Last verified: October 2026
Who qualifies for Cincinnati Preschool Promise tuition assistance?
A child who will be 3 by September 30, lives inside the Cincinnati Public Schools district and comes from a household that meets the income guidelines. The assistance formula weighs household income, family size and the provider's Step Up To Quality rating, and families must also apply for any other help they qualify for, such as Head Start or the state child care subsidy.
Families outside the CPS boundary, which means everyone in Butler, Warren and Clermont counties and many Hamilton County suburbs, do not qualify; the Ohio Preschool Program and county child care subsidies are their options.
How is Cincinnati Preschool Promise funded, and how big is it?
Voters approved it as part of Issue 44 in November 2016, renewed it in 2020, and in 2025 extended it ten years to 2035 with 72% support. According to the Children's Funding Project, the Promise put $6.5 million into tuition assistance in 2023-24 for 2,112 preschoolers at 147 community and CPS sites.
What documents does a Preschool Promise application need?
One proof from each category: household income for every related adult (recent pay stubs, W-2s, a tax return or a notarized affidavit), the child's age (a birth certificate, passport, Medicaid card or similar) and residence inside the CPS district (government mail, a lease, deed or utility bill from the last 60 days). Proof of PFCC, Head Start or state preschool funding can replace the income documents.
Is Preschool Promise the same as free CPS preschool?
No, though they overlap. Cincinnati Public Schools runs its own preschool at 39 sites for district 3- and 4-year-olds, and Preschool Promise tuition assistance can be used either there or at a participating community provider.
| What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| Tuition help for 3- and 4-year-olds inside the CPS district | Available in Mason, West Chester or Milford |
| Scaled to income, family size and program quality | One flat voucher amount |
| Usable at participating community or CPS preschools | A kindergarten or K-12 scholarship |