Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (Pre-K Counts) provides quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to eligible 3 and 4-year-olds in Pennsylvania.
River Crossing YMCA offers Pre-K Counts programs at the following locations:
- Morrisville (partnering with United Way)
- Allentown
- Forks Education Center (Easton)
- Bethlehem
Our Pre-K Counts locations also offer a fee-based Before and After Care program for Pre-K Counts families in need, available through an application process.
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Preschool Program
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Preschool Program provides quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to eligible 3 and 4 year olds in Pennsylvania.
Children must turn age three prior to September 1 of the academic school year and families must complete an application and submit documentation of need to be accepted to the program. Limited space is available.
Program in session September-June and runs 180 school days.
YMCA Before & After Pre-K Counts Care
The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program runs for six hours per day. Families in need of extended care can apply for fee-base YMCA Before and After Care programming.
Pre-K Counts Information & Registration Instructions by Location
River Crossing YMCA provides Pre-K Counts programs at four locations. Browse eligibility information and find your preferred site for detailed information and applications below:
Program eligibility requirements set forth by the State of Pennsylvania:
The child must reside in the state of Pennsylvania.
The child's household income must be within 300% of the current year's poverty level, which varies based on family size. For example - a family of four can earn up to $83,250, whereas a family of 6 can earn up to $111,570. Please use this chart found on the ASPE website to determine if you qualify based on your household size and income.
The child MUST not turn 5 years old prior to the start of the school year (9/1). Children that turn 5 prior to the start of the school year should be registered for kindergarten at their local school district.
Children MUST turn 3 or 4 years old PRIOR to the start of the school year. If your child turned 3 after the start of the current school year, they are not eligible until the following year.
Pre-K Counts is a grant-funded program through the state of Pennsylvania. It is a FREE Pre-Kindergarten program designed for children that turn 3 or 4 years old by September 1 of the school year. Children who are eligible for Kindergarten (5 years old prior to 9/1) and children who turn 3 years old AFTER 9/1 are not eligible for the program.
Pre-K Counts is designed to be an educational, early childhood program that focuses on building the social, emotional, and cognitive skills of children to prepare them for Kindergarten. The program year runs September-June and consists of 180 school days. You must meet the income guidelines and be a resident of Pennsylvania to apply.
Program Location
425 S. 15th Street
Allentown, PA 18102
Questions?
Questions about Pre-K Counts Allentown?
Call: 610. 351.9622, x812
Email Allentownchilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
Before/After Pre-K Counts Care
2025/2026 Monthly Rates
| 5 days | |
|---|---|
| Before Care 6:30 AM- start of school | $361 |
| After Care End of school - 6 PM | $483 |
| All-Inclusive Care | $654 |
Non-refundable registration fee: $40
How to Apply
How to Apply for Pre-K Counts Preschool
- Complete the Pre-K Counts application form, ensuring all required documentation is included.
- Submit your completed application and documents by either:
- Dropping them off at your preferred center, or
- Emailing them directly to the center's director.
- For assistance or questions, feel free to contact the director at Allentownchilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
Program Location
Bethlehem YMCA
430 E. Broad Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Questions
610.867.7588, x504
Email Bethlehemchilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
Before & After Pre-K Counts Care
2025/2026 Monthly Rates
| 5 days | |
|---|---|
| Before Care 6:30 AM- start of school | $357 |
| After Care End of school - 6 PM | $453 |
| All-Inclusive Care | $668 |
Non-refundable registration fee: $40
How to Apply
How to Apply for Pre-K Counts Preschool
- Complete the Pre-K Counts application form, ensuring all required documentation is included.
- Submit your completed application and documents by either:
- Dropping them off at your preferred center, or
- Emailing them directly to the center's director.
- For assistance or questions, feel free to contact the director at Bethlehemchilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
Program Location
YMCA Forks Education Center
1350 Sullivan Trail, Easton, PA 18040
Questions
Email Forkschilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
610.250.7193, x452
Before/After Pre-K Counts Care
2025-2026 Monthly Rates
| 5 days | |
|---|---|
| Before Care 6:30 AM- start of school | $365 |
| After Care End of school - 6 PM | $457 |
| All-Inclusive Care | $659 |
Non-refundable registration fee: $40
How to Apply
How to Apply for Pre-K Counts Preschool
- Complete the Pre-K Counts application form, ensuring all required documentation is included.
- Submit your completed application and documents by either:
- Dropping them off at your preferred center, or
- Emailing them directly to the center's director.
- For assistance or questions, feel free to contact the director at Forkschilddevelopment@ymcarivercrossing.org
Program Location
200 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
Morrisville, PA 19067
Questions?
For questions about Pre-K Counts Preschool in Morrisville, email: Acloak@ymcarivercrossing.org
For questions about Before and After Pre-K Counts Care, email: morrisvillechildcare@ymcarivercrossing.org
Before & After Care 2025/2026 Monthly Rates
| 3 days/wk | 5 days/wk | |
|---|---|---|
| Before Care 7 AM- start of school | $264.00 | $365.00 |
| After Care End of school - 5 PM | $371.00 | $514.00 |
All-Inclusive Care (Includes Before and After Care in one monthly price) | $561.00 | $778.00 |
Non-refundable registration fee: $40
How to Apply
How to Apply for Pre-K Counts Preschool
- Complete the Pre-K Counts application form, ensuring all required documentation is included.
- Submit your completed application and documents by either:
- Dropping them off at your preferred center, or
- Emailing them directly to the center's director.
- For assistance or questions, feel free to contact the director at morrisvillechildcare@ymcarivercrossing.org
Application - English Application - Spanish
Pre-K Counts Eligibility
Program eligibility requirements set forth by the State of Pennsylvania:
- The child must reside in the state of Pennsylvania.
- The child's household income must be within 300% of the current year's poverty level, which varies based on family size. For example - a family of four can earn up to $83,250, whereas a family of 6 can earn up to $111,570. Please use this chart found on the ASPE website to determine if you qualify based on your household size and income.
- The child MUST not turn 5 years old prior to the start of the school year (9/1). Children that turn 5 prior to the start of the school year should be registered for kindergarten at their local school district.
- Children MUST turn 3 or 4 years old PRIOR to the start of the school year. If your child turned 3 after the start of the current school year, they are not eligible until the following year.
Pre-K Counts is a grant-funded program through the state of Pennsylvania. It is a FREE Pre-Kindergarten program designed for children that turn 3 or 4 years old by September 1 of the school year. Children who are eligible for Kindergarten (5 years old prior to 9/1) and children who turn 3 years old AFTER 9/1 are not eligible for the program.
Pre-K Counts is designed to be an educational, early childhood program that focuses on building the social, emotional, and cognitive skills of children to prepare them for Kindergarten. The program year runs September-June and consists of 180 school days. You must meet the income guidelines and be a resident of Pennsylvania to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Pre-K Counts program is a grant funded program provided through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Since this is a grant funded program, which is free of charge to all participants, we must adhere to the guidelines set forth by OCDEL.
No, since this is a grant funded program all students MUST meet the financial guideline requirements.
All lead teachers have obtained their Bachelor’s degree in the field of Early Childhood Education, many of which hold a dual degree and are certified to teach both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. Assistant teachers have at minimum a CDA, but many hold their associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
A requirement of the Pre-K Counts program is that the child must attend at least 90% of the 180 days of school, meaning a child should not miss more than 18 days during the school year. This ensures that the participants are fully utilizing the program. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances.
My child receives Early Intervention services through an outside organization. Is my child able to receive these services at school?
No, Pre-K programs are open to all residents of Pennsylvania. Students from other districts are invited to apply, but priority is given to local district residents.
Yes, you can apply to multiple locations and organizations to increase your child’s chances of obtaining a space in a Pre-K Counts program. For a full list of grant program participants, see the second page of the Pre-K Counts application.
Families are notified around June about acceptance into the program. This usually occurs around the same time that the state budget is passed. Teacher and classroom placement is shared with families in the beginning of August.
Yes, you may apply at any time during the school, as long as your child meets the age and income requirements. If you qualify and there is space available, we will place your child in a classroom. If there are no spaces available, we will place your child on the waitlist.
The Pre-K Counts program is a full day (6 hour) program. Our classroom start times are staggered to allow for a smoother drop off and pickup carline experience. Classes start as early as 8 AM and as late as 9 AM, and end as early as 2 PM or as late as 3 PM. You cannot pick your child’s classroom or hours, as classroom placement depends on the age of the child. We will ask if there are any factors that would impact your ability to arrive at those times, but we cannot guarantee that we can make every requested accommodation depending upon availability.
Some families may find that the hours of their child's class are not long enough and will need additional hours of care. River Crossing YMCA is proud to offer before and after care for our Pre-K Counts Program. This is a fee based program, but there are options for assistance in paying for this program.
The before & aftercare program is hosted at the Morrisville & Quakertown locations and utilizes the assistant teachers from the Pre-K Counts classrooms, meaning your child will see familiar friendly faces.
River Crossing YMCA accepts Child Care Works (CCW) Subsidy through the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). This is a state subsidy program that families must apply for through the Compass website. ELRC will determine if a family is eligible for the program and determine an affordable weekly copay for the family. CCW will cover the remaining portion of the payment. The waitlist can often be long, so families are encouraged to apply early.
River Crossing YMCA also proudly offers financial assistance to those who qualify. If families are eligible for CCW subsidy, we do require that they first apply for state subsidy. Once they have applied or can provide evidence that they are not eligible for CCW, families can apply for financial assistance through River Crossing YMCA.
No, transportation is not provided to or from the program. Families are required to provide transportation to and from school each day.