Use our checklist to help you select the best pre-k program for your child. The checklist includes
the program qualities and components that research says are most important for your child's
growth and development.
Download and print the checklist

Please note that Pre-K Now neither endorses nor accredits pre-kindergarten programs and providers, and Pre-K Now does not make referrals to specific providers. Families seeking information of this nature may wish to consult NAEYC's Accredited Program search tool and/or the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.

Pre-k can help parents make sure that their child is prepared for kindergarten. These websites, brochures, and articles will help parents learn why high-quality pre-k is so important to children’s development.

• A Parent's Own Point of View on the Search for High Quality Pre-K tells the story of a mother’s difficult search to find a high-quality program for her son.
• The National Child Care Information Center includes a host of online resources about pre-k.
• The State of Preschool: 2007 State Preschool Yearbook analyzes state-funded pre-k programs serving three- and four-year-old children around the country.
• The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides excellent resources for learning more about the care and education of young children including easy-to-read mail-order brochures on topics such as “Choosing a Good Early Childhood Program,” “What Parents Should Know about School Readiness,” and “Helping Children Learn Self-Control”; some brochures available in Spanish.
• The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans offers information about the various stages of children’s cognitive development from infancy to age five as well as general health and safety tips, the latest research on biliteracy, and advice for parents with children who may have special needs. Disponible en español.
• Helping Your Preschool Child, from the U.S. Department of Education, has information applicable to infants through age five including techniques parents can use to encourage their children to develop the skills necessary for success in school and life by focusing on activities that make learning fun.  Disponible en español o llame al 1-877-433-7827 o 1-800-872-5327.
• Resources on Early Learning Tip Sheets from the Illinois Early Learning Project, provide advice on topics ranging from social and emotional development to technology and the media, easy to print and share with others. Disponible en español.