Preschool
Early learning leads to lifelong learning!
High-quality preschool helps prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. And what’s better? Four-year-old preschool is FREE for every Iowa child who is four by September 15 thanks to funding from the state.
Enrollment for the 2025-2026 Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) will begin at noon on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Learn more about the preschool enrollment process!
Enrollment Info for the 2025-2026 School Year
| 1 | COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ENROLLMENT APPLICATION |
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To enroll in a district elementary school-based preschool: ➜ Complete the online enrollment form using the ENROLL NOW link below. Space may be limited in some facilities and enrollment applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be time-stamped and are not considered complete until proof of age and proof of residency are submitted. View the 2025-2026 Online Enrollment Guide for Elementary School-Based Preschools (PDF) for instructions on how to complete enrollment and registration. To enroll in a participating community partner preschool: ➜ Please contact the preschool you wish to enroll your student to request the link to their online enrollment application. View the 2025-2026 Online Enrollment Guide for Community Partner Preschools (PDF) for instructions on how to complete online enrollment. |
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| 2 | SUBMIT REQUIRED DOCUMENTS |
The following documents are required for preschool enrollment:
See REQUIRED DOCUMENTS for details including ways to submit. Enrollment applications will not be considered complete until these documents have been submitted. |
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| 3 | SUBMIT REQUIRED PAPERWORK |
The following required paperwork must be submitted before the first day of school:
See REQUIRED PAPERWORK for details including ways to submit. Students will NOT be allowed to attend school without all required documents on file with the district. |
| NOTE: Please see 2024-2025 Preschool Enrollment for information on enrolling in the current 2024-2025 school year. |
Participation Requirements
Students enrolling in the FREE four-year-old voluntary preschool program must meet two requirements:
- Students MUST reside in the State of Iowa (preschool does not follow district home-school boundaries, so you can register at the school you wish)
- Students MUST be four years old on or before September 15 of the school year they wish to enroll
Free four-year-old preschool is offered through both district elementary schools and a number of community partner preschools that operate independently, yet coordinate with the Dubuque Community Schools to provide consistent and comparable programming. All programs meet the requirements set forth by the Iowa Department of Education for the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.
View the listing of Elementary School-Based Preschools
View the listing of Community Partner Preschools
Important Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year
December 2024
➜ Enrollment Opens for the 2025-2026 Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP)
Online enrollment will open at noon on Monday, December 9, 2024
Summer 2025
➜ Annual Registration Verification for All Families
Kelli Buchenau
Enrollment Specialist
enrollment@dbqschools.org
563/552-3000
Lynn Glaser
Early Childhood Facilitator
lglaser@dbqschools.org
563/552-5863
Remember that by Iowa Law, students enrolling in the FREE four-year-old voluntary preschool program MUST reside in the State of Iowa and MUST be four years old on or before September 15 of the school year they wish to enroll.
For the 2025-2026 school year, students must be age 4 on or before September 15, 2025.
For students that do not reside in Iowa and/or meet the age requirement, tuition is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Students may not attend FREE four-year-old preschool for two years.
Students may not attend FREE four-year-old preschool if they are five on or before September 15, 2025.
After the last day of the current school year, any available preschool slots for the upcoming school year will be made available for tuition-paying three- and five-year-olds at both district elementary school-based preschools and participating community preschools.
The Dubuque Community School District is excited to open Seedlings Preschool Center a new 18,000-square-foot new state-of-the-art preschool center in Dubuque’s industrial center for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The center aims to meet the community demand for high-quality early childhood education with seamless access to wrap-around child care programming in the adjacent Dubuque Community Y Early Learning Center. Learn more!