For the 2025-2026 school year, United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) and the Nevada Department of Education are providing $15.9 million in scholarships to help local families access preschool education. Nearly 60 preschool centers across Southern Nevada have been selected to participate in the Nevada Ready! State Pre-K program, which will allow approximately 1,900 students to enroll in preschool at no cost.
Since its inception in 2015, the partnership between UWSN and the Nevada Department of Education has enabled more than 7,500 children to attend preschool through the Nevada Ready! State Pre-K program. The initiative also includes ongoing teacher training to ensure classrooms use current teaching methods.
“By growing the Nevada Ready! State Pre-K Program with the support of the Nevada Department of Education, we’re helping thousands of Southern Nevada children start school ready to succeed,” said Samuel Rudd, UWSN’s President and CEO. “Early education empowers children to reach their full potential and helps families thrive.”
Scholarships are distributed through participating centers based on recommendations and referrals from childcare providers. All centers involved meet standards set by the Quality Rating Improvement Systems (QRIS) overseen by the state’s education department.
Families interested in applying for these scholarships can review eligibility requirements and complete an interest form at uwsn.org/earlyeducation to connect with a nearby preschool center.
The list of funded early education centers includes locations such as Acelero Learning sites throughout Las Vegas and Henderson, Baby University NCA branches, Brillant International campuses, Bring’em Young Academy, Children’s Learn & Play facilities, Christ Kids Child Center, CSN/ECE Lab, Foundation Preschool locations, Grateful Hearts Preschool, Happy Days Montessori Academy, Henderson Christian Academy, Kid City USA branches, Kids First Neighborhood CC, Kids Learning Path, La Petite Academy sites in Henderson, Learning Jungle, Little Hearts Learning Academy, Little Steps Early Learning, Milestone Academy locations, NCA Learning Center, New Horizons Academy Preschool, North Shore Learning Center, Oxford Early Learning Center, Source Academy branches across Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Stone Bridge Learning Academy, Sunrise Children facilities in multiple neighborhoods, The Hills Preschool campuses in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, The Learning Experience sites throughout Southern Nevada communities including Blue Diamond and Henderson; Watch Me Grow; and YMCA locations at Durango Hills, Heinrich Parkview Plaza II Shopping Center (Meadows Lane), and Sky View.