The application for First Things First Scholarships for the 2026–2027 school year is now open! Please see the additional resources section at the bottom of this page for additional tuition support.
Chandler Unified School District's First Things First Lil' Explorers Scholarships provide opportunities for families to enroll their 2–4-year-old child in a high-quality early childhood program with free meals provided. Our learning environments nurture the emotional, social, and academic development of every child and prepares them for kindergarten.
Participating FTF Scholarship Sites (spaces at each site vary):
(click here to see the boundary map)
- Chandler High School
- Navarrete Elementary School
- Perry High School
Eligibility Criteria:
- Children must be at least 2 years old and no older than 5 years old (kindergarten eligible) to attend Lil' Explorers
- Child must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the U.S
- Families must meet the income guidelines below:
2026 Federal Poverty Levels (FPL)
| Family Size |
2
|
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8+ |
| 300% of FPL |
$64,920 |
$81,960 |
$99,000 |
$116,040 |
$133,080 |
$150,120 |
$167,160 |
TUITION RATES:
If a scholarship is awarded, tuition will be given at a discounted rate for families who meet the eligibility criteria.
How to Apply for 2026–2027 Scholarships:
Please follow all these steps completely. You will not be considered for a scholarship if the online registration is not submitted correctly.
1. Complete the online Quality First Lil' Explorers Scholarship application for the 2026–2027 school year:
2. Complete the Qualtrics Form and upload your 26/27 Quality First Scholarship Application and supporting documents.
3. Register in Arux and complete the steps below to finalize your scholarship application:
- Go to https://cusd80.arux.app and create an account or login to an existing account.
- After your account is created, choose "Lil' Explorers."
- Choose Season: "School Year 2026–2027."
- Choose your first choice for a location.
- Confirm your child's information or click "add a new child," then click "Looks good, start registering."
- Follow the on-screen instructions and fill out each section entirely to move on to the next page.
- You will have to put in a Credit Card to Submit - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED! (however, this payment type will be used for the monthly co-pay if approved).
- Once you submit, you will receive an email letting you know that your application has been submitted and your "contract is now pending."
3. Scholarships are limited and are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
4. After you submit your application and supporting documents through the Google Form, we will begin reviewing applications. In order to be considered for approval, you must have a completed application, including all supporting documents. If any supporting documents are missing, you will be contacted in the order in which your application was received and given 48 hours to gather the remaining supporting documents to finalize your application. If you do not meet the deadline, your spot may be forfeited.
Required Supporting Documentation: (subject to change)
Additional Information:
- Applications will be accepted online only. Follow the above "How To Apply" instructions or Call (480) 812-7846 with questions.
- Have questions regarding information on the application? Contact via email: Valley of the Sun United Way - Regional Scholarships or by telephone: 1-866-973-0012
- Have questions regarding CUSD's participating Lil' Explorers programs or registration process?
Contact:
Pat Berry - Chandler High School Lil' Explorers Site Coordinator
(480)-812-7846
berry.patricia@cusd80.com
Heather Morcomb - Perry High School Lil' Explorers Site Coordinator
(480)-224-2937
morcomb.heather@cusd80.com
Additional Resources:
