Early Learning and Child Care
Education and child care resources for children and families
- Find Child Care, Preschool and Other Early Learning Programs
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- Parent Aware
- Offers free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care, preschool and other early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life.
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota
- Online Classes for Child Care Providers and Parents
- Paying for Child Care, Preschool and Other Early Learning Programs
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- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- County program that helps families with low income pay for child care while they go to work, look for work or attend school.
- Early Learning Scholarships
- Financial support for parents to access high quality early childhood programs for their children up to age four with high needs.
- Head Start Programs
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Head Start supports the comprehensive development of children from birth through age 5 to promote school readiness for young children from low-income families. Head Start services include early learning, health, and family well-being.
- Early Head Start (Birth through 2 years)
- Home visiting or center-based services and programs for low-income families with infants and toddlers that support child development, parenting skills and self-sufficiency.
- Head Start (3 through 5 years)
- Services and programs that prepare low-income families with preschool children (ages 3 - 5) for their transition to public school kindergarten and to support child development, parenting skills and self-sufficiency.
- Public Libraries
- Minnesota’s public libraries are community hubs where people of any age can borrow or download books, use a computer, attend a class or program, meet with colleagues, study with friends, or just relax in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
- School-based Early Learning Programs
- School districts provide a range of early learning programs and services for families and children aged birth-up-to-kindergarten. The programs offer opportunities for both families and children to enhance their learning and development, achieve positive outcomes for children, and support their transition to kindergarten. The programs include: School Readiness, Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and Voluntary Prekindergarten/School Readiness Plus programs.
