Applications open for Tempe PRE Jan. 12
Free and paid tuition options available for full-day preschool program

Tempe PRE, the City of Tempe’s full-day preschool program, will begin accepting online applications for the upcoming school year at 8 a.m. Jan. 12. Families who live in Tempe and surrounding cities are encouraged to apply.

Tempe PRE is located on school campuses in the Tempe Elementary School District and the school year will begin July 19. The program accepts children ages 3 and 4 who are fully potty-trained. Students must turn 3 by July 19 to be eligible.

Families whose children will turn 3 between July 20 - Aug. 31 may still apply now and wait for their applications to be processed after their child turns 3 and space becomes available.

Tempe offers full-tuition, half-tuition and free options depending on eligibility. Options include: 

- Full tuition of $750 per month ($770 with extended care): All families who live in Tempe or surrounding cities.

- Half tuition of $375 per month ($385 with extended care): Tempe families with an income between 200 to 300 % of the FPL.

- Free: Tempe families with an income at or below 200 % of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). 

Tempe PRE serves approximately 200 children. The program offers early childhood education-certified teaching staff, small class sizes and a play-based curriculum.

Location within the Tempe Elementary School District offers access to support staff such as nurses and amenities like school playgrounds. Families may also have an easier transition to kindergarten if they choose to remain at the same school.

Tempe PRE participates in Quality First, a program of First Things First, which partners with early childhood providers in Arizona to make quality improvements that help young children thrive.

Tempe PRE application process
The timeline for processing applications depends on the tuition option selected by families and birthdate of the child.

For children turning 3 by July 19: 

- Applications for free or half tuition will be part of a lottery. The city will randomly select applications for processing beginning March 15; new applications will be pulled for processing every month.  

- Applications for full tuition are processed as they come into the city.

For children turning 3 between July 20 – Aug. 31: 

- Applications for free or half tuition will be part of the lottery that begins March 15. The city will then prioritize by age of the child.

- Applications for full tuition will be prioritized by age of the child. 

DES child care assistance

Tempe PRE accepts child care assistance from the Department of Economic Security (DES), which allows the city to expand access to preschool.

Families interested in free or half tuition are required to apply for DES assistance once they are selected for enrollment in Tempe PRE. Families will be asked to show a notice of approval/denial from the state agency.

Families who do not qualify for DES assistance may still be eligible for financial assistance through the city if they are Tempe residents and meet certain income qualifications.

About Tempe PRE

The Tempe City Council launched Tempe PRE as a two-year pilot in August 2017, offering free preschool with the goal of boosting kindergarten readiness. Councilmembers later extended the program and introduced a sliding-scale tuition plan intended to widen availability to families and add to the program’s financial sustainability. Tempe PRE is offered in partnership with the Tempe Elementary School District.

Another goal of Tempe PRE is helping families improve their quality of life. With access to high-quality preschool, they can increase employment and education opportunities.

For information about applying: tempe.gov/TempePRE. To contact staff: [email protected] or call 480-662-6340.

Tempe PRE was recently honored with a North Star Award for innovation in early learning from Education Forward Arizona. The program has served about 1,700 children since launching in 2017. Learn more about our high-quality preschool in this video.