Early Education Program
Our Collective Purpose
The first years of life are a time of rapid development and tremendous importance: a child’s earliest experiences can significantly alter the quality of his or her adult life. Because a child’s early experiences are shaped by the world which we as parents, caregivers, teachers, service providers, and community members create for them, it is critical that we build a healthy, nurturing environment full of creativity and variety. If we create this environment in our community, we will put our children firmly on a path to lifelong success.
The best investment we can make as a community is in our children. We hope you will join us in our work to make New Haven a truly wonderful place for young children and their families.
About Our Programs
- New Haven Public Schools’ Early Childhoods Program offers early education for children ages 3 and 4 years old.
- To be eligible you must be a New Haven resident and your child must be 3 on or before September 1, 2025.
- Programs operate on the same academic schedule as New Haven Public Schools, running Monday through Friday, from September to June with breaks for holidays. Programs are full day but hours vary based on school site.
Free for low-income New Haven families with children ages 3 and 4 years old
New Haven Public Schools offers Head Start programming for 3 and 4 year olds in seven locations. The program is free to City of New Haven residents who meet the Head Start income guidelines.
Early Head Start programming is not offered by New Haven Public Schools but information regarding centers providing these services can be obtained by calling 1-800-505-1000.
New Haven Public Schools Head Start Locations
Fair Haven School
Hill Central Music Academy
Benjamin Jepson Multi-Age Magnet School
John Martinez Sea & Sky STEM Magnet School
Lincoln-Bassett Community School
Dr. Mayo Early Childhood School
Pre-K programs on sliding fee scale for families with children ages 3 and 4 years old
New Haven Public Schools offers School Readiness programming for 3 and 4 year olds in five locations. Fees for School Readiness spaces are set by the State of Connecticut on a sliding scale which is based on gross parent income and family size.
New Haven Public Schools School Readiness Locations
East Rock Community & Cultural Studies
Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration
Hill Central School
Nathan Hale School
How to Apply
For more information about these programs, eligibility requirements and documents needed to apply, contact the Early Childhood Enrollment Coordinator, Pamela Ng at 475 220-1440 or via email
An application for Head Start or School Readiness can be completed at the Office of School Choice and Enrollment located 54 Meadow St, 1st Fl, New Haven. Online applications can also be completed at the following link: