Find the perfect fit for your child at one of the local preschools below. We all want a great start for our children, especially when it comes to their early childhood experience.
Have a Preschool that's not on our list? We'd love to include you! Email us at mackidtemecula2@macaronikid.com
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🦋Wild Butterfly Nature School is a child care program that offers a unique and innovative approach to early childhood education. Their 🌸 nature-based curriculum is designed to be accessible for all children, regardless of their learning abilities or backgrounds.
At Wild Butterfly Nature School, they believe that 🪵nature is the best classroom. Their program is grounded in mindfulness 🧘♀️ practices, which help children develop a deeper connection with the natural world around them. They encourage children to use all of their senses 👃✋🏽👀👂👅to explore and learn, whether it be through observing a butterfly in flight or feeling the texture of a leaf🍁.
@wildbutterfly.natureschool is getting ready for their fall programs!
👶🏽👧🏼🧒🏾👦🏻They have 3 different programs for kiddos from birth to age 7.
🦋Nature Kinder drop off program for ages 5-7
🦋Nature Pre-School drop off program for ages 3-5
🦋Nature Play for parents and children of all ages!
📍Classes will be held at local playgrounds throughout Murrieta and Temecula
📆 You can choose to have your child in the program all week or for just a few days in the week. The Nature Play program will run for 4 consecutive Fridays.
📩Message them @wildbutterfly.natureschool for more info!
Preschools are separated by area and are also color coded on the interactive Google map.
- Pink-Murrieta/Wildomar
- Purple-Temecula
- Green-French Valley and
- Yellow-Menifee
To add your school's details please contact us via email mackidtemecula2@macaronikid.com
Temecula Preschools
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Wild Roots Holistic Learning Center
Growing Tree Montessori Preschool
Seedsowers Montessori Preschool
Hope Children's Center Preschool
Giggles & Gluesticks Preschool
Alexa's PLAYC (Playful Learning Academy for Young Children) Murrieta
Children's Lighthouse of Murrieta
Calvary Murrieta Christian School
Anne Sullivan Preschool & Kindergarten
French Valley Preschools
Stepping Stones Preschool & Infant Child Care
North Star Family Day Care, LLC
Menifee Preschools
Tender Loving Learning Center Preschool
State Funded Public Preschool Options in the Temecula Valley area.
California understands the value of quality early education and child care services for children from birth through school-age. The California Department of Education (CDE) and State Superintendent of Public Instruction fully support the Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program.
UPK includes several early learning programs, such as the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and expanded learning opportunities to provide full-day early learning and care.
TK is the only program that is free and universally available as part of California’s public education system. TK currently serves all 4-year-olds who turn 5 between September 2 and December 2 and will expand to all 4-year-olds by 2025–26.
Eligibility for subsidized services is based primarily on a family’s income and need for care, with more specific individual criteria for certain programs. Services to children at risk of abuse and neglect, or children receiving protective services through the county welfare department remain a top priority for services.
Read below for some education resources for your little one(s).
Universal PreKindergarten (UPK)
CSPP serves low-income families with both part-day and full-day care, prioritizing employed parents for the latter. Head Start serves families with incomes under the federal poverty line.
Transitional Kindergarten has no income requirements, but enrolls only a limited age group.
Teaching staff is fully credentialed through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The support staff is well trained and knowledgeable of community resources, mental health, social services, health and nutrition.
1. California State Preschool Program (CSPP) - Ages 3-5
CSPP is an age and developmentally appropriate program designed to facilitate the transition to kindergarten for three (3) and four (4) old children in educational development, health services, social services, nutritional services, parent education and parent participation.
The focus is on literacy, number skills, social development, health and safety. CSPP provides children with a daily snack and helps families access community resources.
CSPP is offered at select locations.
Eligibility:
- Must have an age eligible child(ren)
- Must meet and submit income eligibility requirements
- Must submit required documents and documentation for determination of family size
- Eligibility for the CSPP program must be determined every 24-months to continue enrollment in a CSPP classroom unless child ages out sooner.
Service this program provides: pre-school
Cost: FREE for those who qualify
How to Apply: online
Inland Empire CSPPs:
Hemet
Eligible ages: 3 and 4 years old as of September 1, 2023, with priority given to 4 year-olds
Program schedule: Full-Day 8:00-2:30 & Part-Day 8:00-11:00 & 12:00-3:00
Lake Elsinore
Eligible Ages: 3-4 years old
Program Schedule: Up to 11.5 hours a day M-F 6:30am to 6:00pm (families applying for the Full-Day State Preschool Program must establish a family need for services. To determine your estimated monthly family fee click on the following link)
Menifee
Eligible ages: 3 and 4 years old as of September 1, 2023, with priority given to 4 year-olds
Program schedule: AM class M-F 8am to 11am and PM class M-F 12pm to 3pm
Murrieta
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
Eligible ages: 18 months to 3 years old and 4 year olds with dates of birth (DOB) 6/3/19 and later
Program schedule: Full Day from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday), AM Half-day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., PM Half-day from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Perris
Eligible Agees: 3 and 4 year olds
Program schedule: 3 hours AM session 8-11am, PM session 12-3pm
Eligible Agees: 3 and 4 year olds
Program schedule: 3 hours AM session 8-11am, PM session12-3pm and 12:30-3:30pm
2. Headstart
Head Start and Early Head Start give children from birth to 5-years-old from at-risk backgrounds from families with low income, according to the Poverty Guidelines published by the Federal government, the skills they need to be successful in school and life - supporting more kids, families and communities on their path to success.
Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families receiving public assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income) are also eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services regardless of income.
Head Start programs may enroll children from families that have incomes above the Poverty Guidelines. Pregnant women may also be eligible for Early Head Start.
In order to qualify, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:
Annual Household Income Limits (before taxes)
| Household size | Maximum Income Level (per year) |
| 1 | $14,580 |
| 2 | $19,720 |
| 3 | $24,860 |
| 4 | $30,000 |
| 5 | $35,140 |
| 6 | $40,280 |
| 7 | $45,420 |
| 8 | $50,560 |
Transitional Kindergarten (TK)
Transitional kindergarten (TK) is a universally accessible and free program for age-eligible four-year-old children (to be available at no-cost to all four-year-old children by the 2025-26 school year).
TK is not mandatory for children. Families may also continue to choose to enroll their children in private preschool or prekindergarten programs or keep their children at home until the age of six, when compulsory education begins.
Who is age-eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
- In 2023–24, children are eligible for TK if they turn 5 between September 2 and April 2*,
- In 2024–25, children are eligible for TK if they turn 5 between September 2 and June 2*,
- In 2025–26, LEAs are required to make TK available to all children who will have their fourth birthday by September 1* of the school year.
- What are the immunization requirements for a student enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten (TK)? Under California’s Kindergarten immunization requirements, children need immunizations prior to the first day of Transitional Kindergarten (TK), which is considered the first-year of a two-year Kindergarten program. Please visit the California Department of Public Health web page to view required immunizations for TK students.
Is a school district required to offer TK and Kindergarten programs? A school district or county office of education operating a kindergarten program must offer TK for age-eligible children to attend. However, not every school site in a school district is required to offer TK. No age-eligible child may be denied access to TK by being placed on a waiting list.
**Source: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/em/kinderfaq.asp **
5 key takeaways
- Universal pre-kindergarten is an overall encompassing term for expanding possibilities in preschool and transitional kindergarten. TK serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.
- TK is the only option that will be universally available and free of cost for all families of a child turning 4 years old by September 1.
- The UPK expansion will provide guaranteed access to early learning opportunities for children with disabilities through the California State Preschool Program, reserving 10% enrollment for children with disabilities.
Looking for occasional childcare or some socialization in a smaller at-home setting for your young children? How about June Care?
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We hope this guide helps you find the best Preschool option for your little ones and your family. Know of other options not on this last that you'd like to share? Let us know at mackidtemecula2@macaronikid.com
When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent you... and don't forget to tell all your friends!
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