Take the next step

Start Early Lake County offers comprehensive birth-to-five early education and care, providing children with the necessary skills to succeed in school and life. Review the below options to learn more about our program, see if you qualify and to enroll your child.

About Start Early Lake County's Programming

Start Early Lake County provides two center-based program options located in the Beach Park and Waukegan areas.

Both of our center-based programs utilize the award-winning Creative Curriculum to provide children the tools they need for future academic readiness and success. With bilingual staff, small teacher-to-student ratios and certified, caring teachers, Start Early Lake County offers high-quality individualized learning options perfect for your child. We also provide diverse learners and disability services, as well as dedicated family support, so that your child and family thrive.

Fill out our enrollment form, and someone from our team will contact you within 48 business hours regarding your eligibility.

Eligibility

Income Requirements and Ages of Children Served

In order to qualify for our early childhood education programs and enroll at our centers in Beach Park and Waukegan, you must meet the federal poverty guidelines and have a child, age five or younger, that you would like to enroll. If your income is above the federal guidelines based on your family size, and/or your child is older than five years of age, you will not qualify for our programs.

Federal Poverty Guidelines

Start Early Lake County Enrollment Form

Now accepting applications for children under 5 (children must be 4 or under on September 1st of the school year) for our Beach Park and Waukegan sites. Beach Park accepts applications for children that are 3-5 years of age, and Waukegan accepts applications for children ages 2 years or younger. Diverse learner and disability supports are available.

Income is an eligibility requirement for our Illinois State Board of Education and Head Start funded programs. See Eligibility Guidelines.

To get started in the enrollment process, please complete this initial contact form and someone will be in touch with you within 48 business hours. Once you submit your application, you will be redirected to a confirmation page with an “OK” button. Please click the “OK” button to continue to onto critical information about the enrollment process, contact details and documents you will need to collect to complete your enrollment process.

Go to Form

Start Early Lake County and Early/Head Start Network

Start Early Lake County is a directly operated program of Start Early and is a part of our Early/Head Start Network.

Want to learn more about Start Early’s Early/Head Start Network? Visit our community-based agency page for more details on all our Early/Head Start Network programs!

corner square pie shape-grid