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Child Care

Child care for babies & toddlers

EarlyLearn NYC Child Care | NYC Department of Education

1. How it Works

EarlyLearn NYC is free or low-cost child care and education for children six weeks to four years old. There are hundreds of locations across NYC offering services in safe and positive learning environments.

  • EarlyLearn NYC is available for families who qualify for free or low-cost care
  • Children can play, learn, and build skills to prepare for kindergarten and beyond
  • Eligibility is based on your family’s income, size, and needs
  • Families who do not get Cash Assistance or are not in foster care or homeless will need to pay a family share based on income
  • Services are available for children with special needs

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

Related

Child Care Children (0-13)

2. Determine your eligibility

EarlyLearn programs have income and other eligibility requirements. If you qualify, your child can begin a program any time during the year.

With a few questions, we can help you find out if you may be eligible.

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

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3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

It’s important to include the right documents when you apply. Your documents show whether the program is right for you.

This page can help you choose the right documents for your application.

Proof of who you are

For each person applying, any one document:

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • Baptismal or other religious certificate
  • Official hospital or birth records
  • Adoption records
  • Naturalization certificate

Proof of where you live

Proof of your income

Proof of citizenship/immigration status

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply in person

  1. Use the EarlyLearn NYC program finder and choose a provider.
  2. Download the application, visit the program of your choice to pick one up, or call 311 and request one be mailed to you.
  3. Complete the application and submit it with required the documents to the EarlyLearn NYC Child Care program site of your choice.
  4. If your child is approved for a seat in an EarlyLearn NYC center, ACS and the program will contact you about when your child can start attending. If your child is eligible, but the program has no vacancies, you may be placed on a waiting list.
  5. If you are receiving benefits from the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and would like to enroll in an EarlyLearn NYC program, visit your assigned Job Center.

Find a program

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

More ways to get help with this program

Visit the website

Visit the EarlyLearn NYC Child Care website for more information.

Email Family Welcome Centers

To help stop the spread of coronavirus, Family Welcome Center buildings are temporarily closed, but staff members are working remotely to support families. You can email your questions about enrollment, offer information, waitlists, and more to:

Bronx ,  Brooklyn , Manhattan , Queens, Staten Island

Staff are aiming to respond to all email requests within 48 hours by email.

Call 311

Ask for EarlyLearn Child Care if you need help finding a program.

Last Updated Friday, March 20th, 11:22am

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