Cambridge Preschool Program Application Opens December 1

The City of Cambridge, in partnership with Cambridge Public Schools (CPS), announced today that applications for the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) will be accepted beginning this Friday. The application window for preschool enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will span from December 1, 2023 – January 15, 2024. Children are eligible to apply if they are Cambridge residents and will turn 4 years old by August 31, 2024 or 3 years old by August 31, 2024.

Families can apply online at https://earlychildhoodcambridge.org/cpp/#application. Prior to Friday, families can access the application platform through this link and begin exploring participating programs before the application process officially opens. In-person assistance will be available throughout the application period.

Overseen by the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood, CPP is a publicly-funded program that will provide free school-day, school-year preschool to every 4-year-old and some 3-year-olds living in Cambridge. Extended day and summer programs are available at an additional cost for most families. As a mixed-delivery system, CPP’s single application will offer a variety of preschool programs for families to choose from, including CPS, City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP), and community-based programs. The application process will involve families providing information about their household and selecting 6-10 preschool programs, in ranked order. Children will then be matched with a preschool program and families will be notified of their child’s placement in March 2024.

“In designing the Cambridge Preschool Program, we are centering equity in access, delivering high-quality education across preschool programs, and prioritizing early educator compensation and support,” said Dr. Lisa Grant, Executive Director of the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood. “Our focus on equitable access, high-quality programming, and uplifting early childhood educators is cementing CPP as a national leader in building early childhood systems.” 

“The City of Cambridge is committing approximately $20 million a year to support the Cambridge Preschool Program, a significant investment that we are proud to make to ensure that every 4-year-old has access to high-quality education,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “Not only is this an investment in a pioneering early childhood system; it is an investment in our educators, children, families, and the future of Cambridge.”  

“Delivering high-quality early learning experiences for our preschool students will be a game-changer for our families, and I am incredibly grateful for the community’s support as we move forward with this historic investment in our young people,” said Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Victoria L. Greer.

“CPP underscores our commitment to providing every child with access to a high-quality preschool education,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “Universal preschool has been a City Council priority for decades, and it has been great to collaborate with City and community partners to make this happen.”

For additional information about CPP, including Frequently Asked Questions, visit CPP’s website: https://earlychildhoodcambridge.org/cpp.