Free, official, and community resources that complement this directory — where to apply for free Pre-K, get help paying for child care, and check a program’s track record. Listings and links are informational, not endorsements.
Apply for free Pre-K
Newark Enrolls
The unified application for Newark’s free public Pre-K. Newark residents whose child turns 3 or 4 by October 1 can apply to district and participating charter Pre-K programs online.
Newark Public Schools — Office of Early Childhood
District Pre-K details, Head Start pre-certification, and the list of NPS Pre-K sites. Community-based provider preschools that contract with the district also offer the same free 6-hour Pre-K — apply directly at those locations.
nps.k12.nj.us/departments/early-childhood · 973-733-6234
My Schools Newark
A companion Pre-K program explorer with hours, ages served, and program details for Newark options.
Help paying for child care
Programs for Parents
Essex County’s designated Child Care Resource & Referral agency (CCR&R). Offers free child care referrals and administers the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program subsidy for Essex County families.
programsforparents.org · 570 Broad Street, 8th Floor, Newark · (973) 297-1114
NJ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
State subsidy for income-eligible families who are working, in school, or in job training. Check eligibility and apply through the state’s MyNJHelps portal.
childcarenj.gov/Parents/CCAP · mynjhelps.gov
NJ 2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 (24/7) for free, confidential help finding child care and other family services, in multiple languages.
nj211.org/affordable-childcare
Check quality and licensing
NJ Child Care Center Explorer
The official state licensing portal. Search any licensed center to see its license status, capacity, inspection history, and complaint records.
Grow NJ Kids
New Jersey’s quality rating system for early learning programs. Explains what the 1–5 star ratings measure and how to use them when comparing programs.