Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, explained.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is the state-funded preschool program for three- and four-year-olds whose families earn at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). It runs alongside Head Start Supplemental Assistance and the school-based pre-K offerings that some districts (notably Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Public Schools) provide separately.

This guide explains who qualifies right now, how the program-day hours are structured, how Pre-K Counts fits with private daycare you already use, and how to enroll for the 2026 to 2027 program year. Numbers and rules reflect OCDEL's Pre-K Counts Statement of Compliance, 2025 to 2026 cycle.

Pre-K Counts basics

Pre-K Counts launched in 2007. It is delivered by a network of grantees: school districts, licensed child care centers operating at Keystone STARS 3 or 4, Head Start grantees, and licensed nursery schools. Grantees apply to OCDEL for slot allocations on a five-year cycle, with funding renewed yearly subject to legislative appropriation.

Pennsylvania has expanded Pre-K Counts capacity gradually rather than entitlement-style. The 2024 to 2025 budget added new slots, but waiting lists remain in Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, Bucks, and several smaller counties. Pre-K for PA, the state advocacy coalition, estimates that about 60 percent of eligible 3- and 4-year-olds had access to a publicly funded slot in 2024.

Who qualifies

• The child must be three or four years old, but not yet age-eligible for kindergarten.
• The child must be a Pennsylvania resident.
• Family income must be at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is roughly $96,450 (2025 federal poverty guidelines).
• Categorical priority is given to children who are English Language Learners, have an IEP, are in foster care, are experiencing homelessness, or come from families below 100 percent of the federal poverty level.

The 300 percent FPL threshold is the broadest income limit among Northeast state pre-K programs. Most working- and middle-income Pennsylvania families with a 3- or 4-year-old qualify.

The program day

Pre-K Counts grantees deliver in two models: part-day (2.5 to 3 hours, 5 days/week) and school-day (5 to 6 hours, mirroring the K-12 calendar). Most school-district grantees run school-day. Most child care center grantees run school-day inside a wider full-day operation, so children can stay all day with state funds covering the instructional hours.

High-quality Pre-K Counts requirements

OCDEL requires Pre-K Counts grantees to meet quality standards that NIEER rates among the strongest in the Northeast.

• A lead teacher with a Pennsylvania Early Childhood Education Pre-K to 4 Instructional Certificate.
• Maximum class size of 20.
• Maximum staff-to-student ratio of 1:10.
• Curriculum aligned to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.
• Annual professional development hours for every classroom staff member.
• Family engagement plans with two formal conferences and ongoing communication.

Pre-K Counts inside a daycare

Pennsylvania's Pre-K Counts program is unusually friendly to private daycare integration. Any licensed child care center at Keystone STARS 3 or STARS 4 can apply to be a Pre-K Counts grantee. Many of the largest Pennsylvania child care chains hold grants. When you visit a daycare in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, or Erie, ask whether they are a Pre-K Counts site.

If the daycare is a grantee, the Pre-K Counts instructional hours are paid by the state. The before-care, after-care, summer, and school-holiday hours are paid by the family at the center's regular wrap-around rate (or covered by Pennsylvania's Child Care Works subsidy if the family qualifies). The child stays in one building all day. For working families, this is the most useful structure offered by any Pennsylvania program.

The wrap-around math

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh specifics

Philadelphia operates its own program, PHLpreK, funded by the city's beverage tax and braided with state Pre-K Counts dollars. PHLpreK is open to all Philadelphia 3- and 4-year-olds regardless of income, with priority for income-eligible families. Many PHLpreK sites are also Pre-K Counts grantees; the family applies through the unified Philadelphia application.

Pittsburgh Public Schools operates Early Childhood Education sites that combine Pre-K Counts, Head Start, and district funding. The application is handled through PPS Early Childhood Education enrollment.

How to enroll

1. Find your local grantee. Use the OCDEL Pre-K Counts grantee directory to find sites in your county. Each site lists its model (part-day or school-day) and its STARS rating.
2. Apply directly with the grantee. Each grantee maintains its own waitlist. Some county Early Learning Resource Centers can coordinate applications across multiple grantees.
3. Gather documents. Child's birth certificate, immunization record, proof of Pennsylvania residence, proof of income (W-2s, tax return, or 90 days of paystubs), and any documents supporting categorical priority.
4. Apply early. Many grantees open enrollment for the next school year in February. Philadelphia PHLpreK and Pittsburgh PPS use earlier unified timelines.
5. Confirm placement. Grantees notify families on a rolling basis from April through August. Rolling enrollment continues through the school year if capacity remains.

Common questions

Can I pick which Pre-K Counts site my child attends? Yes, but you must apply at the specific site. Each grantee has its own waitlist and admissions process. Families often apply to multiple sites.

What if my child is currently at a daycare that is not a Pre-K Counts grantee? Either move your child to a grantee or stay tuition-paying. Some families keep their current provider for the convenience and only consider Pre-K Counts as a future option.

What is the difference between Pre-K Counts and Head Start in Pennsylvania? Head Start serves families up to 100 percent FPL; Pre-K Counts serves up to 300 percent FPL. Quality standards are comparable. Many grantees blend both.

What about summer? Pre-K Counts runs the 180-day school year. Families using a daycare grantee typically continue full-time at the center's regular rate through the summer.

Where to go next

Browse our city directories for Pre-K Counts grantee daycare details: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The broader Pennsylvania state daycare guide covers Keystone STARS QRIS, Child Care Works subsidy, and PDE licensing across the state.

For comparison with other state pre-K programs, see our explainers on New Jersey Pre-K, New York UPK, Illinois PFA, and the broader cost pillar. For families weighing private preschool against state Pre-K Counts, our Preschool cost explainer and Preschool vs Pre-K guide cover the trade-offs. Before any first tour, use the comparison checklist and the cost calculator to estimate your real out-of-pocket.