Choosing a preschool is an exciting time as you watch your child develop. However, preschool is not inexpensive and many families find themselves struggling to cover the cost associated with this big first step of preparing your child for the future.

Fortunately, there are some resources here on Maui to help.

preschool

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start Program

Head Start is a federal program that provides Early Childhood Development services to families that meet the federal poverty guidelines and selection criteria. Children who will be 3 or 4 yrs. old by July 31 are eligible for enrollment. Beginning in February, the Head Start Program will be accepting applications for the 2022/23 school year. Parents / Legal guardians will be required to bring (1) child’s birth certificate; (2) household income (2 forms: 4-6 current paystubs or TANF financial printout, and W-2 forms and income tax returns).

For more information, please contact the MEO Early Childhood Services department at 249-2988. http://www.meoinc.org/content/5372b17b88ff2/Head_Start_Services.html

Click here for the online application.

MEO Kahi Kamali’i Infant and Toddler Center
MEO Kahi Kamali`i Infant and Toddler Center is accepting applications for children aged 6 months – 4 years old. Tuition assistance may be available for qualifying families.  The following documents are required to apply: (1) Child’s Birth Certificate; and (2) Income verification for the previous year (W-2’s, pay stubs, tax documents). Applications may be completed at the MEO Family Center located at 99 Mahalani Street in Wailuku between the hours of 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (Monday – Friday, except on all Federal and State holidays). The Center is located at 97 Mahalani Street in Wailuku and is open 7:00am – 5:00pm (Monday – Friday). For more information, please contact the MEO Early Childhood Services department at 249-2988. Click here for more information.

The Child Care Connection Hawaii (CCCH)

The CCCH program is a federal subsidy program helping families pay for child care services in the State of Hawaii. Eligible families receive: (1) Subsidies to help with child care expenses, and (2) Information on quality child care settings.

How Can My Family Qualify for the CCCH Program? To qualify, your family must meet the following requirements: (1) Children must be under age 13; or ages 13 through 17, unable to care for self, and do not qualify for Department of Education (DOE) special education; or under child protective services; (2) Parents or legal guardians of the children must be currently employed, attending an educational program or participating in a job training program, and have hours of activity that overlap with their need for care; (3) Your family’s gross monthly income (before taxes and deductions) does not exceed 85% of the State Median Income. The CCCH program is available to a wide range of families. Please call the CCCH office for income limits of larger family sizes.

Who Chooses My Child Care Provider? Each family has different child care needs and preferences. You choose the child care provider for your child. Parents will receive information from the CCCH Staff about choosing quality child care and selecting allowable child care arrangements. CCCH can help pay for a variety of legal child care services including preschools, child care providers in their homes, child care by relatives or friends and after school care for school aged children. For the safety of the child, a child abuse/neglect and criminal history check will be conducted on the provider you choose.

How Much of My Child Care Expenses Will CCCH Pay? The CCCH program has sliding fee scales, based on the Sate of Hawaii child care guidelines. Depending on family size, income, need for child care (individual family situation), and the type of care program, families may be required to pay some of the monthly child care costs. Your eligible benefit amount will be discussed with your eligibility worker/case manager and is subject to change.

How Do I Apply? Call the office in your area to request an application. 1063 Lower Main Street, Suite C-209 Puuone Plaza, Wailuku, HI 96793 Ph:(808) 249-2461. For more information, click here.

PATCH Preschool Open Doors (POD)

POD understands the importance of child care. Preschool prepares children for kindergarten by teaching social skills and recognition of shapes and some letters. It allows children to explore and discover their world in an environment where they learn through hands-on play experiences,

POD promotes school readiness by providing child care subsidies to eligible families for the year prior to kindergarten. The Department of Human Services (DHS) contracts with PATCH to run the program. The DHS administers the program in collaboration with the Executive Office on Early Learning.

Eligible families select the DHS-licensed group child care facility (i.e. preschool) of their choice. Household size and monthly gross income also are used to determine priority. POD does not require parents/guardians to be employed, in school, or job training to qualify for assistance.

Income eligibility for tuition subsidies is based on a monthly gross family income not exceeding the amounts below. The subsidy amount is based on a sliding fee scale using the family monthly gross income and the maximum POD rate allowed for the selected preschool. Priority enrollment goes to underserved or at-risk children whose families complete the POD Special Populations Referral form.  For applications and information, call 1-800-746-5620 or visit www.PatchHawaii.org.

Arbor Child Care Connection

Arbor Child Care Connection offers sliding-scale financial assistance at Family Child Care providers and Schools. Children must be under 13 or 13-17 with special needs. Parents/guardians must be employed or in school/job training. Income requirements apply. The enrollment period is ongoing. For more information call 249-2360 or 249-2516.

Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Keiki Scholars (PKS) Program

The PKS Program offers sliding-scale financial assistance at “qualified” preschools: (1) Hawaiian ancestry, (2) Be a state of Hawaii resident, (3) Enrolled in a PKS eligible preschool, (4) 3 & 4-year-old keiki, (5) Demonstrate financial need. For more information call 573-7077 or visit www.ksbe.edu/finaid/.

Pua’ama’ama Preschool Assistance Program

(OHA) offers financial assistance to supplement the cost of tuition at accredited preschools. Child must (1) be native Hawaiian and a U.S. citizen, (2) be enrolled full-time in an accredited preschool, (3) reside with the Ohana for whom assistance is being requested and the Ohana must reside in rural Oahu or the Neighbor islands, (4) Ohana must not receive any other assistance to pay for Preschool tuition. For more information, call 854-3128.

Keiki O Ka ‘Aina’s Hawaii Early Learning Partnerships for Child Care Program (HELP)

HELP offers financial support for qualified native Hawaiian families to pay for child care. Child must: (1) be Hawaiian or part Hawaiian, (2) be under 13 years old (19 for special needs child), (3) reside in Hawaii, (4) have up to date immunizations. Parent/guardian must: (1) live with and be responsible for child, (2) be currently employed, or in school/job training, (3) have a gross income of no more than Program income limits. For more information call 845-3454 or visit http://koka.org/

Quality Care for Hawaiian Keiki

Maui Family Support Services, Inc. has a new program (since October of 2016) that provides assistance for Native Hawaiian families to pay for childcare (infant/toddler, preschool, and afterschool care) on Maui and Molokai. The program, Quality Care for Hawaiian Keiki (QCHK) is funded by the Office of Child Care. Brochure808-793-2816www.mfss.org.

Maui County Early Childhood Resource Center

Good Beginnings is a statewide effort created in 1997 for the purpose of improving and coordinating the system of early childhood care and education for children from birth to five years old. The Early Childhood Resource Program is promoting high-quality, early childhood education and care for young children and their families. For more information call 242-1608 or 270-5557. http://mfss.org/mcerc/

Imua Family Services Early Childhood Development Program

Imua provides services to children ages 3-6 years old who do not meet age-appropriate developmental milestones and fall outside the scope of the Department of Education, Special Education Services. The program is offered on a sliding scale based on financial need to eligible families. For more information call 244-7467 or visit www.imuafamily.org.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

Maui County Early Childhood Program: http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=256
Paying For Childcare: http://www.patchhawaii.org/families/paying
For more information from the Department of Human Services click on any of the following:
What are Child Care Subsidies?
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Child Care Subsidies?