Parent Aware

There is new assistance available in the Parent Aware pilot areas to help families pay for programs to help them get their children ready for school.

Pre-kindergarten allowances

Pre-kindergarten allowances of up to $4,000 are available in all of the Parent Aware pilot areas, including the City of Saint Paul, North Minneapolis, Wayzata School District, and Blue Earth or Nicollet Counties.

If your family lives in a Parent Aware pilot area and meets the following criteria, you may be eligible for a pre-kindergarten allowance:

• Annual income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guideline, which is about $38,000 for a family of four
• Have one or more children who are 3 or 4 years old or will be 3 or 4 by September 1

Families with allowances may pick an approved program, using the following search:

SEARCH for programs approved for allowances..

IF there are no approved programs available, families may pick an unapproved program, but the program must be seeking or willing to seek approval criteria.

For more information about pre-k allowances in the following pilot areas call the number below:

Other supports in the Parent Aware pilot areas

Each of the Parent Aware pilot areas has other new types of financial assistance available. Go to the description of the pilot site to find out more about these initiatives by clicking the links below:

Saint Paul
North Minneapolis
Wayzata School District
Blue Earth or Nicollet Counties

General financial assistance for child care/early education

Assistance is available through the Child Care Assistance Program statewide. Call your local county to find out if you are eligible for this type of financial assistance.

You may also use the following link to learn more about other financial assistance options:

Child Care Financial Aid