Illinois does not yet guarantee free pre-K statewide, but it funds public preschool through Preschool for All, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, and its Smart Start plan aims to offer a seat to every three- and four-year-old whose family wants one. Chicago already provides universal free pre-K to four-year-olds, and the federal Head Start program adds more free options.
This guide explains how Preschool for All works, what the Smart Start plan and the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood mean, how Chicago's universal pre-K and Head Start fit in, and what private preschool costs for families without a public seat. Plain language, current program structure, and a worked example for a typical Illinois family. It sits alongside our pillar on what daycare costs.
Not statewide yet, but it is the goal. Illinois funds free public preschool through Preschool for All, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, and the state's Smart Start plan aims to offer a preschool seat to every three- and four-year-old whose family wants one, per the Illinois State Board of Education. Chicago already offers universal free pre-K to four-year-olds.
Access today depends on where you live and on need. Preschool for All prioritizes children considered at risk and families of low to moderate income, so a seat is not guaranteed everywhere. The Smart Start plan and a new state Department of Early Childhood are working to close those gaps over the next several years.
Preschool for All (PFA) is Illinois's free, state-funded preschool for children ages 3 and 4, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. It provides at least 12.5 hours of high-quality preschool a week with bachelor's-level licensed teachers and a research-based curriculum, prioritizing at-risk children and low-to-moderate-income families, per the Illinois State Board of Education.
A companion program, Preschool for All Expansion (PFAE), funds full-day seats for the highest-need children. The table below lays out the main pre-K options Illinois families choose between.
| Program | Ages | Cost | Administered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool for All (PFA) | 3–4 (priority by need) | Free | Illinois State Board of Education |
| Chicago universal pre-K | 4-year-olds citywide | Free | Chicago Public Schools / ISBE |
| Head Start / Early Head Start | Birth–5, income-eligible | Free if eligible | Federal Office of Head Start |
| Private preschool | Roughly 2–5 | $900–$1,400 / month | Private providers |
The program structure is from the Illinois State Board of Education and the federal Office of Head Start. The private cost range is drawn from Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices for Illinois, and is discussed below.
Smart Start is Illinois's multi-year plan to expand early childhood education, including eliminating preschool deserts so every low-income three- and four-year-old can reach publicly funded preschool, per the State of Illinois. It has added thousands of new preschool seats and increased funding for early childhood programs.
A structural change comes in 2026: a new Illinois Department of Early Childhood is consolidating programs that were spread across several agencies, with services moving to the new department beginning July 1, 2026. For families, the day-to-day application process stays similar, but the goal is a simpler, more consistent system over time.
Yes. Chicago offers universal free pre-K to every four-year-old in the city through Chicago Public Schools and community partners, funded in part by Illinois Preschool for All. Families apply through the city's centralized application, and three-year-old seats are available too, prioritized by need.
Head Start, the federal program, serves income-eligible children from birth to age five at no cost, with Early Head Start covering pregnancy through age three. Many Illinois families qualify on income without realizing it. Head Start prioritizes the highest-need children, so apply directly to your local grantee and apply early.
For families without a public seat, private preschool tuition in Illinois commonly runs about $900 to $1,400 per month in 2026, with Chicago and its suburbs at the top of that range, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. Costs fall as children age out of the higher infant and toddler ratios.
A Chicago family paying for full-time private preschool for a four-year-old typically spends roughly $1,100 to $1,400 per month, or about $13,200 to $16,800 per year, per Child Care Aware of America data for the Chicago area.
If the same child enrolls in Chicago's universal free pre-K or a Preschool for All seat, the core program cost drops to $0, with the family potentially paying only for wraparound hours around a part-day program. That is the single largest saving available to an Illinois four-year-old.
A family that is income-eligible for Head Start can reach a free program even for a three-year-old. A Dependent Care FSA and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit can further offset any remaining private cost.
The honest tradeoff. Illinois has strong free options, but outside Chicago they are not guaranteed, and many Preschool for All seats run part-day rather than a full workday. Families often face a waitlist or a gap between the preschool day and their hours. Apply early, apply to more than one program, and budget for private wraparound care rather than assuming a free full-day seat.
Does Illinois have universal pre-K?
Not statewide yet, but it is the goal. Illinois funds free public preschool through Preschool for All, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education, and the state's Smart Start plan aims to offer a preschool seat to every three- and four-year-old whose family wants one. Chicago already offers universal free pre-K to four-year-olds.
What is Preschool for All in Illinois?
Preschool for All (PFA) is Illinois's free, state-funded preschool for children ages 3 and 4, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education. It provides at least 12.5 hours of high-quality preschool a week with bachelor's-level licensed teachers, prioritizing children considered at risk and families of low to moderate income.
What is the Smart Start plan in Illinois?
Smart Start is Illinois's multi-year plan to expand early childhood education, including eliminating preschool deserts so every low-income three- and four-year-old can access publicly funded preschool. A new Illinois Department of Early Childhood is consolidating early childhood programs, with services moving to the new agency beginning July 1, 2026.
Does Chicago have free pre-K?
Yes. Chicago offers universal free pre-K to every four-year-old in the city through Chicago Public Schools and community partners, funded in part by Illinois Preschool for All. Families apply through the city's centralized application, and three-year-old seats are available too, prioritized by need.
What does private preschool cost in Illinois?
Full-time private preschool in Illinois commonly runs about $900 to $1,400 per month in 2026, with Chicago and its suburbs at the high end, per Child Care Aware of America and the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices. Free Preschool for All and Head Start can remove that cost for eligible families.
If you are weighing options, walk through our comparison checklist and tour questions list, and model your year with the cost calculator. For broader context, see the Illinois state daycare guide, the preschool cost guide, and the DaycareSquare cost pillar.
Licensing, city-level costs, subsidies, and the full Illinois early-learning landscape.
Read → PillarThe big-picture explainer on what daycare actually costs in 2026 and what drives the range.
Read → ToolModel your Illinois preschool year with Preschool for All or Head Start factored in.
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