Early Learning and Child Care

Education and child care resources for children and families

Find Child Care, Preschool and Other Early Learning Programs

Online Child Care Search and Phone Support

Use the Parent Aware online child care search or call 1-888-291-9811 to talk with a specialist that can help families find the quality child care, preschool and other early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life (multilingual services available). Visit the website: https://www.parentaware.org/

• Finding Child Care: A Guide for Families (PDF document)
• Helping Parents and Families Find Child Care, Intermediary Toolkit (PDF document)

Public School Early Childhood Education and Care Programs

Public school districts and charter schools offer a variety of programs and services for families and young children aged birth to kindergarten entrance. The variety of programs offer opportunities for both families and children to enhance their learning and development in ways that achieve positive outcomes for children.

Paying for Child Care, Preschool and Other Early Learning Programs

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

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.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is available to all children who turn 5 on or by September 1 of the current school year. Enrolling children in kindergarten provides them with a safe, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate learning environment and the opportunity to receive a world-class education.

• Enrolling in Public Kindergarten fact sheet (PDF document)
• Click here for additional languages of this document.

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.