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Lake County will soon be home to a new
Coming to Zion:
Educare Lake County
Community Engagement & Information Sessions, Ongoing
Families and community members have come together in the Shiloh Park Middle School gymnasium several times to learn about and give their opinions on the latest plans and designs of Educare Lake County and the surrounding property. These events allow community members to share their thoughts and ideas about the new learning facility and to inform its final design and programming.
June 2024 Event Recording | March 2025 Event Recording
Lake County Parent & Staff Focus Groups, April 2024
15 families, nine community organizations at teaching staff at other Educare schools attended three focus groups for families and community organizations that our team offered in April 2024. The information we gathered has continued to guide the development of the design for programming to make Educare Lake County a high quality and adaptable early learning space.
Program Updates
Contact Us
Email
For questions about programming, email info@educarelakecounty.org.
For media inquiries, email media@educarelakecounty.org.
About Educare Lake County
Full-day, year-round programming
Located between Shiloh Park and Zion Central Middle Schools, our early learning school will serve 174 children, ages six weeks to five years, and their families. Upon opening, our new school will feature:
38,000 square feet of developmentally appropriate early learning classrooms including six preschool-age classrooms and nine infant and toddler classrooms; outdoor play areas; community gathering and services space
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Educare Lake County open?
Our design and construction teams are hard at work creating a building plan that is sound and effective. While we expect to break ground in late 2025, we remain committed to being good stewards of the generous support we have received and ensuring the highest investment is put toward programming that best supports our youngest learners and their families. Given an evolving federal funding landscape and potential impacts of tariffs on construction prices, the timeline for opening Educare Lake County is subject to change.
That said, we recognize there is a great need for early childhood programming and prenatal services across Lake County today. That’s why our operating partner, Start Early, is currently enrolling for its Waukegan (ages 0-2) and Beach Park Early Learning Centers (ages 3-5) programs, as well as prenatal doula services through its Healthy Parents & Babies® program. Like Educare Chicago, Start Early’s programs provide a continuum of care, including child care, early learning support, nutrition advice, home visits and referrals to health care homes. To learn more about these programs, please visit Start Early’s Lake County services page.
Additionally, Zion Elementary School District 6 offers a pre-K program that is free for qualifying students. The program consists of half-day classes only – 9 – 11:30 a.m. CT (morning session) or 1 – 3:30 p.m. CT (afternoon session). Pre-K campus placement will be based on the assigned zoning and campus enrollment at the time of enrollment. Student enrollment is based upon eligibility criterion of the highest need. It currently does not offer a tuition program.
Applications are available each spring/summer and will be accepted until all 120 available slots have been filled. Once filled, eligible students will be placed on a waitlist until a vacancy is available. For more information, please visit Zion 6’s services page.
Who is eligible to enroll in Educare Lake County?
Educare is an Early/Head Start program for families from the surrounding communities with children ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old. All families must meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines or be categorically eligible in order to enroll in our program. Families with children who are diverse learners, or who have children with suspected or diagnosed disabilities, are encouraged to apply. All potential families will meet with our staff to determine each family's individual needs and their eligibility for enrollment. If you are pregnant and are interested in doula services through Start Early’s Healthy Parents & Babies® program, please visit our pre & postnatal services page where you can learn more about our Lake County doula services and enroll.
How will Educare Lake County engage with families, specifically the parents and caregivers of its students?
Educare Lake County will have hands-on, family-first programs available that support caregivers in their roles as parents and promote family wellbeing. The building design includes family-centric, multi-purpose spaces to include families as part of the educational experience, fostering strong parent-child relationships and providing ongoing learning and development opportunities for both parents and children.
How will Educare Lake County engage with the Zion community and its surrounding neighborhoods?
We are committed to partnering with the Lake County community to ensure this school reflects its unique needs, visions and dreams. Opportunities will be available throughout the building process for community members to learn more about the school, how they can inform decisions about the space and what this new resource will mean for them. Keep an eye on this page for ways to get involved.
Who can enroll in Educare Lake County?
Families from Beach Park, Zion, Waukegan and surrounding communities with children ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old that are eligible for Early/Head Start services.
What does "quality early learning" mean?
When communities have access to quality early education and care programs, they see stronger education outcomes, improved health among families and even reduced health care costs. In fact, data shows that when children attend quality child care programs, they are 25% more likely to graduate high school and 4X more likely to earn a college degree. At Educare Lake County, we are building on decades of research and learnings to provide families in the Lake County area a space that not only focuses on the diverse strengths and needs of each child, but also acts as a community builder and parent support system.
What will happen to the Waukegan/Beach Park Early Learning Center(s)?
Once Educare Lake County is open, families with children in Start Early's Lake County Early Learning Centers in Waukegan and Beach Park will transition to our permanent school in Zion.
Find us on social media
Our operating partner, Start Early, is currently enrolling for their Waukegan (ages 0-2) and Beach Park Early Learning Centers (ages 3-5) programs, as well as prenatal doula services.
To learn more about these programs, please visit Start Early's Lake County services page.
Looking for immediate child care and prenatal services?
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state-of-the-art early learning school
Caring and certified bilingual teachers and staff
