K.C. Sun & Stars
Admissions & Tuition
Welcome to Our Admissions Hub
We understand that choosing the right early childhood center is a monumental decision for your family. We strive to make our admissions process as straightforward, transparent, and stress-free as possible. Below, you will find our step-by-step enrollment guide, tuition details, and direct links to Illinois state child care financial assistance programs.
Our Simple 3-Step Enrollment Process
Step 1: Schedule a Private Tour
We want to meet you! Every family begins their journey with a private, in-person tour of our facilities. This gives you the opportunity to see our blended classrooms in action, meet our certified educators, and ask specific questions.
Schedule Your Private Tour TodayStep 2: Submit Your Digital Application
Following your tour, if you decide our school is the perfect fit, we will send you a digital invitation via email or text to apply. Alternatively, you can click the application link at the bottom of this page to submit your details directly to our admissions queue.
Step 3: Secure Your Spot & Onboard via Brightwheel
Once your application is approved and a spot is offered, your entire onboarding experience happens securely inside the Brightwheel app. You will receive a digital link to complete your enrollment packet, upload necessary Illinois medical/immunization records, and set up your automated tuition payment profile. No paper, no hassle.
Financial Assistance & State Subsidies
We believe that high-quality early childhood education should be accessible to all working families. Our center proudly accepts state financial assistance and partners with Illinois childcare subsidy networks to help lower out-of-pocket costs.
Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), CCAP helps working families and students pay for childcare for children up to age 13. Eligibility is based on your household size, gross monthly income, and activity schedule.
- How it Works: If approved for CCAP, the state of Illinois pays a significant portion of your childcare costs directly to our center. Your family will only be responsible for a predictable, state-assigned monthly co-payment.
- Check Your Eligibility: You can instantly see if your family qualifies by using the official Illinois Cares for Kids Eligibility Calculator.
- How to Apply: Applying for assistance is fully digital and can be completed from any smartphone, tablet, or computer. New families can submit their materials directly through the online portal at Illinois Digital CCAP Application.
Need Help Navigating Subsidies?
Our administrative team is here to assist you through every step of your application paperwork. If you are working with a local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency or community partner like Illinois Action for Children, please let us know during your initial tour so we can properly route your paperwork.
Tuition & Investment
To provide the highest quality care, maintain strict Illinois DCFS ratios, and equip our classrooms with modern learning materials, standard out-of-pocket tuition is structured as a predictable monthly or weekly investment.
Schedule Options & Programs
We offer both Full-Time and Part-Time schedules to support busy working families.
- Full-Time Schedule: Monday through Friday (Full-Day)
- Part-Time Schedules: 2-Day (Tuesday/Thursday) or 3-Day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) options.
Note: For exact, up-to-date tuition figures and co-pay brackets based on your child's age group and your preferred schedule, please download our comprehensive Tuition Rate Sheet below.
Download Current Tuition Rate Sheet (PDF)Smart, Secure Billing via Brightwheel
We believe that managing your child's childcare expenses should be effortless. That is why our center uses Brightwheel for all billing and invoicing.
What this means for your family:
- Seamless Subsidy Tracking: If your family receives Illinois CCAP, Brightwheel cleanly tracks the state's portion versus your parent co-payment so your balance is always crystal clear.
- Flexible Payment Methods: Securely pay co-payments or standard tuition via ACH bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
- Optional Autopay: Set it and forget it. Enable autopay to ensure your portion is paid on time, completely eliminating late fees.
- On-Demand Receipts: Access your billing history and instantly download year-end tax statements (Form 2441) directly from your phone.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Open Enrollment vs. Waitlist
We accept applications year-round. If a classroom is currently at maximum Illinois DCFS capacity, approved applicants - including subsidy recipients - will be placed on our priority waitlist in the order their application was received.
Start Your Digital Application Now