Preschool USA
 

Hi All,

Is there a free preschool program in US as we have in UK for 3 years old? The current UK program allows for 2.5 hrs free preschool to all children 3 yrs up and there is also a grant given if you want to go for private nursery.

We would be living in NJ and was wondering if anything like this is available in the US.

Many Thanks,
Meghna

Re: Preschool USA
 

Short answer, no.

There is a Child Care Tax Credit you can take:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...106189,00.html

And some poor families get a bit of assistance (depends on the state). Those though may have some citizenship requirements. It's designed to pay for child care while they seek job retraining.

http://www.state.nj.us/recovery/prog...hild_care.html

But basically, no, you are on your own.

Re: Preschool USA
 

I know several families who are over here on L1 visas who have claimed from their companies for free nursery care because they'd get it in the UK. Not sure if that would work for you, but thought I'd mention it.:)

Re: Preschool USA
 

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...gly_offer.html

You may want to read this and see if it may apply to you & your's. at the most it would cost around $250 a month or $ 62.50 a week, not bad in my opinion in prepping the little ones.. Good Luck. :)

Re: Preschool USA
 

Dd just finished preschool and starts Kindergarten in July.
It was $22 a day from 7.30am to 11.30am monday to Friday. Or however many days you want.
That seems to be the normal going rate around here.

Re: Preschool USA
 

Doubt there's much for free unless you are on the really poor side of poor. Though in MA, if you qualify for it, there's a 7 year waiting list, but you can use the credits till the child is 13.

Best bet is seeing if the employer offers some sort of childcare assistance.

Re: Preschool USA
 

blimey, that's not bad going....it's about $15hr down my way, get it down to $12 if you pre buy so many hours in advance though.

Co-ops might be another option for cheap, have to help work at the place for a day or two a week.

Re: Preschool USA
 

I'd heard MA was expensive. It's $30 a day if you work and need all day daycare on top of the preschool.
It's connected to the elementary school, next door to Headstart (free to low income and special needs kids) They share a playground and occasionally a teacher or two float from one to the other.

Re: Preschool USA
 

So called Abbott districts in NJ offer free pre-school places to all children but I doubt this would apply.

I was in this field of work before my job recently disappeared after the new governer took over. Many districts are having to cut back drastically on their pre-school programs and those who still offer free pre-school usually have a lottery admission policy.

Please do your homework before finally choosing a pre-school/daycare center.