What is the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP)?
The Cambridge Preschool Program (currently known as UPK) is a mixed delivery system funded by the city of Cambridge that will provide access to high quality early education and care for all Cambridge 4 year-olds and many 3 year-olds as well!
Highlights of the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP):
- The program will be free for families for a school-day, school-year placement.
- There will be additional costs for extended day and summer programs for most families.
- High-quality state-approved curriculum
- Equitable learning experiences that focus on school readiness and social emotional learning
- Single, centralized online application (paper application will be available)
Programs to choose from:
- Cambridge Public Schools (CPS)
- City of Cambridge’s Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP)
- Head Start
- Select community based preschool & family childcare providers
A child is eligible if they live in Cambridge and are:
- 4 years old by August 31, 2024 for 4-year-old programs; or
- 3 years old by August 31, 2024 for 3-year-old programs
- Please note there will be limited seats for 3-year-olds and there may be additional eligibility requirements.
- Application for the 2024-2025 school year will be open December 1, 2023 – January 15, 2024.
Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) Application
Cambridge Preschool Program Match Update
If you applied to the Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) by the application deadline of January 15 and your child is eligible to participate in CPP, you will receive an email on March 11 with information about the preschool program that your child matched with and next steps for their enrollment in the 2024-2025 school year.
- The email notification will be sent from cpp@cpsd.us to the email address you entered as the primary contact on your child’s application.
- If you do not see an email from cpp@cpsd.us in your inbox by the end of day on March 11, please check your Junk Mail folder.
- Families have until March 25th, 2024, to accept or decline their placement. Instructions for how to accept or decline your placement are included in the email.
If you submitted an application by the January 15 deadline and you do not have an email from cpp@cpsd.us in your inbox or Junk Mail folder, please contact cpp@cpsd.us.
Cambridge Public Schools: All elementary school buildings will have preschool classrooms that will be a part of CPP. This includes “specialized” programs including Tobin Montessori, Fletcher Maynard Academy, language immersion/bilingual programs, and Special Start.
Department of Human Services Programs: All DHSP Preschool program locations will participate in CPP.
Head Start: Both of CAAS Head Start’s Cambridge locations will be a part of CPP.
Community-Based Preschool Programs: Many center-based and family child care programs will be a part of CPP.
Campus Child Care:
- Botanic Gardens
- Harvard Yard
- Oxford Street
- Peabody Terrace
- Radcliffe
- Soldiers Field Park
- Western Ave
Rock & Roll Daycare:
- Broadway
- Central Square
- East Cambridge
- Inman Square
- Northpoint
- Porter Square
Preschool of the Arts:
- East Cambridge
- Harvard Square
- Inman Square
- West Cambridge
Bright Horizons:
- Bright Horizons – Mass Ave
- Bright Horizons – Kendall
- Bright Horizons – University Park
- Bright Horizons/MIT – Koch
- Bright Horizons/MIT – Kendall
- Bright Horizons/MIT – Stata
- Bright Horizons – Biogen
- Al Bustan Preschool
- Alef Bet Child Care
- Aster Montessori
- CAAS Head Start (both Cambridge locations)
- Cambridge Ellis School
- Capucine Montessori
- Children’s Village
- East End House
- Evergreen Day School
- Garden Nursery School
- Jun Zi Lan Montessori
- Newtowne School
- Nurtury
- Violeta Montessori
- Wild Rose Montessori
- Wildflower Montessori
- YMCA
Select Family Child Care Providers
- Emily Winston Home Childcare
- Learning Sprouts Cambridge
- C&C (Christina Smith) Family Child Care
Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) Documents & Resources
CPP Frequently Asked Questions – General
CPP Frequently Asked Questions – Cambridge Public Schools (CPS)
CPP Frequently Asked Questions – Department of Human Services (DHSP)
Cambridge Preschool Program Enrollment Roadmap – DOWNLOAD HERE
Cambridge Preschool Programs At-A-Glance – VIEW HERE
Cambridge Preschool Program Family Guide – VIEW HERE
Cambridge Preschool Program Application Assistance – INFO HERE
Cambridge Preschool Program Winter Flyer – DOWNLOAD HERE
Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) Events
Cambridge Preschool Program (CPP) Info Session Webinar – October 12, 2023
Please click on the image to the right to view the CPP webinar recording.
For additional questions or inquiries, please email us at cpp@cpsd.us for assistance.