year-olds in a growing number of communities. These programs operate for the length of the DOE school day and year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/prek and nyc.gov/3k or call 311.

For Other Extended Day/Year Infant/Toddler Programs

Extended Day and Year (EDY) Birth to Five programs offer high-quality early childhood care and education for children six weeks through four years old. These programs run year long, up to 10 hours per day and offer a safe, positive learning environment for children to learn, play, and build skills for kindergarten and beyond.

To provide access to these free or low-cost services, NYC Department of Education (DOE) utilizes funding from the Federal Child Care Block Grant (Child Care), which requires that families meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Residency:
  • Your family must live in New York City, unless the child has been placed in foster care outside of NYC.
  • The child who will receive care at the EDY program must be a US citizen or have legal immigration status.
    • Because of the requirements of this Federal funding, you must provide proof of your child’s citizenship or legal immigration status to be eligible.
    • Documentation is only needed for the child in need of Child Care. Parents/guardians will not be asked for the citizenship status or the status of anyone else in the household, including your status.
• Income Guidelines and Reason for Care:
  • Your family’s income must fall below a certain amount (see page 3) and you must have one of the following approved reason for care:
    • Work an average of 10 or more hours per week
    • In an educational or vocational training program
    • Enrolled in a 4-year college
    • Starting to look for work or have been looking for work for up to 6 months, this includes looking for work while receiving unemployment
    • Receiving services in response to domestic violenceLive in temporary housing For two-parent households, each parent must have a reason for care.

Special Referrals

There are a few instances where a City agency, other than DOE, determines a family's eligibility for Child Care assistance: 

• Families applying for or receiving cash assistance must apply for Child Care through their Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center.
• Families with an active child welfare case, Preventive and/or Protective, must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.
• Employed foster parents must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for Extended Day and Year services, you can seek help with your application by contacting a Family Welcome Center by email at ccapplication@schools.nyc.gov or by calling 311. Families must submit both the Application for Child Care Assistance as well as the documentation outlined in the below four lists. All eligibility forms are available on DOE’s website at bit.ly/childcareeligibility.

List 1	List 2	List 3	List 4
Copy of one of the following: IDNYC Utility Bill Section 8 Award Letter Driver’s License Rent Receipt NYCHA Certificate CFWB-067 Residency Attestation Other	Copy of one of the following for the child(ren) in need of care: US Birth Certificate Alien Registration Card including Permanent Resident or GreenCard US Passport Form FS-240 (Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen) Naturalization Certificate Other	One of the following for each child under 18 in the household: Birth Certificate Adoption record Baptismal record Court order for legal guardian with financial responsibility Passport with parent signature	One of the following, if employed: CFWB-015 -Referral to Employer for Employee Income Information Between 2 and 12 Pay Stubs depending on frequency and the difference in income between paychecks

If applicable, you may also need to submit a Vocational, Education, Training Verification Form, a Housing Questionnaire or the Self Employment Attestation Form.

State Income Standard: 300% of Poverty Income Standards Chart (August 1, 2022 - May 31, 2023)

Family Size	Monthly Income	Annual Income
1	$3,396	$40,770
2	$4,5778	$54,930
3	$5,758	$69,090
4	$6,938	$83,250
5	$8,118	$97,410
6	$9,298	$111,570
7	$10,478	$125,730
8	$11,658	$139,890

For family units with more than 8 members, add $4,720 monthly or $14,160 annually for each additional family member.

If you are not eligible or are seeking other early childhood services

There is a free Pre-K for All seat for all four-year-olds in New York City, and a free 3-K for All seat for three-year-olds in a growing number of communities. These programs operate for the length of the DOE school day and year. Families do not need to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status to attend any other 3-K, pre-K, Head Start or Early Head Start programs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/prek and nyc.gov/3k or call 311.

How to Apply

Admissions for EarlyLearn programs are year-round. Your child can enroll in a program any time, if you are eligible and there is a seat available.

• Visit MySchools to find an infant and toddler program near you.
• For Early Head Start, apply directly through the program.
• For other Extended Day/Year Infant/Toddler options, you must apply directly through the program. All new applications and recertifications should be emailed to CCapplication@schools.nyc.gov. If your program is unable to email your application, your program can send it to this address:

NYC DOE FWC
333 7th Ave 12th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Questions? Send an email to ccapplication@schools.nyc.gov

Special Referrals

There are a few instances where a different process is needed to apply:

• Families applying for or receiving cash assistance must apply for care through their Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center.
• Families with an active Child Welfare case, preventive and/or protective, must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.
• Employed foster parents must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.

All families, including families that may need one of these referrals, can call 311 to get help with finding a program and completing the Child Care subsidy application.

For Centers Submitting or Following Up on Cases

The following guidelines allow our staff to provide you and families with the best possible support:

• Please submit cases one at a time, with all documents attached for that specific case.
• In the subject line of your email, please include the following
  • Parent name
  • Case number, if known
  • Program name/number
• When requesting a status updates, please reference the date of the original submission, as well as the information included in the subject line (see bullets above)

Questions About EarlyLearn ?

Call 311 or email us at ccapplication@schools.nyc.gov. We can answer your questions about early childhood care and education and help you explore your options.

Options for Three- and Four-Year-Olds

Interested in other free, full-day, high-quality programs for children who are three and four years old? If your child was born in 2018, you can apply for 3-K. If your child was born in 2017, you can apply for pre-K. Visit MySchools to learn more about different programs.

In addition, families needing extended day/year care beyond the school day can apply for Extended Day/Year programs, including Head Start. These programs provide care all year round for up to 10 hours a day. Eligibility for these programs depends on income and other factors.

• To apply for Head Start programs, contact those programs directly.
• To learn more about other Extended Day/Year options, eligibility, or how to apply, email us at CCapplication@schools.nyc.gov.