Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has announced changes to its Pre-K program funding due to recent legislative decisions. Previously, IPS offered Pre-K at no cost through a combination of state-funded On My Way Pre-K vouchers and district financial investments. However, significant cuts in state funding have forced the district to implement an income-based sliding scale for the 2025-2026 school year.
The funding reduction exceeds 50%, impacting IPS’s ability to maintain free Pre-K programming. To continue providing access to high-quality education, IPS will now use state-collected income data to determine payment amounts per family. This change aims to keep costs below private options and align with neighboring public offerings.
Families qualifying for SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid Free who complete the On My Way Pre-K application will not be charged for the program. Those with a CCDF voucher also qualify for free enrollment without needing additional applications. Families paying $150 weekly do not need to apply if they lack these qualifications.
Payments will be collected monthly via Cheddar Up, totaling $570 over ten months. More details on the payment process will be shared before the school year begins.
IPS remains committed to supporting students and families despite financial challenges from legislative changes. For questions about applications or eligibility, families can contact the Pre-K team via email at earlylearningdept@myips.org or by phone at (317) 391-1897, (317) 391-7643, or (317) 619-4279 for Spanish support.
Application assistance events are scheduled for June 10th and 11th at the IPS Ed Center Board Room in Indianapolis.
