

Early PreK and PreK
Fueling Your Child’s Natural Desire to Learn
Kaune is a warm and welcoming place for children 0–5 years old. Our educators start with a foundation built on relationships and social-emotional learning. We support children in developing the skills they need to work, play, and interact with other members of our school community. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach® to learning, educators create classroom environments that promote curiosity, exploration, and discovery—igniting a lifelong love of learning. Our program is nationally accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which ensures programs meet ten standards of high-quality early childhood education.
Early Learning Center at Kaune Philosophy
Application Details and Deadlines
The Early Learning Center at Kaune PreK and Early PreK Program is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year. Children must turn 3 or 4 years old before September 1, 2025. Your application must be submitted by March 28, 2025, to be included in the lottery. Any applications received after this date will be added to the wait list in the order they are received. A member of the office team will contact you within 2 business days to confirm receipt of your application.
One-third of all available spaces will be filled by priority applicants. After one-third of all spaces are filled, the remaining applicants within the priority pool will be added to the rest of the applications for the final lottery. Priority status DOES NOT guarantee a spot in our program.
Priority status is applied to:
· Children/Families who are currently participating in our programs and have been active for at least one year, such as Great Start, Home Visiting, Bridges to Opportunity, or Family, Friends & Neighbors
· Children who have a sibling who previously attended the Early Learning Center at Kaune
The lottery will be drawn the week of April 7, 2025. Families will receive notification of the lottery results by April 30, 2025. Each family is responsible for keeping their contact information current.
If your child is selected to attend Kaune, you will be contacted by phone at the number submitted on your application.
If your child is NOT selected to attend Kaune, they will be placed on the wait list and you will be sent a letter by mail.
Staff will attempt to contact a family twice. After two attempts with no response, staff will note that the family has declined enrollment and will not call again.
Note: A new application is needed for every school year. If your child is placed on the wait list, you must complete a new application for the following school year to be considered for the lottery.
Contact Us: prek@growingupnm.org or (505) 303-3950
For the Infant and Toddler Care application CLICK HERE.
“In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.”