skip to main content

Early Education Programs & Services

Early Education Programs & Services

Eligibility & Enrollment

ENROLLMENT

There are a few steps in the enrollment process:
  1. Complete a Waiting List Application by calling (530) 532-5643 or online application
  2. Receive a call from Early Education Programs and Services staff to schedule an enrollment appointment
  3. Gather required enrollment documents.  A list of required documents can be found here.
  4. Attend enrollment appointment and orientation
 

ELIGIBILITY

Children 32 months and 4 years of age may be eligible for preschool if:
 
Children have their 3rd birthday on or before December 1 of the fiscal year they are being served. Children who have their 3rd birthday on or after December 2 of the fiscal year, may be enrolled in CSPP on or after their 3rd birthday.
 
Children who have their 4th birthday on or before December 1 of the school year they are being served.
 
Families can discuss eligibility information and be pre-screened over the phone, by calling our administrative office at (530) 532-5643. Families will be added to the waiting list based on the following:
 
Eligibility is based on either child or family eligibility. 
 
Families must meet one of the following criteria: 
 
  • The family is a current aid recipient
  • The family is income eligible
  • The family is experiencing homelessness
  • The child is a recipient of child protective services, or has been identified as being abused, neglected, or exploited, or at-risk of being abused, neglected or exploited
  • The child has a disability with an IFSP or IEP
  • Families are certified to receive benefits from CalWorks, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC, FDPIR, Head Start, Early Head Start, or any other designated means-tested government program
  • The family has an income that is no more than 15 percent above the income eligibility threshold;
  • The family lives in a neighborhood where the school has Free or Reduce-Price Meal Program (FRPM) status
Note: Children enrolled in TK and Kindergarten may be enrolled in a part-day CSPP for Extended Learning and Care if the child or family meets one of the eligibility criteria above.
 
Full-Day CSPP Programs
In addition to meeting the eligibility crtieria, families enrolling in a Full-Day CSPP Program must meet a need requirement.
 
Family Need Criteria:
 
A child’s family must provide documentation of need in one or more of these categories:
 
  • The child has been identified by a legal, medical, or social services agency, a local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, a Head Start program, or an emergency or transitional shelter as one of the following:
    • A recipient of protective services.
    • Being neglected, abused, or exploited, or at risk of neglect, abuse, or exploitation.
    • Being homeless.
  •  The child’s parents are one of the following:
    • Engaged in vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, paraprofession, or profession.
    • Engaged in an educational program for English language learners or to attain a high school diploma or general educational development certificate.
    • Employed or seeking employment.
    • Seeking permanent housing for family stability.
  •  No established need; parent request. (Please note: This is 6th enrollment priority)
 
Duration of Service Requirement:
Once a family establishes eligibility, they will remain eligibility for 24 months. 
If the eligibility period ends before the end of a program year, services will be extended until the start of kindergarten as long as the child is age-eligible.  Participants whose eligibility is based on income must notify our agency within 30 days if their total countable monthly income, at any time during their certification period, exceeds the maximum income threshold for ongoing eligibility.
 
Part-Day CSPP: No Cost
There is no cost for our Preschool Program for those eligible to enroll. This valuable quality program is funded by the California Department of Education.
 
Full-Day CSPP: No/Low Cost
Full-Day State Preschool Programs are required to assess a family fee for service. Through September 30, 2023 there will be no fees collected from families enrolled in Full-Day State Preschool.  Beginning October 1, 2023 families below 75% of state-median income will not be assessed a fee and families above 75% of the state-median income will be assessed a family fee which is no more than 1% of their gross monthly income.  
 
Please note:  We are awaiting additional information on the restructing of family fees from the CA Department of Education.

ADMISSIONS PRIORITY - PART-DAY CSPP

Enrollment Priorities for 5.0% of funded enrollment:
5% of CSPP funded enrollment is reserved for Children with Exceptional Needs. To extent possible, enroll in income ranking order. If 2 or more families have the same ranking, enroll the family with earliest application date first.
 
Note: Only child in family who has exceptional needs may be enrolled under this eligibility criteria
 
Enrollment Priorities for remaining funded enrollment:
First:  Child is recipient of Child Protective Services or At-Risk of being neglected, abused or exploited
 
Second: Once the set-aside is filled, child with exceptional needs from income eligible family AND family meets a need criteria.  Prioritize based on income ranking order.
 
Third: Eligible children not enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten. Prioritize children with the lowest income ranking first.  
 
If 2 or more children are within the same ranking prioritize dual language learners, and then based on the child who has been on the waiting list for the longest time.
 
Fourth: Family Income is not more than 15% above income threshold.  Prioritize exceptional needs children, then 4 year olds, then 3 year olds. (limited to 10% of funded enrollment)
 
Fifth: Family resides in approved neighborhood school boundary of FRPM.  Prioritize based on income ranking order.
 
Seventh: Children enrolling in CSPP to provide expanded learning & care to Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten pupils may be enrolled in a wraparound setting if family meets eligibility criteria
 


ADMISSIONS PRIORITY - FULL-DAY CSPP

Full-Day CSPP Enrollment Priorities
 
Enrollment Priorities for 5% of funded enrollment:
5% of CSPP funded enrollment is reserved for Children with Exceptional Needs. To the extent possible, enroll in income ranking order. If 2 or more families have the same ranking, enroll the family with earliest application date first. For full-day programs family must also meet a need criteria.
Note: Only the child in family who has exceptional needs may be enrolled under this eligibility criteria.
 
Enrollment Priorities for remaining funded enrollment:
 
First: Child is recipient of Child Protective Services or At-Risk of being neglected, abused or exploited.
 
Second: Once the set-aside is filled, child with exceptional needs from income eligible family AND family meets a need criteria.  Prioritize based on income ranking order.
 
Third: Eligible children not enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten AND family meets a need criteria. 
 
If 2 or more children are within the same ranking prioritize dual language learners, then based on the child who has been on the waiting list for the longest time.
 
Fourth: Family income is not more than 15% above income threshold AND family meets a need criteria. Prioritize exceptional needs children, then 4 year olds, then 3 year olds. (limited to 10% of funded enrollment)
 
Fifth: Family meets eligibility criteria, but does not meet a need criteria.  Prioritize based on income ranking order.
 
Sixth: Family resides in approved neighborhood school boundary of FRPM.  Prioritize based on income ranking order.

Income criteria for CSPP 23-24