EarlyLearn Child Care

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
Services are available for children with special needs
Children can play, learn, and build skills to prepare for kindergarten and beyond
Eligibility is based on your family’s income, size, and needs

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

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.

For each person applying, any one document:

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

For the household, any one document:

ID card with address
Driver license issued within past 6 months
Current letter/lease/rent receipt with home address from landlord
Postmarked envelope, postcard, or magazine label with name and date (cannot use if sent to a P.O. Box)
Correspondence from a government agency which contains name and street address (not a P.O. Box)
Utility bill (gas, electric, or water)

For each income source of each income earner, any one document:

Wages & Salary

Letter from employer on company letterhead, signed and dated (this document is acceptable only if you do not have the other types of documents)
Paycheck stubs (from the last four weeks in a row that you worked, if your pay is the same each week. If your pay is not always the same, bring pay stubs from the last 12 weeks in a row.)

Self-employment

Records of earnings and expenses
Signed and dated income tax return and all schedules

Income from Rent or Room and Board

Check stub
Ledger or rent receipt book
Letter from roomer, boarder, or tenant

Military Pay

Current award letter
Current check stub

Child Support or Alimony

Letter from court

Unemployment Income

Award letter or certificate
Bank statement showing the direct deposits
Copy of the direct payment debit card
Correspondence from NYS Department of Labor
Unemployment Insurance Monetary Benefit Determination

Social Security Benefits (SSI, Dependent, Disability, Survivor’s, or Retirement)

Correspondence from Social Security Administration
Current award letter or certificate
Current benefit check

Veteran’s Benefits

Correspondence from Veterans Administration
Current award letter
Current benefit check stub

Worker’s Compensation

Current award letter
Current check stub

Pensions, Annuities, or IRA

Statement from pension or annuity

Interest, dividends, or royalties

Statement from bank, credit union, or financial institution

Support from Family, Gifts, Inheritance, or Lottery

Copies of canceled checks from family member
Signed statement or letter from family member

For each person applying, any one document:

Green card (copy of the front and back)
Arrival-Departure Record Card: INS form I-94
Letter from US Citizenship and Immigration (CIS) (formerly INS) showing status and, if necessary, date of entry into the US
Other INS documents, or correspondence to or from the INS, that shows that you are living in the US with the knowledge and permission of the INS

Note: As long as the child has legal status, the child is eligible for care regardless of the parent(s)’ legal status.

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Use the EarlyLearn NYC program finder and choose a provider.
Download the application, visit the program of your choice to pick one up, or call 311 and request one be mailed to you.
Complete the application and submit it with required the documents to the EarlyLearn NYC Child Care program site of your choice.
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.
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

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Child care for babies & toddlers

EarlyLearn NYC Child Care | NYC Department of Education

1. How it Works

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More ways to get help with this program

2. Determine your eligibility

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3. What you need to include

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4. How to apply

Here are your options.

More ways to get help with this program

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