Universal Pre-K in Massachusetts: Ways In, Eligibility, and How to Apply

Massachusetts does not yet run a single universal pre-K in Massachusetts that guarantees every four-year-old a seat. What exists instead is a set of overlapping programs: Boston’s own Universal Pre-K for city residents, free or low-cost classrooms in many local school districts, the state’s Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) building toward universal access in Gateway Cities, and federal Head Start for income-eligible families. Where you live decides which door you walk through.

Governor Healey’s administration has set a goal of universal, high-quality preschool for four-year-olds in all 26 Gateway Cities by the end of 2026. That target covers specific communities, not the whole state.¹

The Four Ways In

Public school district pre-K. Many Massachusetts districts run their own pre-K classrooms, often labeled K0 or K1, and these are typically free to enrolled families. Some accept both three- and four-year-olds; others only serve fours. Availability and age cutoffs vary district to district.

Boston Pre-K. Boston offers seats at no cost to families for children who are three or four by September 1 of the enrollment year and who live in Boston.²

CPPI. The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative is a state grant program run by the Department of Early Education and Care. It funds partnerships between school districts and community-based providers to expand high-quality preschool access for three- and four-year-olds. CPPI is currently active in 12 Gateway Cities and expanding to all 26. Where CPPI operates, families can usually choose between a public school classroom and a partnering community-based provider, and access is meant to be no-cost or low-cost.³

Head Start. A federally funded program for three- and four-year-olds in low-income families, administered by local community agencies. Head Start uses its own income-based eligibility rules and handles enrollment separately from any state or district program.⁴

Start by checking what your local school district offers. If seats are limited, look at CPPI and community-based options in your area, and consider Head Start if your household income is low.

Who Qualifies

Age

Across most Massachusetts pre-K programs, a child must turn three or four by September 1 of the school year. Boston Pre-K accepts both ages by that cutoff.² Some district programs only serve four-year-olds, so ask directly if your child is three.

Residency

You have to live in the city or town where you’re applying. Expect to show a utility bill from the past 30 days, a signed lease or mortgage statement, or a deed, plus a parent or guardian government-issued ID. Boston Pre-K requires that the child be a Boston resident.

Income

Public district pre-K and CPPI-funded seats generally do not impose income limits. Any family in the community can apply regardless of household income.² Head Start is the exception, with federal income requirements handled through its own screening.

How and When to Apply

Boston Pre-K

Boston uses a centralized application and lottery. The application opens to the public in early January each year, and families have until mid-March to submit for the first lottery assignment. For the 2026–2027 school year, the lottery closed on March 31, 2026, after which offers go out every two weeks through the start of the school year.⁵ Applications submitted after the lottery deadline join the waitlist. The only enrollment priority for community-based Boston Pre-K seats is for children already enrolled in the program.

District and CPPI Programs

Outside Boston, each school district sets its own application window and process. Contact your district’s central enrollment office to learn when applications open, whether a lottery is used, and what documents to bring. Common requirements:

Child’s birth certificate or passport
Proof of residency (utility bill, lease, deed, or mortgage statement)
Parent or guardian photo ID
Immunization records or proof of an upcoming physical exam

Applications generally aren’t accepted during summer break. If you miss the spring window, seats sometimes open in the fall on a first-come, first-served basis.

Head Start

Head Start enrollment runs through the local community agency in your area. Income verification is part of the application.

Cost and Financial Help

Public district pre-K programs are generally free. Boston Pre-K is offered at no cost.² In CPPI communities, the goal is no-cost or low-cost access, with grant funds used for scholarships and tuition relief.³

If you’re outside these programs or enrolled with a community-based provider that charges tuition, Massachusetts offers Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA). To qualify, your household income must be at or below 85% of the state median income. Priority goes to families at or below 50% of SMI, families where a parent works in early education, and families with a child who has a documented disability. For 2026, the income limit for a family of four is $6,570 per month, or $11,169 per month if the child has a disability or a parent works in early education.⁶

Families who earn too much for CCFA but can’t easily afford private preschool tuition fall into a gap that CPPI is specifically designed to close in Gateway Cities. If your community isn’t part of CPPI and you don’t qualify for CCFA, your options are Head Start (if income-eligible), private preschool, or checking whether your district has any remaining public seats.

Paying out-of-pocket for a preschool that provides care while you work? The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit may reduce your tax bill. The qualifying child must be under 13, and the expenses must be for care rather than purely educational costs. A free public program doesn’t generate this credit because there are no expenses to claim.⁷

Immunizations and Physical Exam

Massachusetts requires specific vaccines before a child can enroll in any preschool program, including classes labeled K0 or K1. For the 2026–2027 school year, children two and older need:

DTaP: 4 doses
Polio: 3 doses
Hepatitis B: 3 doses (lab evidence of immunity also accepted)
MMR: 1 dose, given on or after the first birthday (lab evidence of immunity also accepted)
Varicella: 1 dose, given on or after the first birthday (a reliable history of chickenpox diagnosed by a physician is also accepted)
Hib: 1 to 4 doses, depending on the vaccine product and the age the series began

Medical exemptions require a physician’s statement that the vaccine is medically contraindicated and must be renewed annually. Religious exemptions require a written statement from a parent or guardian and should also be renewed each year.⁸

Most programs also require a physical exam completed within the last 12 months, signed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Bring proof of the exam, or of an upcoming appointment, when you enroll.

If Your Child Has a Disability

Federal law requires Massachusetts to provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities ages three through five. If your child qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the school district develops an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that sets out the specific services the child will receive. IDEA also requires that children with disabilities be educated alongside their non-disabled peers to the greatest extent possible, which means services can be delivered in public pre-K classrooms, Head Start, community-based centers, or other inclusive settings.⁹

CPPI communities specifically use an itinerant team model so children with IEPs can access their required supports in whichever classroom they attend, without being pulled into a separate setting.³

A child who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity but doesn’t qualify for an IEP may still be protected under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 504 applies to children ages three and up and requires programs to provide equal access through reasonable accommodations. When a child is found eligible, the program develops a 504 plan documenting the modifications the child is entitled to receive.¹⁰

1
Mass.gov. Governor Healey Announces Universal, High-Quality Pre-K Access for Gateway Cities
2
Boston Public Schools. Apply to Boston Pre-K
3
Mass.gov. Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI)
4
Mass.gov. Head Start / Early Head Start
5
Boston Public Schools. Registration FAQs
6
Mass.gov. Apply for Funds to Help Pay for Child Care
7
Internal Revenue Service. Child and Dependent Care Credit Information
8
Mass.gov. 2026-2027 Massachusetts School Immunization Requirements
9
U.S. Department of Education. About IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
10
HeadStart.gov. Services for Children Who Do Not Qualify for IDEA – Fact Sheet