Preschool for All Illinois: Who Qualifies and How It Works

Updated November 2026 with IDEC eligibility forms and 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

Preschool for All (PFA) is free, state-funded preschool in Illinois for children ages 3 to 5 who are not yet in kindergarten. It is run by school districts and community programs and, since July 1, 2026, overseen by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).

The name suggests every child gets a seat. In practice, funding is limited. State rules require at least 80% of the children in each PFA program to be high priority or at risk, and many programs run only part of the day. Here is how the program works and how to find out whether your child can get a spot.

What Preschool for All offers

• Free tuition for children who are enrolled.
• A licensed teacher. Lead teachers hold an Illinois teaching license with an early childhood endorsement.
• Small classes of up to 20 children with two adults.
• A school-year schedule, usually August or September through May or June.
• Screening and family support, including developmental screening and help connecting with other services.

Most PFA classes are part-day, at least 2.5 hours a day, five days a week, often with a morning and an afternoon session. A related program, Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE), offers a full school day plus health and family services, mainly in communities with high need.

One rule worth knowing: IDEC's compliance checklist says programs cannot turn a child away because they are not toilet trained.

Who qualifies for Preschool for All?

Any child who is 3 or 4 by the district's cutoff date and not yet eligible for kindergarten can apply. Whether they get a seat depends on priority. Each program uses a weighted eligibility checklist to score applicants, and children with the most points are enrolled first or placed at the top of the waitlist.

IDEC's eligibility form gives the highest priority to children who:

• Have an IEP or have been referred for a special education evaluation
• Live in a family at or below 50% of the federal poverty level, or receive TANF
• Are experiencing homelessness
• Are in foster care (youth in care)

Other factors add points, such as family income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, or a primary caregiver who did not finish high school or a GED. Programs can also add local factors that fit their community, such as a home language other than English.

For a sense of the numbers, the 2026 federal poverty level for a family of four is $33,000 a year. Half of that is $16,500, and twice that is $66,000.

Programs try to serve mostly high-priority children. When seats remain, other children may be enrolled. If your family does not meet any priority factors, ask your district plainly how likely a seat is before you plan around it.

How to apply

1. Call your school district's early childhood office in the winter or spring before the school year. Many districts list PFA under "preschool screening."
2. Schedule a screening. Your child plays and talks with staff while they check language, motor and social skills. It is low-key and usually takes under an hour.
3. Bring documents: birth certificate, proof of address, and often proof of income and immunization records. A CCAP approval letter can count as proof of income.
4. Wait for placement. You will hear whether your child is enrolled or on the waitlist. Waitlists can move during the year.

In Chicago, families apply through Chicago Early Learning. CPS offers free full-day pre-K for every four-year-old in the city and a limited number of half-day seats for three-year-olds. For the 2026-27 school year, a child had to turn 4 on or before September 1, 2026 for four-year-old pre-K. Applications for each school year open in early April and stay open on a rolling basis.

The schedule problem for working parents

A 2.5-hour class that ends at 11:00 AM does not cover a workday. Families who get a PFA seat usually solve it one of three ways:

• Combine programs. The child attends PFA in the morning, then a daycare or relative covers the afternoon. This works best when someone can drive between them.
• Find a provider that hosts PFA. Some community child care centers run a PFA classroom inside a full-day program, so the child stays in one building.
• Choose full-day care with a preschool curriculum. Many working families decide one drop-off is worth more than free hours. See half-day vs full-day preschool.

Preschool for All vs. other free options

• Head Start is federally funded and mainly for families under the federal poverty line or in certain situations. It often includes meals and health services.
• Early childhood special education is free for children 3 and older with a developmental delay or disability, through your school district, whether or not they qualify for PFA.
• CCAP does not pay for a preschool seat directly, but it helps working families pay for licensed child care, including full-day centers. See CCAP income limits.

Frequently asked questions

Is Preschool for All really free?

Yes, tuition is free for enrolled children. You may still pay for transportation, extra care hours or supplies, depending on the program.

Can any child get Preschool for All?

Any child can apply, but at least 80% of seats must go to high-priority children. In many districts, children without priority factors end up on a waitlist.

Is Preschool for All full-day?

Most programs are part-day, at least 2.5 hours. Preschool for All Expansion programs offer a full school day in some communities.

Does my child need to be potty trained?

No. PFA programs cannot use toilet training as an eligibility requirement.

When should I apply?

Start in the winter or early spring before your child turns 3 or 4. Many suburban districts screen from February to May for the fall. In Chicago, the application opens in April.

Full-day preschool at Children's Land

If you need care that covers your whole workday, Children's Land offers full-day preschool from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with hot breakfast and lunch. Three-year-olds join our preschool program, and four-year-olds our pre-K program, with thematic units, STEAM activities and fine arts. Find a location near you or contact us to ask about tuition and availability.

Related reading: Daycare vs Preschool vs Pre-K: What Is the Difference?