Application & Enrollment

The CPP application consists of 3 parts: 

• Questions to assess eligibility and collect information about your child and family
• A section to rank your preschool choices
• An area to upload required documents (see list below). 

Follow the steps below to complete your application:

1. Visit our website to access a link to the application
2. Log in by entering a parent/legal guardian’s email address and entering the code, which will be emailed to you.  You may start and return to your application at any time – it will save where you left off.
3. Answer application questions about your child and family.
4. Rank 6-10 preschool programs
5. Upload required documents
6. Sign and submit the application
7. Check your email for a notification that your application was received.
8. Look out for follow-up communication from OEC staff regarding any missing documents or information to complete the application, AND for a notification that your application was verified.

• CPP Application Required Documents
• Required Documents for Special Circumstances

CPP-eligible children who are already enrolled at a CPP partner site will receive priority registration to remain at their current site (referred to as continuity of care), ONLY IF you rank that program as one of your selections, AND if you indicate in your application that your child is currently enrolled there, AND if your child is eligible to enroll there through CPP. 

Important notes about this policy:

• 3-year-olds who do not meet a priority criterion cannot enroll in a community-based program through CPP.   
• If another program is ranked as your first choice and you are matched with that program, you will forfeit your child’s seat at their current program.

Some children with a sibling currently enrolled in a partner program may receive priority enrollment when applying to that site. Sibling priority is not guaranteed, and policies vary by provider type:

Cambridge Public Schools (CPS):

• 3-year-olds receive sibling priority at CPS if an older sibling is in grades PK-4 at the CPS school (and you select the school as your first choice) and if space is available.
• 4-year-olds will receive sibling priority in the match if an older sibling is in grades PK-4 at a desired CPS school (or in grades PK-7 at Amigos School) and you select the school as your first choice, and if space is available.

Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP):

• Children will receive sibling priority if an older sibling is currently enrolled in a DHSP preschool program and if space is available.
• Children with siblings who are currently enrolled in a CPS school or in a DHSP afterschool program do not receive any sibling priority for DHSP preschool programs.

Community-Based Providers:

• Children will receive sibling priority if a sibling is currently enrolled in that program and if space is available.

• CPP Application Required Documents
• Required Documents for Special Circumstances

The OEC website can be a first stop if you have questions about the CPP Application Process.  On our site, you will find helpful information, as well as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for our largest partners, Cambridge Public Schools and Department of Human Service Preschools.

Our OEC team and our family support partners are available for application support. During the application window, check the OEC website for a list of places where in-person application support will be available. 

Some things you might need support with are:

• Assistance with completing the application/uploading documents
• Assistance with selecting the programs you will rank
• Questions about the required documents
• Support for English language learners
• Anything else related to completing your application on time

Please reach out to our office if you need support or have questions at cpp@cpsd.us or 617-349-1798

In-Person Application Support

Application support is available at the following locations. Hours may vary, so we encourage families to call and make an appointment.

Cambridge Office of Early Childhood 

1972 Massachusetts Ave – 2nd floor 

Monday through Friday, 9:30 am-3:00 pm

To make an appointment, call or text 617-599-9823 / call 617-349-1798, or email cpp@cpsd.us. 

Center for Families

North Cambridge Office: 70 Rindge Ave – Rear of the school building (door #10) 

Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

To make an appointment, call 617-349-9169

51 Inman Street

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm

To make an appointment, call 617-349-7280

Department of Human Services Programs (DHSP) 

51 Inman Street

To make an appointment, call 617-349-6254 or email dhsppreschools@cambridgema.gov.

Cambridge Public Schools, Student Registration Center (SRC)

459 Broadway Court 

Wednesdays, 9:30 am-3:00 pm (October 1-November 14 only)

To make an appointment, call or text 857-270-4384 or email yrichemond@partnerof.cpsd.us.  

• CPP Application Required Documents
• Required Documents for Special Circumstances

All applications that are submitted and verified by November 14th will be included in the December match.

The matching process uses an algorithm to match applicants to programs. Children who would like to remain in their current program, who have siblings in their preferred program, or who meet one of the priority criteria will be prioritized in the matching process. 

You will be notified of your CPP match (or waitlist status) via email in January 2026. Notification will include the information needed to make an informed decision, including whether there are additional costs at your matched program. You will have 2 weeks to accept or decline their match. During these 2 weeks, you are welcome to contact the program you’ve been matched with for more information, or to tour the school if you haven’t already. Once you have made their decision, you will access the family portal to accept or decline the placement.  

Important notes: 

• Families may either accept or decline an offered placement.
• Families who accept their match will enroll their child in the matched program. 
• They will not remain on a waitlist for any higher-ranked programs.
• In extenuating circumstances, OEC does offer a Transfer Request process. Families must first accept their match to be considered for a transfer to an alternative program.
• Families who decline their match will not be offered an alternative placement.
• These families will be ineligible to reapply for the 2026-2027 school year and will need to seek a private preschool placement for their child, if desired.
• Exceptions to this policy will be considered only in extenuating circumstances.

After Accepting Your Placement

After accepting your CPP placement, your program will reach out to you in the spring or summer to complete its individual enrollment process. This could include: completing additional enrollment forms, submitting documents, and setting up an online account. It is important to complete these steps with your new preschool; failure to do so could affect your child starting school.

The CPP Program lets families choose which preschool program their child will attend. Families are encouraged to research programs before ranking them on the CPP Application. The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) is here to help families find a preschool program that fits their needs.

Sometimes, a family may need to transfer to a different program. Transfers are only allowed in certain situations and only if the child and family can thrive. Please see the CPP Transfer Policy for more information on this process.

CPP Waitlists

Once you are offered a preschool match, your child will not remain on a waitlist for any higher ranked programs. CPP does not maintain waitlists between programs or across provider types. If your child is matched with a CPS program, CPS has their own internal waitlist/transfer policy. See below for more information. 

If your 3-year-old child is not offered a preschool match, they will be placed on a waiting list that is maintained through October 1 of that school year. Over the course of spring and summer, there may be spots that open up at a program. If a space becomes available in one of your selected preschools, your family will be notified and you will have the ability to accept/decline that match at that time. 

CPS Waitlist/Transfer Policy:

CPS maintains a waitlist only for children currently enrolled in the Cambridge Public Schools. In order to get on a waitlist between CPS programs, you must first accept your CPS placement. Then, contact Kathy Sampson, Assistant Registrar for Cambridge Public Schools, at 617-349-6067 or ksampson@cpsd.us