New Families - Educare - Washington DC

At Educare DC we are a Head Start organization and serve families whose household income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. We also have an enrollment opportunity for families who are at or above 300% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. In partnership with WeVision Early Ed we are able to offer limited slots to over-income families at a subsidized tuition rate of $9,000 for the school year. If you believe you qualify for this enrollment opportunity, please reach out to the Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Kathryn Draper at kdraper@educaredc.org or 202-735-3967.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your child to Educare DC! There are three steps to completing your application:

Take the eligibility quiz
If you qualify, complete your application
Submit photos or scans of required documents

Is your child already at Educare DC? Add a sibling or new family member.

Step 1: Take the Eligibility Quiz

Is your child eligible for Educare DC?
Answer the questions below to see if you qualify.

Is your child between 6 weeks and 5 years old?

Yes, my child is 6 weeks to 5 years old.

No, my child is younger than 6 weeks or older than 5 years.

I am pregnant and interested in the prenatal program.

Are you a DC resident?

Yes, I am a DC resident.

No, I am not a DC resident.

Do you receive public assistance? (SNAP, TANF, etc.)

Yes, I receive public assistance.

No, I do not receive public assistance.

Does your income exceed $30,000?

Yes, my income is more than $30,000.

No, my income is less than $30,000.

Hidden

Screening Score (Hidden)

Must be 3 or greater to qualify.

Thank you! Based on this information, you may be qualified to enroll at Educare DC. Please enter your name and contact information, click Submit, and proceed to our application.

Our Prenatal program empowers mothers throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting an infant. Get more details on our prenatal program, and learn how to apply.

Thank you! Based on this information, we would like to connect with you to determine your eligibility. Please leave your contact information and a member of our enrollment team will contact you.

We’re sorry, but you may not be eligible to enroll your child in Educare DC. However, if you’re currently experiencing homelessness or if the child you’re enrolling is in foster care, contact our enrollment team at 202-727-5604 or enroll@educaredc.org.

We’re sorry, but you are not eligible to enroll your child in Educare DC.

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Step 2: Complete Your Application

This online application takes 15 to 30 minutes, so plan ahead for when you have time. It will help to have each of the required documents with you, and especially:

A valid photo ID for each parent or guardian.
Verification of income. Submit one of the following: TANF, SNAP, SSI, or SSDI benefit letter; an income tax return; or your three most recent pay stubs. (More details)
Proof of DC residency. This could include: a mortgage statement; a lease with proof of payment; a letter from a transitional housing facility; an unexpired vehicle registration that matches your ID; a SNAP statement. We also accept electricity, water, or gas bills, but we need proofs of payment from two back-to-back months for the same service. (More details)
The child’s birth certificate.

We can process your application faster if these documents are included. We choose families based on need. If we are full, we will add your child to our waitlist.

Step 3: Submit Required Documents

After you submit your application, you will receive a separate email with your specific document upload link. Click on that link, enter the last name and date of birth for participant or parent. This step is mandatory in order to complete the application. Use our Enrollment application checklist for Educare DC to ensure that you have all the required documents uploaded.

If you can’t find or do not have all the required documents on hand, a member of our Enrollment team can help you track down and gather everything you need! Click here to contact the enrollment team or call 202-727-5604.

About Our Enrollment Process and Eligibility

Schedule a tour by clicking the name of the school site that you are interested in learning more about: Parkside or IDEA

Although each new school year starts in the Fall, Educare DC accepts applications for enrollment throughout the school year and admits students on a rolling basis as space becomes available.

As an Early Head Start and Universal Pre-K 3 & Pre-K 4 program, our selection criteria are determined based upon various eligibility factors. Our Enrollment department can determine eligibility by reviewing required documentation and conducting a personal intake interview with each family.

Our selection process is not based upon first-apply, first-served, but rather on serving families with the highest needs.

Additional Resources

Interested in learning more about our high-quality early childhood education program? Check out the videos from our virtual open house events! The informative sessions cover topics such as a general overview of our education program, our eligibility and selection process, our prenatal program, and much more!

If you have any questions or need other information about enrollment, contact:

Kathryn Draper
Email: kdraper@educaredc.org
Phone: 202-735-3967