Hard as it may seem to believe, there comes a time when your child is going to take that first step, roll, or crawl out of the nest and into an organized program with other children. Whether you are looking for daycare, full-day preschool, half-day preschool, or something in between, the choices can be downright dizzying. The JUF Right Start™ program was designed to lend a helping hand during this process.

JUF Right Start works to create awareness and access to Jewish preschools and day cares for Chicagoland families—including a financial incentive of up to $2,000 for the first child in a family to attend a qualifying Jewish program as well as a $500 voucher for Siblings their first time in a program. For further details and eligibility requirements, click here.

To help you get started on your search, we’ve rounded up a list of Jewish preschools and early childhood centers in the Chicagoland area.

Buffalo Grove

JCYS Northwest Family Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 6:45 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove
Affliation: Orthodox
Ages: Toddlers – 7th grade
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Chicago – Hyde Park

Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School 
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Format: 5 days/week, half day & full day available

 Chicago – Lakeview 

JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center 
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 15 mos. – 5 days/week, half day & full day available
Note: JCYS will be opening an additional location in Wicker Park in Fall 2016

Florence G. Heller JCC
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, full day available only for 5 days/week

Gan Shalom Early Childhood Education Center @ Temple Sholom
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 5 days/week, half day & full day available, extended day available

Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School 
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 3 yrs. – 8th grade
Hours: half day & full day options available for early childhood
Format: 5 days/week, half day

Chicago Jewish Day School 
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 4 years
Hours: 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., extended day option available
Format: 5 days/week, half day
Note: CJDS will be moving to California and Irving Park in 2016

Chicago – Lincoln Park

Moadon Kol Chadash/Gan Gani 
Affiliation: Community School/Hebrew Immersion
Ages: 18 mos.– 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day, early drop-off and extended day available

Chicago – West Rogers Park

Bernard Horwich JCC
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages: 2 -5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., some extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half day

Joan Dachs Bais Yacov
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages 4 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. M-F, 8:30 a.m. – Noon
Format: 5 days/week

Yeshivas Ohr Boruch (no website)
Affiliation: Community School/Orthodox
Ages: 4 yrs.

Chicago – Gold Coast

Sinai Preschool 
Affiliation: Community School/Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 – 11:45 a.m., 1:15 – 4 p.m. (4’s)
Format: 2 -5 days/week, half day

Deerfield

Moriah Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Conservative
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs
Hours: 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. (half day), 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (full day)
Format: 2 – 5 days/week

Beth Tikvah Congregation Early Childhood Center 
Affiliation: Community/Conservative
Ages 2-4 yrs.
Hours 9:15 a.m. – Noon
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day

Congregation B’nai Joshua Beth Elohim Early Childhood Center at the Chava Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2-4 yrs.
Hours 9: a.m. – Noon
Format: 2 – 5 days, half day

BJE B’nai Tikvah Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Community School/Conservative
Ages: 2 -5 days
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon, extended day option available
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Evanston

Beth Emet Synagogue Early Childhood Program
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Community School/Reconstructionist
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – Noon, early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 2 – 5 days/week

Glencoe

JCC Preschool at Congregation Am Shalom
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 20 mos. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

Highland Park

JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center
Affiliation: Community School
Ages:2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day available

Children’s Center Preschool at Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism
Affiliation: Community School/Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

Paul S. & Sylvia Steinberg Preschool at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
Affiliation: Community School/Conservative
Ages: 17 mos.– 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

Hoffman Estates

Beth Tikvah Congregation Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Reform
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – Noon, S,M,W & F lunch bunch and enrichment available until 1:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

Lake Zurich

Lake County JCC Early Childhood
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 6 wks. – 6 yrs.
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day & kindergarten available

Naperville

Congregation Beth Shalom Early Learning Center
Religious Affiliation:Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

Northbrook

Bernard Weinger JCC
Affiliation: Community
Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

BJE Early Childhood Center at Temple Beth El
Affiliation: Community/Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon, extended care available
Format: 2 – 5 days week, half day

JCC Preschool at Z Frank Apachi
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2-5 yrs
Hours: 9:15 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day

Oak Park

Glasser Preschool at Oak Park Temple
Affiliation: Community/Reform
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. or Noon – 2:30 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half-day

River Forest

West Suburban Temple Har Zion Early Childhood Program
Affiliation: Community
Ages: 2-5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., early drop-off & extended day available until 6 p.m.
Format:2 -5 days/week, half day

Skokie

Mayer Kaplan JCC
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full-day available

Ginsburg Solomon Schechter Day School Early Childhood Center
Affiliation: Conservative
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day& full-day available

Arie Crown Hebrew Day School 
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 3 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., early drop-off & extended day available
Format: 5 days/week, half day

Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: Half-day, early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half-day

Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 3 -4 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., early drop-off & extended care available
Format: 5 days/week, half-day

Mrs. Posner’s Preschool
Affiliation: Community/Orthodox
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day, extended care available

Shaarei Chinuch Day School
Affiliation: Orthodox
Ages:  3 – 6 years
Hours:  8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Format: 3 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Wicker Park

JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center – Wicker Park
Affiliation: Community School
Ages: 15 mos. – 5 yrs.
Hours: 6:45 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available

Wilmette

BJE Early Childhood Center at Congregation Beth Hill B’nai Emunah
Affiliation: Community/Conservative
Ages: 2 – 5 yrs.
Hours: 9 a.m. – Noon (half day), 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (full day)
Format: 2 – 5 days/week, half day & full day available, early drop-off & extended care available

Still wondering if Jewish preschool is the right fit for your family? Check out these perspectives from fellow Kveller parents:

What is it About Jewish Preschool?

Feeling at Home in Jewish Preschool

The Non-Jewish Mom Prepares for Jewish Preschool

Please note that this article was compiled with the most current information available. Please confirm hours, days, and format with each individual preschool. If you are a local preschool and would like to update your information, please contact chicago@kveller.com. Thank you!