Eligibility for Early Childhood Programs

Extended Day and Year eligibility

Eligibility for these seats is based on family income and needs by completing the Child Care application on MyCity.

Your family may qualify for other 3-K Extended Day and Year seats if your family's income falls below a certain amount (see table below) and you have at least one of the following approved reasons for care:

• You work an average of 10 or more hours per week
• You are in an educational or vocational training program
• You have been looking for work for up to 6 months
• You live in temporary housing
• You are attending services for domestic violence
• You are receiving treatment for substance abuse

State Income Standard: 85% of SMI for New York

Families who work 10+ hours per week must make at least minimum wage ($16/hour) to qualify for child care assistance.

Documentation for the child in need of care

These 3-K Extended Day and Year seats are funded by the Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant. Because of the requirements of this Federal funding, you must provide proof that your child is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident or refugee to be eligible for these particular programs.

Documentation is only needed for the child in need of childcare; you will not be asked for the immigration status of anyone else in your household, including your status. Documentation for the child in need of care can be one of the following:

• U.S. birth certificate
• U.S. passport
• Naturalization certificate
• Alien registration card (including permanent resident or green card)
• Form FS-240 (report of birth abroad of a U.S. citizen).

New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is committed to welcoming all children and families, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, into our schools and programs. Families do not need to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status to be admitted to any School Day or Head Start seat at NYCPS programs.

If your family is unable to meet the Extended Day and Year seat documentation requirements listed above, NYCPS will help you explore any available program alternatives that meet the needs of your family.

Special referrals

There are a few instances where a City agency other than the 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) Benefits Access Center.
• Families with an active child welfare case, Preventative 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.

Head Start eligibility

Eligibility is based on family income and needs. Eligibility is confirmed directly through the provider.

The best way to find out if your family is eligible for Head Start is to contact a program directly. Your family may qualify for Head Start if at least one of these categories applies to you:

• You live in temporary housing
• You receive HRA Cash Assistance
• You receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits
• You receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• You are enrolling a child who is in foster care
• Your family income falls below a certain amount (see Head Start income eligibility below)

Head Start income eligibility: HHS poverty guidelines for 2025

Head Start providers 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.