CDC Preschool | 3-5 Years | Crawford, Erie and Venango Childcare

Preschool Benefits

With 90% of brain growth happening before kindergarten, every moment matters. That’s why both our full- and part-time preschool programs are thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, support healthy development and nurture a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

At three years old, children transition to our preschool classrooms, where they gain vital literacy and interpersonal skills that prepare them for elementary school. Many of our preschool graduates begin reading and writing before kindergarten—setting them up for academic success and confident communication throughout their school years.

Children thrive in our warm, welcoming classrooms, where joyful routines, hands-on exploration and outdoor play help them build confidence and important skills for kindergarten and beyond.

Our nurturing teachers guide each child through a research-based curriculum that builds early literacy, math, social-emotional growth and classroom readiness. Using The Creative Curriculum, we focus on helping children follow directions, express themselves, appreciate diverse perspectives and form meaningful relationships with peers and teachers alike.

No matter the funding stream, all students at CDC will receive free meals and the same education.

Head Start & HSSP Preschool Programs

A Venango preschooler smiling at the camera as her class listens to their teacher reading and acting out an educational book.

Head Start is the federal government’s free preschool program for children from lower-income households. Our Head Start program is intended to prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten and elementary school. All children thrive in our nurturing environments, vibrant classrooms and on our expansive playgrounds! CDC also provides a nutritional breakfast, lunch and snack each day at no cost to families.

CDC’s Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) is identical to Head Start but is funded by the state instead of the federal government. HSSAP is another entirely free program for children from low-income households. This full-day program is designed to prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten and elementary school. All children thrive in our nurturing environments, vibrant classrooms and on our expansive playgrounds!

In addition to early childhood education, both programs offer several services that support each child’s health, development and family well-being. CDC offers this full-day program in Venango, Crawford and Erie counties, and even includes free transportation at select locations!

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Preschool Program

An Erie preschooler smiling while practicing how to write her name with her Pre-K Counts class.

Pre-K Counts is a free state-funded pre-kindergarten learning program for children. Pre-K Counts at CDC is a full-day program that is designed to prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten and elementary school. All children thrive in our nurturing environments, vibrant classrooms and on our expansive playgrounds! CDC also provides a nutritional breakfast, lunch and snack each day at no cost to families.

When children graduate our Pre-K Counts program, they are not only academically and socially prepared for elementary school, but they are also confident in themselves, appreciative of diversity and eager to keep on learning!

Private-Pay Preschool

A Venango Head Start student showing off what he loves most about his preschool classroom. It's the entomology dynamic play lab that his teacher build his class.

CDC’s Private Pay Preschool program is the same full-day program as Pre-K Counts and Head Start; however, this is not a free program. We also now offer part-time preschool. CDC partners with the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) in Venango, Crawford and Erie counties to help with tuition assistance! To learn more about this partnership, please click on the Financial Assistance tab.

CDC offers this full-day program in Venango, Crawford and Erie counties.

Financial Assistance Program

Two young pre-school siblings playing in a jump bounce house during CDC's Summer Camp program

Sibling Discount

A 10% sibling discount will be offered to families enrolling multiple children in any of our programs.

Assistance

We offer free programs as well as private-pay preschool. If you don’t qualify for our free programs, CDC works with The Early Learning Resource Center, or ELRC, to provide subsidies for Venango, Crawford and Erie county families. The ELRC helps income-eligible families find and pay for childcare and early childhood education (including summer, before- and after-school care) so that parents can work or attend school.

Many families are not aware that they and their childcare provider are eligible for ELRC funding. As CDC is a qualified provider, you can learn more about your eligibility for tuition assistance by reaching out to one of the ELRC offices below:

To learn more about the ELRC and its financial assistance program, please call: