Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.5.2, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Educare Lake County Start Early ## Pages ### [Homepage](https://educarelakecounty.org/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Opening Late 2027 **Educare Lake County** will be a welcoming early learning school serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and their families. [learn more](https://educarelakecounty.org/environment/) ## Pathways ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/home-pathways-icon1.webp) ### [About Us](https://educarelakecounty.org/about-us/) Read our story and meet our team and partners! ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/home-pathways-icon2.webp) ### [Programs & Curriculum](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/) How does Educare Lake County set our littlest learners up for success? ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/home-pathways-icon3.webp) ### [Resources](https://educarelakecounty.org/resources/) Quickly access our school calendar, FAQs, ClassDojo, eligibility documents and more. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/home-pathways-icon4.webp) ### [Apply Today](https://educarelakecounty.org/apply-today/) Ready to take the next step? Check out our eligibility requirements and enrollment information. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/home-pathways-icon5.webp) ### [Donate](https://educarelakecounty.org/donate/) Become a champion of early childhood education and care. oUR vISION Every child has equitable opportunity to reach their full potential to thrive in school and life. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-whoweare.avif "StartEarly2025-whoweare") ## A Place to Learn and Connect At Educare Lake County, your child will learn, grow and explore in a nurturing environment designed for reaching developmental milestones. As a parent, you are a valued partner here. Enrolling in our school means you will be connected to teachers, resources and a supportive community every step of your early learning journey. [Who We Are](https://educarelakecounty.org/who-we-are/) ## Construction Progress Since breaking ground in Spring 2026, the construction crew has been busy! Watch the precast panels go up in just six days. Next up is steel, coming in late July. Stay tuned for more construction updates and chances to get involved. (Video by [Mortenson](https://www.mortenson.com/ "Mortenson")) [Learn About Our Programming](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/) [apply today](https://educarelakecounty.org/apply-today/) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/homepage-our-school-image-scaled.avif "homepage-our-school-image") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/homepage-our-school-icon.svg) ## Our School At Start Early, you’re family. Your child’s care team will prioritize their unique needs, and you will have access to community gathering spaces and countless family resources. [check out our construction progress![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/arrow.svg)](https://educarelakecounty.org/environment/) ## Latest Events [view our calendar![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/arrow.svg)](https://educarelakecounty.org/calendar/) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-carousel3-Custom-300x200.avif) Thanksgiving Break – No School Sep 26, 2026 12:00 am Holidays [Read Post Thanksgiving Break – No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/thanksgiving-break-no-school/) --- ### [Environment](https://educarelakecounty.org/environment/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Environment Our dedicated and engaging staff provide safe, high-quality and accessible early learning services for Lake County families like yours. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image.avif "image") ## Educare Lake County will be a state-of-the-art building including: - 38,000 square feet of developmentally appropriate early learning classrooms - Six preschool-age classrooms and infant and toddler classrooms - STEAM room and library - Indoor and outdoor play spaces - Community gathering and services spaces Our doors will open in late 2027. #### **Take a Peek at Educare Lake County**‘s Design *Opening late 2027* ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/WEST-ORIGINAL-OPT-01-1024x663.jpg) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MATCHED-VIEW-OPT-01-1024x663.jpg) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EAST-ORIGINAL-OPT-01-1024x663.jpg) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/YELLOW-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TEAL-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Steam-to-Welcome-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Staff-Lounge-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PURPLE-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GREEN-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BLUE-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/06_Gross-Motor-Room-Blue-rev-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/04_Corridor-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/03_Steam-Library-yellow-1024x576.png) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/01_Entry-Looking-Towards-Steam-Yellow-1024x576.png) ### Looking for early learning programming now? While Educare Lake County is under construction, Start Early is providing birth-to-5 services in Beach Park and Waukegan. [Learn more.](https://www.startearly.org/start-early-lake-county-early-learning-center/) --- ### [Volunteer Options](https://educarelakecounty.org/volunteer/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Volunteer Options ## Volunteer with Us Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the children and families we serve. From helping with classroom activities to assisting at community events, your time and care make a lasting difference. Stay tuned for future opportunities to volunteer at Educare Lake County. ##### Join Lake County’s Community Inclusion Team What is a Community Inclusion Team? A [Community Inclusion Team (CIT)](https://www.eclre.org/resources/community-inclusion-teams/) brings together families, early childhood partners, educators, and community leaders to improve access to high-quality inclusive early care and education for children birth through age 5. CITs work collaboratively to build systems and supports so young children with and without disabilities can learn, grow and thrive together in community settings. ###### **Lake County CIT’s Vision** The Lake County Community Inclusion Team exists to ensure that all young children in Lake County, from birth through age five, can access high-quality, inclusive early childhood education. We recognize that the identification of children with disabilities and developmental delays happens in all early learning settings – from public schools and Head Start to private child care centers and family homes – and that children should be able to receive inclusive services across all settings, depending on their needs. We leverage collaboration and problem-solving to strengthen policies, resources, and supports for parents and guardians, community partners, and educators to enable every child to experience full participation, belonging, and inclusion within their Least Restrictive Environment, across all settings. ###### ****Who’s on the Team?**** To have a strong CIT, it needs to reflect the diversity of Lake County’s early childhood landscape. The group includes: - Family members and caregivers - School district administrators - Early childhood program leaders - Early intervention and special education partners - Community agency representatives - Early care and education providers ###### ****What Lake County’s CIT Does**** - Meet monthly to plan and coordinate efforts that support inclusive practices - Use data and community feedback to set priorities and measure progress - Provide support to early childhood programs and connect providers with professional development opportunities - Connect families to resources and strengthen community partnerships ###### ****Get Involved & Learn More**** Want to participate, partner with or learn how the CIT supports families and providers in Lake County? Fill out [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegLstRuhKFiDW2EZM_ileT-Vv4mS2AP2LPySHOVZtjeMm_SA/viewform) to be added to our email list and be the first to know about future meetings. ### Opportunities may include: ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/list-icon1.webp "list-icon1") #### Assisting teachers during classroom activities or family events ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/list-icon2.webp "list-icon2") #### Helping prepare materials or supplies for classrooms ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/list-icon3.webp "list-icon3") #### Supporting community outreach or school celebrations --- ### [Donate](https://educarelakecounty.org/donate/) **Published:** February 20, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Partner with Us Educare Lake County is possible because of the dedication of public and private partners who share our commitment to early learning and family success. [Donate](https://give.startearly.org/donate/support-educare-lake-county) **Want to learn more?** **Contact our team at ** ## Making a Difference Through Your Support When you partner with Start Early, your investment fuels early learning, family stability and long-term community impact. [Donate](https://give.startearly.org/donate/support-educare-lake-county) ### More Ways to Support Educare Lake County: Event sponsorships and in-kind donations Employee volunteer days or supply drives Supporting family engagement or classroom enrichment And more! ## the change you create ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Celena_Autism-Awareness-Parade-scaled.jpg "Celena_Autism Awareness Parade") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/comment-icon.svg) ### “Supporting Start Early means investing in children, families and a stronger future for our communities.” **Celena Sarillo,** Executive Director, Start Early Illinois ## With Gratitude Your partnership helps ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to a safe, high-quality early learning experience. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1758-copy-3-scaled.avif "StartEarly2025-1758 copy 3") --- ### [Apply Today](https://educarelakecounty.org/apply-today/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Apply Today Finding the right early learning program for your child is an important decision. Start Early is here to make it as easy as possible. ## While Educare Lake County is under construction, Start Early is providing high-quality, year-round care and education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years in Beach Park and Waukegan, helping every child to build a strong foundation for school and life. Our team will guide you through each step of the process and ensure you have the support you need. [Apply Today](https://www.startearly.org/start-early-lake-county-early-learning-center/#form) --- ### [Who We Are](https://educarelakecounty.org/who-we-are/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # **Who We Are** ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-carousel-2.avif "image-carousel-2") ## Educare Lake County will serve 174 children, ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old, and their families in a state-of-the-art early learning school. We are building the school between Shiloh Park and Zion Central Middle Schools at 1800 27th Street in Zion, IL. #### **Our programming will include:** Full-day, year-round child care ****Comprehensive supports****Comprehensive supports for diverse learners and/or children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities ****Caring and certified bilingual teachers and staff**** ****A designated family support**** specialistto help you achieve goals for your family and child ****Nutritious meals developed by a registered dietitian**** ## Why Lake County? In 2023, Start Early recognized a serious need for more accessible, affordable early education and child care in Lake County. With a focus on bringing more of these resources to the Lake County area, we began our journey towards building a brand-new state-of-the-art early learning school to help meet that need. Start Early joined Lake County’s early childhood education and care community while Educare Lake County was still under construction by opening early learning centers in Waukegan and Beach Park in 2024. Today, Educare Lake County supports the unique needs of every child by providing safe, well-rounded, affordable child care to 174 families. #### What We’ve Been Up To ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ELC-map-e1776183860886.png "ELC map") **Community Needs Assessment (2023)** Start Early conducted a comprehensive community needs assessment in 2023 to better understand the demand for early childhood education in Lake County and identify gaps in access for families. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Community-Info-Session-scaled.jpg "Community Info Session") **Community & Educator Input (Ongoing)** Ongoing focus groups with Lake County community members, alongside conversations with teaching staff across the Educare Learning Network, ensure the program reflects local priorities, family voices, and best practices in early learning. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Community-Partners-scaled.jpg "Community Partners") **Local Partnerships (Ongoing)** This effort is grounded in strong collaboration with key partners, including Cullen Construction Management, JGMA, Mortenson Construction, Zion Park District, the City of Zion, Zion Elementary School District 6 and more, working together to bring high-quality early learning opportunities to the community. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Interim-Program-scaled.jpg "Start Early 2025") **Interim Programming Launch (2024)** To begin serving families right away, interim programming opened in Beach Park and Waukegan in 2024, with additional milestones in June 2024 and March 2025, expanding access while the permanent site is under development. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Construction-Craft-scaled.jpg "Construction Craft") **Groundbreaking (May 11, 2026)** The groundbreaking marks a major milestone in bringing Educare Lake County to life, celebrating the collective effort of partners, families, and community leaders. ### Lake County, Illinois is home to more than 48,488 children under age five. These early years are a time of rapid growth that shape how children learn, build relationships and succeed later in life. Early experiences matter not only for children, but their families and communities, too. Every family, no matter their background, benefits from extra support while raising young children. ## The Impact of Quality Early Learning Every child deserves a strong start. Quality early learning programs help children build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond while supporting families every step of the way. Research shows that children in these programs are more likely to graduate high school and go on to college. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/bip-callout.png "bip-callout") ## History of the Educare Network In 2000, [Start Early](https://educarelakecounty.org/about-us/) and the Irving Harris Foundation opened the first Educare school, [Educare Chicago](https://educarechicago.org/), on the South Side of Chicago to serve children and families rebuilding their community after the demolition of the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the largest public housing developments in the country at the time. After the success of the first school, Start Early partnered with the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, expanding Educare’s groundbreaking model to more communities that would benefit from quality early learning and care. Now, alongside [other Educare Learning Network schools](https://www.educareschools.org/our-schools/) across the country, Educare Lake County will make quality early learning programming accessible to more little learners and their families. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/guidelines3.avif "guidelines3") ## About the Educare Model Our use of the [Educare Model](https://www.educareschools.org/what-we-do/practice/the-educare-model/) includes everything proven research says young children need to flourish. We partner with families because learning doesn’t stop when children leave the classroom. We support the continued learning of our passionate teachers and staff because we want to empower them to do their best work. We use data and research to improve our schools because we’re committed to creating a lasting positive impact with every family we serve. Based on four core principles, the Educare model has been shown to prepare children for kindergarten in multiple developmental categories: 1. Intensive family engagement 2. Continual professional development 3. High-quality teaching practices 4. Data utilization Educare Lake County is the second Educare school directly operated by Start Early, along with [Educare Chicago](https://educarechicago.org/) located in Chicago’s Grand Boulevard neighborhood. [Learn More About our School](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/) --- ### [Eligibility](https://educarelakecounty.org/eligibility/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Eligibility ## Start Early’s Early Learning Centers are Early Head Start/Head Start and Preschool for All programs All families must meet the [Federal Poverty Guidelines](https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines?cid=7385d86791383a0c2e8b841b1476ed65) in order to enroll in our programs. Families with children who are diverse learners, or children with suspected or diagnosed disabilities, are encouraged to apply. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1539-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-1539") ## Ready to Apply? Please review the list below and ensure you have all the documentation needed to determine eligibility for Head Start services. Missing documentation will delay the process. Once your child is determined to be eligible for Head Start services, your child will be placed on the waitlist until a vacancy occurs. If your child is not selected for enrollment, you will be asked to reapply for the next school year. **Eligibility Documents List**Below is a list of the documents that will assist in determining your eligibility for our Head Start program. - **Original Birth Certificate for child(ren).** - **State ID** with your current address. - **Enrolling child(ren)’s medical card.** The Benefits letter cannot be accepted. - **Income documentation that includes: SNAP, TANF, SSI documentation of benefits or income**. Other Documents Needed Prior to Enrollment- **IFSP/IEP or other evaluations or diagnosis documentation.** - **Health Action Plan completed by the child’s pediatrician or specialist** for chronic health conditions such as asthma, eczema, heart conditions, seizures, etc. --- ### [Our School](https://educarelakecounty.org/our-school/) **Published:** February 23, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Coming Soon: Educare Lake County Where early learning and family partnerships come together to give every child a strong start. [LEARN MORE](https://educarelakecounty.org/apply-today/) ## Our dedicated and engaging staff provide safe, high-quality and accessible early learning services for Lake County families like yours. **Our school is home to state-of-the-art facilities including:** 38,000 square feet of developmentally appropriate early learning classrooms Six preschool-age classrooms and infant and toddler classrooms STEAM room and library Indoor and outdoor play spaces Community gathering and services spaces ## A typical day at Start Early Lake County – take a peek! ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1830-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1875-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1873-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2041-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1999-copy-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1930-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2241-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2250-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2259-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2512-copy-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2610-copy-scaled.webp) View Image ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2775-scaled.webp) View Image ## FAQs ****When will Educare Lake County open?****Educare Lake County will break ground on construction in Spring 2026 and open for enrollment during the 2027-2028 academic year. In the meantime, our operating partner, Start Early, is currently enrolling for its Waukegan (ages 0-2) and Beach Park Early Learning Centers (ages 3-5) programs. 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](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/). **Who is eligible to enroll at Educare Lake County?**Educare Lake County will serve 174 children ages 6 weeks through age 5 from Beach Park, Zion, Waukegan and surrounding communities. All enrolled families must meet the [Federal Poverty Guidelines](https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines?cid=7385d86791383a0c2e8b841b1476ed65) 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 a member of our staff to determine each family’s individual needs and their eligibility for enrollment. **********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 our programs and services reflect the unique needs, visions and dreams of community leaders, businesses and families. Thank you to the following key partners for their support and partnership along the way: - City of Zion - Zion 6 School District - Zion Park District 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. ********Why do early childhood programs and services matter?********Quality early education and care is critical because a child’s brain grows faster during the first five years than at any other time in life. Subsequently, early brain development has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school and life. Studies have found that kindergarten readiness is strongly associated with later academic achievement, including higher education. Children who enter kindergarten ready to learn and who have access to effective early learning programs are also more likely to have better education outcomes, higher wages as adults, better health and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. A multi-generational research study showed that children with high quality early childhood education have better life outcomes than their peers, their children do better, and their children’s children do better, as well. ********When will enrollment begin?********Caregivers will be able to begin the enrollment process about three months prior to our school opening date. We recommend regularly visiting this page or signing up for further information to stay updated about project timelines, opportunities to learn more about Educare Lake County, as well as the processes for enrollment and eligibility qualifications. **********How is Educare Lake County supported and funded?**********Start Early believes the best outcomes occur when we can braid both public and private funding streams to design a program that is unique to its community and those who will most benefit from that program. Educare Lake County specifically has been made possible by a generous gift from the Schreiber Family Foundation, among many other private donors, and a substantial grant from the Office of Head Start. Its braided funding will utilize Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative funds to round out funding sources. **********How do I enroll my child in Educare Lake County?**********Applications for enrollment at the new Educare Lake County school will open in 2027. In the meantime, our operating partner, Start Early, is currently enrolling for its Waukegan (ages 0-2) and Beach Park Early Learning Centers (ages 3-5) programs. 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](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/). **********What are the hours of operation for Educare Lake County?**********Educare Lake County will be open from Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. for families with the child care subsidy and 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for families without the child care subsidy approval. ************What is the difference between Start Early and Educare Lake County? / Why is the name changing?************ Start Early is the operating organization of Educare Lake County. To begin meeting the Lake County community’s early learning needs as soon as possible, Start Early opened and is currently operating interim Early Learning Centers in Waukegan and Beach Park, while Educare Lake County is being built. When the permanent Educare Lake County school is ready for enrollment, the Waukegan and Beach Park programming will transition current families and operations to the permanent Educare Lake County in Zion. **************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. ****************How do I get involved?****************Learn more about donating to our program here, and please visit our [career page](https://educarelakecounty.org/get-involved/) to learn more about joining our growing team! ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/school-enroll.avif "school-enroll") ## Enroll Today Apply now to give your child a strong start with high-quality, inclusive early learning at Start Early Lake County. [**apply today**](https://educarelakecounty.org/enrollment/) --- ### [Our Partners](https://educarelakecounty.org/our-partners/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Our Partners ## This work is the direct result of the collaborative efforts of public and private funders and partner organizations Thank you for supporting our mission of ensuring every young child has access to quality education, regardless of their background or economic circumstances. We wanted to provide a special thank you to our operating organization, Start Early and [Start Early’s Early Learning Network](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/). Your ongoing technical assistance, team member support, and program guidance help make our program the best possible early child education experience for our families. It takes a multitude of people, organizations and communities working together to create a successful and impactful early childhood program. If you would like to help further our mission, please visit our [Get Involved page](https://educarelakecounty.org/get-involved/) for more details on how you can partner with us. --- ### [Enrollment](https://educarelakecounty.org/enrollment/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Enrollment ## Enrolling Your Child **Educare Lake County will not open for enrollment until late 2027.** However, Start Early, the school’s operating partner, is offering programming in Beach Park and Waukegan while Educare Lake County is under construction. [**Learn more.**](https://www.startearly.org/start-early-lake-county-early-learning-center/#form) When you apply for [Start Early’s Early Learning Centers](https://www.startearly.org/start-early-lake-county-early-learning-center/), our onsite team members will be with you every step of the enrollment process. We will keep you regularly updated with the status of your application and the availability of a spot at our program. Want to know more about the enrollment process? Please read through the details below to better understand our application, eligibility and enrollment process. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2119-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2119") ### The Application Process - Application – You apply via our [submission form](https://www.startearly.org/start-early-lake-county-early-learning-center/#form). The form covers a lot of the key questions needed to help determine eligibility. We appreciate you taking the time to fill it out! ### Eligibility Process - One of our team members will review your application and begin determining your eligibility. Our team will reach out to you for required documents that help confirm your eligibility. ### The Enrollment Process - Enrollment meeting – Once your child is determined to be eligible for a spot at our school, you will meet with one of our family support specialists to make sure you have all final pieces of paperwork completed to finalize your enrollment: - Documents needed to finalize enrollment. - First day of attendance – Once our team has reviewed, confirmed and registered all of your remaining enrollment documentation, you will be provided a starting date for your child. **Your child must attend that set day, to finalize and confirm your child’s enrollment in our school.** --- ### [Resources](https://educarelakecounty.org/resources/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Resources for Families ## Coming Soon! --- ### [Programs & Curriculum](https://educarelakecounty.org/programs-curriculum/) **Published:** February 19, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # ******Programs & Curriculum****** High-quality, inclusive early learning programs that support children’s growth, curiosity and development from birth through age five. ## **Whole-Child Learning** **from Birth to Age 5** Educare Lake County will offer year-round early learning programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, combining play-based instruction, family partnership and individualized supports to prepare children and families for lifelong success. ### **Our Programs** Families know their children best, and learning goes far beyond the classroom. You are included in every step of your child’s learning and connected with the resources you need to thrive as a family. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-programs-icon1.webp) #### **Infant Program (0-18 months)** Nurturing, relationship-based Early Head Start care focused on responsive routines, sensory exploration and early language development to support healthy brain growth. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-programs-icon3.webp) #### ******Preschool Program (3-5 years)****** Purposeful play and inquiry-based Head Start and Preschool for All learning that builds early literacy, math, social-emotional skills and kindergarten readiness. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-programs-icon5.webp) #### ******Communication with Families****** Educare Lake County will use ClassDojo to connect school with home. This digital tool builds classroom community and gives our teachers and staff better access to students’ families. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-programs-icon2.webp) #### ****Toddler Program (18 months-3 years)**** Play-based Early Head Start learning that supports growing independence, communication and social-emotional skills through hands-on exploration and predictable routines. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-programs-icon4.webp) #### ******Family Support Services****** Our staff supports parents as the primary care givers and educators of their children, working closely with families to promote and enhance the parent-child relationship, providing parents with information about their child’s development and encouraging parents’ involvement in the education of their child. ## **The Creative Curriculum** Start Early classrooms use The Creative Curriculum to support whole-child development through learning experiences rooted in play, exploration and relationships. Children build skills across social-emotional, physical, cognitive, language, literacy, math, science and the arts. We use Teaching Strategies GOLD, SmartTeach and Conscious Discipline to guide instruction, monitor progress and support emotional regulation, ensuring learning meets each child’s developmental needs. Inclusive and individualized supports are embedded across all age groups. Teachers use ongoing observation, developmental screenings and family partnership to adapt routines, environments and instruction so every child can participate and thrive alongside peers. ## **Enroll Today** Apply now to give your child a strong start with high-quality early learning at Educare Lake County. [**eligibility**](https://educarelakecounty.org/eligibility/) [**enrollment**](https://educarelakecounty.org/enrollment/) ## ********Dedicated Educators, Trusted Partners******** Start Early teachers are early childhood professionals who combine expertise, warmth and responsiveness to create engaging learning environments. Working closely with families, they tailor instruction to each child’s strengths, culture and needs, fostering confidence, curiosity and growth at every stage. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/programs-educators.avif "programs-educators") ## Share Share on FacebookShare on Copy URLShare on EmailShare on LinkedInShare on Instagram --- ### [Get Involved](https://educarelakecounty.org/get-involved/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Get Involved ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1830-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-1830") ## At Start Early, we believe it takes a village to give every child the best start in life Whether you’re an individual looking to volunteer your time, a business seeking meaningful partnership opportunities, or a professional ready to join our team, there are many ways to get involved and make an impact. **Together, we can help every child and family in Lake County thrive.** [**CAREERS**](https://educarelakecounty.org/careers/) [**VOLUNTEER**](https://educarelakecounty.org/volunteer/) [**PARTNER**](https://educarelakecounty.org/donate/) --- ### [About Us](https://educarelakecounty.org/about-us/) **Published:** February 19, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # About Us Start Early partners with families and communities to provide high-quality and welcoming early learning that supports children’s growth from birth through age five. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-learning.avif "about-learning") ## Learning Through Play High-quality early childhood education helps young children learn and grow during the years when their brains develop the most. In a strong early learning program, children get to explore, play and ask questions. These everyday moments help them build skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Our Principles ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-principles-icon1.webp) ### Educating the Whole Child Children learn how to work with others, solve problems, and manage their feelings. They build early reading, math and language skills that make school easier later on. They also gain confidence by feeling safe, supported and understood. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-principles-icon2.webp) ### Including the Family For parents, high-quality early childhood education means having partners you can trust. Teachers work with families, share updates and help you support your child at home. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-meet1.webp "about-meet1") ## Meet Our Team Our dedicated educators, family support staff and leadership team work together to create nurturing, welcoming learning environments. Get to know the people who partner with Lake County families to support their children’s growth and success. [Our Team![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/arrow.svg)](https://educarelakecounty.org/our-team/) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/about-meet2.webp "about-meet2") ## About Our Organization Educare Lake County will be directly operated by Start Early, a national nonprofit advancing quality early learning. Together, we serve children from birth to age five and their families, combining education, health and family engagement to get our littlest learners ready for kindergarten. [join our work](https://educarelakecounty.org/our-partners/) ## Start Early in Action Educare Lake County will officially open its doors in late 2027, but in the meantime, you can join the fun at our programs in Beach Park and Waukegan! ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1873-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-1873") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1875-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-1875") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2119-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2119") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2079-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2079") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2155-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2155") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2241-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2241") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2250-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2250") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2259-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2259") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2250-1-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2250") ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-2275-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-2275") ## Enroll Today Partner with Start Early to support your child’s learning, growth and success from the very start. [**eligibility**](https://educarelakecounty.org/eligibility/) [**enrollment**](https://educarelakecounty.org/enrollment/) --- ### [Calendar](https://educarelakecounty.org/calendar/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Coming Soon! --- ### [Our Team](https://educarelakecounty.org/our-team/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Our Team ## Our commitment to Start Early’s welcoming and enriching educational environment is only possible because of the devoted families and team members who form the heart and soul of our schools. Interested in joining our team? Check out our Get Involved page to learn more and see all our open positions. [Get Involved](https://educarelakecounty.org/get-involved/) ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5509b217c513f39aed3f72074b6e81c770a428bbcc43.webp) ### Tracy Ames Site Administrator Read more about Tracy Ames ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5509b217c513f39aed3f72074b6e81c770a428bbcc43.webp) Current Appointments Site Administrator Contact Information ##### Tracy Ames Tracy Ames is the Site Administrator for Educare Lake County. Prev Next ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/yulissa-martinez.webp) ### Yulissa Martinez Education Coordinator Read more about Yulissa Martinez ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/yulissa-martinez.webp) Current Appointments Education Coordinator Contact Information ##### Yulissa Martinez Yulissa Martinez is the Education Coordinator for Educare Lake County. Prev Next ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/default-img1.svg) ### Pam Horan-Bussey Family & Community Engagement Manager Read more about Pam Horan-Bussey ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/default-img1.svg) Current Appointments Family & Community Engagement Manager Contact Information ##### Pam Horan-Bussey Pam Horan-Bussey is the Family & Community Engagement Manager for Educare Lake County. Prev Next ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/default-img1.svg) ### Tracey Mikasa Managing Director of Strategy & Expansion Read more about Tracey Mikasa ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/default-img1.svg) Current Appointments Managing Director of Strategy & Expansion Contact Information ##### Tracey Mikasa Tracey Mikasa is Managing Director of Strategy & Expansion at Start Early, the operating partner of Educare Lake County. Prev Next --- ### [Contact Us](https://educarelakecounty.org/contact-us/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Contact Us ## Start Early Lake County School Locations ### Beach Park, ages 3 – 5 years | [**8550 N. Lewis Avenue, Beach Park, IL 60099**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NwgxdD9ZFDVBDaBc9) ### Waukegan, ages 6 weeks – 3 years | [**1411 S. White Oak Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SqxhzXVrWfnEzdGe6) ### Future Educare Lake County, ages 6 weeks – 5 years | 1800 27th St, Zion, IL 60099 ### Email Beach Park: [InfoBeachPark@StartEarly.org](mailto:infobeachpark@startearly.org) Waukegan: [InfoWaukegan@StartEarly.org](mailto:infowaukegan@startearly.org) Updates on Educare Lake County: ### Phone Beach Park: [(847) 599-5700](tel: "(847) 599-5700") Waukegan: [(773) 733-7299](tel:8479083382) ## Contact Form Δ Full Name(Required) First Last Phone Number(Required) Email Address(Required) Message/Comments(Required) Submit --- ### [Careers](https://educarelakecounty.org/careers/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Careers ## Join our energetic, passionate team at Start Early’s Early Learning Centers Be part of an innovative, supportive program that is pioneering quality early childhood education. At Start Early, we make sure our team members can succeed both inside and out of the classroom. Join the team providing early learning services in Beach Park and Waukegan, and grow with us as we transition to our brand-new space in Zion in late 2027! ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/StartEarly2025-1645-scaled.webp "StartEarly2025-1645") ### Benefits and Compensation We provide comprehensive health plans, 401(k) contribution, 6 months of paid parental leave, professional development programming, paid volunteer days, holistic wellness programming and more. Start Early also offers sign-on bonuses up to $5,000, dependent on the role/job title. View our open positions below. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MployerAwardBadge_Top_Medium-1.png "MployerAwardBadge_Top_Medium") --- ### [Awards + Accreditations](https://educarelakecounty.org/awards-accreditations/) **Published:** February 17, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Awards + Accreditations ## High-quality early learning is the foundation for lifelong success. Our Early/Head Start programs in Lake County meet rigorous local, state and federal standards to ensure infants, toddlers, pregnant people and families receive comprehensive, high-quality support from the very beginning. ![](https://educarelakecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/guidelines7.avif "guidelines7") Our Beach Park and Waukegan programs are funded through **Early/Head Start** and **Preschool for All**. Our program is fully licensed by the **Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).** We also adhere to the **Head Start Program Performance Standards**, which guide our work in early learning, health, family engagement and continuous improvement. --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://educarelakecounty.org/privacy-policy/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Privacy Notice ## Introduction Educare Lake County – a program of Start Early – (“Educare Lake County”, “Company “or “We “) respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy. This policy describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you visit the website [www.EducareLakeCounty.org](http://www.EducareLakeCounty.org) (our “Website“) and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. It does not apply to information collected by: - Us offline or through any other means, including on any other website operated by Company or any third party; or - Any third party, including through any application or content (including advertising) that may link to or be accessible from or on the Website. Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use our Website. By accessing or using this Website, you agree to this privacy policy. This policy may change from time to time (see Changes to Our Privacy Policy). Your continued use of this Website after we make changes is deemed to be acceptance of those changes, so please check the policy periodically for updates. ### Information We Collect About You and How We Collect It We collect several types of information from and about users of our Website, including information: - By which you may be personally identified, such as name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, or any other identifier by which you may be contacted online or offline (**“personal information”**). This information is collected directly from you when you provide it to us, including but not limited to, registrations for any product, service, or event on our Website; donations to Start Early made through the Website; subscriptions or purchases to receive one of our products or services; registrations to receive email subscriptions and/or e-newsletters and submission of a contact request. - About your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our Website, and usage details. This information is collected automatically as you navigate through the site. Information collected automatically may include usage details, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies. If you make a donation to Educare Lake County, or pay for services including your monthly services copays through any of our payment portals, we will ask for financial information such as a credit card number, expiration date, CVV number, billing address, and company name for payment processing (see Start Early’s **Donor Privacy Policy**). ### Information We Collect Through Automatic Data Collection Technologies As you navigate through and interact with our Website, we may use automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns, including: - Details of your visits to our Website, including traffic data, location data, logs, and other communication data and the resources that you access and use on the Website. - Information about your computer and internet connection, including your IP address, operating system, and browser type. - Demographics and interests data as a part of our ads targeting/reporting. The information we collect automatically is only statistical data and does not include personal information, but we may maintain it or associate it with personal information we collect in other ways or receive from third parties. It helps us to improve our Website and to deliver a better and more personalized service, including by enabling us to: - Estimate our audience size and usage patterns. - Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our Website according to your individual interests. - Speed up your searches. - Recognize you when you return to our Website. The technologies we use for this automatic data collection may include: **Cookies (or browser cookies).** A cookie is a small file placed on the hard drive of your computer. You may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our Website. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our Website. **Flash Cookies.** Certain features of our Website may use local stored objects (or Flash cookies) to collect and store information about your preferences and navigation to, from, and on our Website. Flash cookies are not managed by the same browser settings as are used for browser cookies. For information about managing your privacy and security settings for Flash cookies, see Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information. **Web Beacons.** Pages of our Website and our emails may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit the Company, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an email and for other related website statistics (for example, recording the popularity of certain website content and verifying system and server integrity). **Google Analytics.** We use Google Analytics, which is a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to help the website analyze how individuals use the Website. The non-personal information generated by the cookie about your use of the Website will be transmitted to and stored by Google. Google will use this information for the purposes of evaluating your use of the Website, compiling reports on Website activity for our purpose, evaluation and providing other services relating to the Website activity and Internet usage. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may disable cookies within your browser as described above, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of the Website. By using this Website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. For certain browsers, you can also prevent Google from collecting information (including your IP address) via cookies and processing this information by downloading this browser plugin and installing it: [www.tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.](https://www.tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.) **Internet Based Advertising.** We incorporate remarketing by utilizing third parties (such as Google) to display content specific advertisements to visitors who have previously visited Educare Lake County’s Website and/or expressed interest in our services when such visitors go to other websites that also incorporate similar remarketing tools. Educare Lake County and other third parties, use first-party cookies and third-party cookies together to inform, optimize and serve ads based on a user’s past visits to the Website. You may opt out of this use of cookies by visiting the [National Advertising Initiative](https://optout.networkadvertising.org/?c=1) site. the [National Advertising Initiative](https://optout.networkadvertising.org/) website. We do not collect personal information automatically, but we may tie this information to personal information about you that we collect from other sources or you provide to us. **How We Use Your Information** We use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any personal information, such as your name, email address and postal address: - To present our Website and its contents to you. - For our internal business purposes, Website analysis or administration, communications with users, order payment and fulfillment, order delivery, services updates, eligibility determination and enrollment processes. - We specifically may use your email address to communicate with you about eligibility, enrollment, events, fundraising opportunities and other messages on other third-party platforms (like Facebook). If you do not wish for your information to be used in this way, you may contact us at to opt out. - To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it. - To carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts entered into between you and us, including for billing and collection. - To notify you about changes to our Website or any products or services we offer or provide though it. - To compile a subscription list to which you voluntarily submit your name, mailing address, and/or email address. You will have the ability to opt out of further communications. - In any other way we may describe when you provide the information. - For any other purpose with your consent. ### Links to Other Websites Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Start Early or Educare Lake County. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any linked website that you visit. ### Disclosure of Your Information We may disclose personal information that we collect or you provide as described in this privacy policy: - To our subsidiaries and affiliates. - To contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business and who are bound by contractual obligations to keep personal information confidential and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them. - To a buyer or other successor in the event of a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of Start Early’s assets, whether as a going concern or as part of bankruptcy, liquidation, or similar proceeding, in which personal information held by Start Early and Educare Lake County about our Website users is among the assets transferred. - To fulfill the purpose for which you provide it. - For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information. - With your consent. We may also disclose your personal information: - To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any government or regulatory request and other agreements, including for billing and collection purposes. - If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of Start Early, Educare Lake County, our customers, or others. ### Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information We respect your privacy and give you an opportunity to opt out of receiving communications from Start Early and Educare Lake County and/or having your personal information disclosed. To opt out, you may contact us at . ### Data Security We have taken certain physical, administrative, and technical steps to safeguard the information collected from and about You to help prevent unauthorized access, to maintain data security, and to ensure the proper use of information. More specifically, We secure personally identifiable information provided on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, utilize established firewalls, and employ internal policies aimed at protecting information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. When working with third parties We enter into appropriate non-disclosure or data security agreements, and our website uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. Although we have implemented reasonable and appropriate measures to safeguard against unauthorized disclosures, our security measures may not prevent all losses. In the event of security failures or disclosures which violate federal or state law, We will follow all notification requirements to make you aware of what happened and do our best to make it right. ### Changes to Our Privacy Policy It is our policy to post any changes we make to our privacy policy on this page. If we make material changes to how we treat our users’ personal information, we will post the changes on the Website and the new Privacy Policy will be effective immediately upon posting and will apply only to information collected thereafter. The date the privacy policy was last revised is identified at the top of the page. You are responsible for ensuring we have an up-to-date active and deliverable email address for you, and for periodically visiting our Website and this privacy policy to check for any changes. ### Contact Information If you have questions or concerns about this privacy policy and our privacy practices, contact us at: Start Early 1 N. Dearborn Street STE 700 Chicago, IL 60602 --- ### [Document Search](https://educarelakecounty.org/document-search/) **Published:** February 24, 2026 **Author:** start-early --- ### [Document Library](https://educarelakecounty.org/document-library/) **Published:** February 24, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** \[doc\_library\] --- ### [Terms of Use](https://educarelakecounty.org/terms-of-use/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Terms of Use ## Acceptance of the Terms of Use These terms of use are entered into by and between You and Start Early, on behalf of Educare Lake County, (**“Company,” “we,”** or **“us”**) an Illinois 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The following terms and conditions (**“Terms of Use”**) govern your access to and use of www.EducareLakeCounty.org, including any content, functionality and services offered on or through [**www.EducareLakeCounty.org**](https://www.educarelakecounty.org/) (the **“Website”**). Please read the Terms of Use carefully before you start to use the Website. By using the Website, you accept and agree to be bound and abide by these Terms of Use. If you do not want to agree to these Terms of Use, you must not access or use the Website. This Website is offered and available to users who are 18 years of age or older. By using this Website, you represent and warrant that you meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. If you do not meet all of these requirements, you must not access or use the Website. ### Changes to the Terms of Use We may revise and update these Terms of Use from time to time in our sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when we post them, and apply to all access to and use of the Website thereafter. Your continued use of the Website following the posting of revised Terms of Use means that you accept and agree to the changes. You are expected to check this page from time to time so you are aware of any changes, as they are binding on you. ### Accessing the Website and Account Security We reserve the right to withdraw or amend this Website, and any service or material we provide on the Website, in our sole discretion without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period. From time to time, we may restrict access to some parts of the Website, or the entire Website, to users, including registered users. You are responsible for both: - Making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to the Website. - Ensuring that all persons who access the Website through your internet connection are aware of these Terms of Use and comply with them. To access the Website or some of the resources it offers, you may be asked to provide certain registration details or other information. It is a condition of your use of the Website that all the information you provide on the Website is correct, current and complete. You agree that all information you provide to register with this Website or otherwise, including, but not limited to, through the use of any interactive features on the Website, is governed by [our Privacy Policy](https://educarelakecounty.org/privacy-policy/), and you consent to all actions we take with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy. ### Intellectual Property Rights The Website and its entire contents, features and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, video and audio, and the design, selection and arrangement thereof), are owned by the Company, its licensors or other providers of such material and are protected by United States copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. These Terms of Use permit you to use the Website for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store or transmit any of the material on our Website, except as follows: - Your computer may temporarily store copies of such materials in RAM incidental to your accessing and viewing those materials. - You may store files that are automatically cached by your Web browser for display enhancement purposes. - You may print or download one copy of a reasonable number of pages of the Website for your own personal, non-commercial use and not for further reproduction, publication or distribution. You must not: - Modify copies of any materials from this site. - Delete or alter any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from this site. You must not access or use for any commercial purposes any part of the Website or any services or materials available through the Website. If you wish to make any use of material on the Website other than that set out in this section, please address your request to: Info@StartEarly.org. If you print, copy, modify, download or otherwise use or provide any other person with access to any part of the Website in breach of the Terms of Use, your right to use the Website will cease immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the materials you have made. No right, title or interest in or to the Website or any content on the Website is transferred to you, and all rights not expressly granted are reserved by the Company. Any use of the Website not expressly permitted by these Terms of Use is a breach of these Terms of Use and may violate copyright, trademark and other laws. ### Trademarks The Company name, the Company logo and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans are trademarks of the Company or its affiliates or licensors. You must not use such marks without the prior written permission of the Company. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs and slogans on this Website are the trademarks of their respective owners. ### Prohibited Uses You may use the Website only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Use. You agree not to use the Website: - In any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the US or other countries). - For the purpose of exploiting, harming or attempting to exploit or harm minors in any way by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable information or otherwise. - To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use or re-use any material which does not comply with the **Content Standards** set out in these Terms of Use. - To transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material, including any “junk mail,” “chain letter,” “spam,” or any other similar solicitation. - To impersonate or attempt to impersonate the Company, a Company employee, another user or any other person or entity (including, without limitation, by using e-mail addresses associated with any of the foregoing). - To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone’s use or enjoyment of the Website, or which, as determined by us, may harm the Company or users of the Website, or expose them to liability. Additionally, you agree not to: - Use the Website in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair the site or interfere with any other party’s use of the Website, including their ability to engage in real time activities through the Website. - Use any robot, spider or other automatic device, process or means to access the Website for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Website. - Use any manual process to monitor or copy any of the material on the Website, or for any other purpose not expressly authorized in these Terms of Use, without our prior written consent. - Use any device, software or routine that interferes with the proper working of the Website. - Introduce any viruses, trojan horses, worms, logic bombs or other material which is malicious or technologically harmful. - Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage or disrupt any parts of the Website, the server on which the Website is stored, or any server, computer or database connected to the Website. - Attack the Website via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack. - Otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Website. ### User Contributions The Website may contain message boards, chat rooms, personal web pages or profiles, forums, bulletin boards, and other interactive features (collectively, **“Interactive Services”**) that allow users to post, submit, publish, display or transmit to other users or other persons (hereinafter, **“post”**) content or materials (collectively, **“User Contributions”**) on or through the Website. All User Contributions must comply with the Content Standards set out in these Terms of Use. Any User Contribution you post to the site will be considered non-confidential and non-proprietary. By providing any User Contribution on the Website, you grant us and our licensees, successors and assigns the right to use, reproduce, modify, perform, display, distribute and otherwise disclose to third parties any such material according to your account settings. You represent and warrant that: - You own or control all rights in and to the User Contributions and have the right to grant the license granted above to us and our licensees, successors and assigns. - All of your User Contributions do and will comply with these Terms of Use. You understand and acknowledge that you are responsible for any User Contributions you submit or contribute, and you, not the Company, have fully responsibility for such content, including its legality, reliability, accuracy and appropriateness. We are not responsible, or liable to any third party, for the content or accuracy of any User Contributions posted by you or any other user of the Website. ### Monitoring and Enforcement; Termination We have the right to: - Remove or refuse to post any User Contributions for any or no reason in our sole discretion. - Take any action with respect to any User Contribution that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such User Contribution violates the Terms of Use, including the Content Standards, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the Website or the public or could create liability for the Company. - Disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy. - Take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of the Website. - Terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Website for any violation of these Terms of Use. Without limiting the foregoing, we have the right to fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity or other information of anyone posting any materials on or through the Website. YOU WAIVE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE COMPANY FROM ANY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMPANY DURING OR AS A RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS AND FROM ANY ACTIONS TAKEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF INVESTIGATIONS BY EITHER THE COMPANY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES. However, we do not undertake to review material before it is posted on the Website, and cannot ensure prompt removal of objectionable material after it has been posted. Accordingly, we assume no liability for any action or inaction regarding transmissions, communications or content provided by any user or third party. We have no liability or responsibility to anyone for performance or nonperformance of the activities described in this section. ### Content Standards These content standards apply to any and all User Contributions and use of Interactive Services. User Contributions must in their entirety comply with all applicable federal, state, local and international laws and regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, User Contributions must not: - Contain any material which is defamatory, obscene, indecent, abusive, offensive, harassing, violent, hateful, inflammatory or otherwise objectionable. - Promote sexually explicit or pornographic material, violence, or discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age. - Infringe any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person. - Violate the legal rights (including the rights of publicity and privacy) of others or contain any material that could give rise to any civil or criminal liability under applicable laws or regulations or that otherwise may be in conflict with these Terms of Use and **[our Privacy Policy](https://educarelakecounty.org/privacy-policy/)**. - Be likely to deceive any person. - Promote any illegal activity, or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act. - Cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety or be likely to upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person. - Impersonate any person, or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person or organization. - Involve commercial activities or sales, such as contests, sweepstakes and other sales promotions, barter or advertising. - Give the impression that they emanate from or are endorsed by us or any other person or entity, if this is not the case. ### DMCA Copyright Notice and Takedown Policy If you are a copyright owner and you believe your work has been copied and used improperly on the Website, please contact our copyright agent. Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 512(c), to be effective, the notification to us must include the following information: (1) physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner; (2) description of the work you claim has been infringed and the description and location of the alleged infringement on the Website; (3) your contact information including address, telephone number and email address; (4) a written statement that you have a good faith belief the accused usage is infringing; and (5) a statement by you under penalty of perjury that the information in the notice is accurate and that you are duly authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner. You may contact our copyright agent by mail at Start Early, c/o Copyright Agent 1 N. Dearborn Street, STE 700, Chicago, IL 60602; by email at [**Compliance@Start Early.org**](mailto:Compliance@Start%20Early.org); or by phone at [312-453-1935](tel:3124531935). Please note that under Section 512(f) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material is infringing may be subject to liability. If you are unsure whether material on the Website is infringing, we suggest that you contact an attorney prior to sending notice. ### Reliance on Information Posted The information presented on or through the Website is made available solely for general information purposes. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of this information. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. We disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such materials by you or any other visitor to the Website, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. This Website may include content provided by third parties, including materials provided by other users, bloggers and third-party licensors, syndicators, aggregators and/or reporting services. All statements and/or opinions expressed in these materials, and all articles and responses to questions and other content, other than the content provided by the Company, are solely the opinions and the responsibility of the person or entity providing those materials. These materials do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Company. We are not responsible, or liable to you or any third party, for the content or accuracy of any materials provided by any third parties. ### Changes to the Website We may update the content on this Website from time to time, but its content is not necessarily complete or up-to-date. Any of the material on the Website may be out of date at any given time, and we are under no obligation to update such material. ### Information About You and Your Visits to the Website All information we collect on this Website is subject to **[our Privacy Policy](https://educarelakecounty.org/privacy-policy/)**. By using the Website, you consent to all actions taken by us with respect to your information in compliance with the Privacy Policy. ### Links from the Website If the Website contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your convenience only. This includes links contained in advertisements, including banner advertisements and sponsored links. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources, and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them. If you decide to access any of the third party websites linked to this Website, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites. ### Geographic Restrictions The owner of the Website is based in the State of Illinois in the United States. We provide this Website for use only by persons located in the United States. We make no claims that the Website or any of its content is accessible or appropriate outside of the United States. Access to the Website may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries. If you access the Website from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws. ### Disclaimer of Warranties You understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading from the internet or the Website will be free of viruses or other destructive code. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to our site for any reconstruction of any lost data. WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACK, VIRUSES OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT MAY INFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DATA OR OTHER PROPRIETARY MATERIAL DUE TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR TO YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON IT, OR ON ANY WEBSITE LINKED TO IT. YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY MAKES ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPLETENESS, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY OR AVAILABILITY OF THE WEBSITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY REPRESENTS OR WARRANTS THAT THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, ERROR-FREE OR UNINTERRUPTED, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT OUR SITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS OR THAT THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL OTHERWISE MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. ### Limitation on Liability TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES OR THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE WEBSITE, ANY WEBSITES LINKED TO IT, ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES, INCLUDING ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. ### Indemnification You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, licensors and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms of Use or your use of the Website, including, but not limited to, your User Contributions, any use of the Website’s content, services and products other than as expressly authorized in these Terms of Use, or your use of any information obtained from the Website. ### Notice Required By California Law Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1789.3, California residents are entitled to the following specific consumer rights notice: The name, address and telephone number of the provider of this service is Start Early, 1 N. Dearborn Street, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60602. Complaints regarding the service or requests to receive further information regarding use of this service may be sent to the above address or to [**Info@StartEarly.org**](mailto:Info@StartEarly.org) or [312-922-3863](tel:3129223863). The Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite N-112, Sacramento, CA 95834 or by telephone at [916-445-1254](tel:9164451254) or [800-952-5210](tel:8009525210). ### Governing Law and Jurisdiction All matters relating to the Website and these Terms of Use, and any dispute or claim arising therefrom or related thereto (in each case, including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction). Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of, or related to, these Terms of Use or the Website shall be instituted exclusively in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of Illinois, in each case located in the City of Chicago and County of Cook, although we retain the right to bring any suit, action or proceeding against you for breach of these Terms of Use in your country of residence or any other relevant country. You waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over you by such courts and to venue in such courts. ### Limitation on Time to File Claims ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF USE OR THE WEBSITE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES; OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED. ### Waiver and Severability No waiver of by the Company of any term or condition set forth in these Terms of Use shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and any failure of the Company to assert a right or provision under these Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent such that the remaining provisions of the Terms of Use will continue in full force and effect. ### Entire Agreement The Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy constitute the sole and entire agreement between you and Start Early with respect to the Website and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to the Website. ### Your Comments and Concerns This website is operated by Start Early, 1 N. Dearborn Street Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois 60602. All notices of copyright infringement claims should be sent to the copyright agent designated in the section titled “DMCA Copyright Notice and Takedown Policy” in the manner and by the means set forth therein. All other feedback, comments, requests for technical support and other communications relating to the Website should be directed to: . --- ### [Accessibility Policy](https://educarelakecounty.org/accessibility-policy/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Accessibility Policy ## Coming soon! --- ### [Handbook](https://educarelakecounty.org/handbook/) **Published:** January 30, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** # Handbook ## Coming soon! --- ## Teams ### [Tracey Mikasa](https://educarelakecounty.org/teams/tracey-mikasa/) **Published:** February 20, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** Tracey Mikasa is Managing Director of Strategy & Expansion at Start Early, the operating partner of Educare Lake County. --- ### [Pam Horan-Bussey](https://educarelakecounty.org/teams/pam-horan-bussey/) **Published:** February 20, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** Pam Horan-Bussey is the Family & Community Engagement Manager for Educare Lake County. --- ### [Yulissa Martinez](https://educarelakecounty.org/teams/yulissa-martinez/) **Published:** February 20, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** Yulissa Martinez is the Education Coordinator for Educare Lake County. --- ### [Tracy Ames](https://educarelakecounty.org/teams/tracy-ames/) **Published:** February 20, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Content:** Tracy Ames is the Site Administrator for Educare Lake County. --- ## Events ### [Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/martin-luther-king-jr-day-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Memorial Day - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/memorial-day-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Juneteenth - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/juneteenth-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Labor Day - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/labor-day-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Thanksgiving Break - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/thanksgiving-break-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Independence Day - No School](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/independence-day-no-school/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early **Event Categories:** Holidays, School Closure --- ### [Educare Lake County Groundbreaking](https://educarelakecounty.org/event/educare-lake-county-groundbreaking/) **Published:** February 18, 2026 **Author:** start-early --- ## Event Categories ### [Holidays](https://educarelakecounty.org/events/category/holidays/) --- ### [School Closure](https://educarelakecounty.org/events/category/school-closure/) ---