CityWide Cultural Access Program for Schools
Partner with Cool Culture to bring arts, learning and joy to your school’s families.
Eligibility and Enrollment
Enrollment for schools for the 2026-2027 program year is now open for returning partners and will be opening in July 2026 for new partners. You can learn more about enrollment and prepare for our next program year by checking out our Enrollment Guide + FAQs.
Eligibility
Your school is eligible to be a Cool Culture partner if you are:
- A school that receives Title I funding
- A school that serves at least 60% of students in grades 2K, 3K, UPK, up to the 3rd grade.
- A school that serves at least 60% of families from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.
- A District Pre-K Center that serves that least 60% of families from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (please refer to the % of race/ethnicity and any other DOE indicators that your school may use) Enrollment Pricing
- Your elementary school pays a flat fee of $3,950 for the school year.
Key Family Application Deadlines & Pass Distribution Dates
School/Center Enrollment: Your school or child care center enrolls with Cool Culture by November 20, 2026.
Family Registration: Families at enrolled schools and centers will be able to register for the Family Pass from August 3, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Family Pass: Family Passes are distributed to your school or center from October through January, depending on when you filled out the family application form. The pass is valid at nearly 90 cultural partners through December 31, 2027.
Partner Enrollment Round | Enrollment Date |
|---|---|
June 24 – Nov 20 | Enrollment Opens for ALL Partners (New & Returning partners) |
After Nov 20 | *Please inquire with staff before applying
|
Family Application Round | Pass Distribution Date |
|---|---|
August 2026 | Family Registration Opens
The family Registration Period is on a rolling basis and passes are printed based on application submission date.
Each Family must complete the Family Registration Form in order to receive a family pass. Each pass is printed and customized based on the information received on the Family Registration Form. |
1st Round: Aug 3 – Sept 30 | Passes distributed in Mid October |
2nd Round: Oct 1 – Oct 31 | Passes distributed Mid November |
3rd Round: Nov 1 – Nov 30 | Passes distributed Mid December |
Final Round: Dec 1 – Dec 31 | Passes distributed Mid January |
2024
July 31st 2024 – November 2024 | Centers and Schools apply to enroll with Cool Culture. New Partners begin enrollment at the conclusion of August 2024. |
|---|---|
September 9 | Family Registration Opens
The family Registration Period is on a rolling basis and passes are printed based on application submission date. Each Family must complete the Family Registration Form in order to receive a family pass. Each pass is printed and customized based on the information received on the Family Registration Form. |
September 9 – October 4 | 1st Round of Family Registration at Your Center or School (ONLY centers and schools enrolled by August 31 can sign up families; Family Passes will be distributed by late October) |
Late October | Family Passes are distributed to your center or school from the 1st Registration Round Family Passes from the 1st Registration round are printed and distributed to partners through mailing. Only applications submitted and approved between Sept 9th – Oct 4th will be distributed. |
October 5 – November 4 | 2nd Round of Family Registration
(All enrolled centers and schools can sign up families; Family Passes will be distributed in Late November) |
Late November | Family Passes are distributed to your center or school from the 2nd Registration RoundFamily Passes from the 2nd Registration round are printed and distributed to partners through mailing. Only applications submitted and approved between Oct 5th – Nov 4th will be distributed. |
November 5 – January 3 | 3rd Round of Family Registration (All enrolled centers and schools can sign up their families; Family Passes will be distributed in Late January) |
2025
Late January | Family Passes are distributed to your center or school from the 3rd Registration Round Family Passes from the 3rd Registration round are printed and distributed to partners through mailing. Only applications submitted and approved between Nov 5th – Jan 3rd will be distributed. |
|---|---|
January 4 – 31 | 4th (FINAL) Round of Family Registration (All enrolled centers and schools can sign up their families; Family Passes will be distributed in Late February) |
Late February | Family Passes are distributed to your center or school from the 4th Registration Round Family Passes from the 4th and FINAL Registration round are printed and distributed to partners through mailing. Only applications submitted and approved between Jan 4th – Jan 31st will be distributed. |
July 2025 | Early enrollment for centers and schools open to secure their place in the next academic year |
October 31, 2025 | Current Family Passes expire |
About the Cultural Access Program
What does my school receive?
Family Passes for free general admission to NYC cultural institutions, Cool Culture Family Festivals, and more programs designed to harness the power of arts and culture, and art-making and wellbeing resources will be available with your school’s enrollment.
What’s my program’s role?
All of our participating schools will have access to an array of creative and helpful resources that will guide administrators and educators to:
- Register and distribute family passes and prepare families for visits to the Cultural Institutions.
- Co-design experiences and activities for our annual Bring The Cool Family Festival.
- Create projects that engage and build family engagement.
- Empower families and communities to become civically engaged in dialogues that acknowledge critical community issues and foster creative opportunities to address them.
What is a Cultural Liaison, and how do I select them?
The Cultural Liaison is integral in supporting Family Pass usage, serving as the primary contact between your school and Cool Culture.
Each school must identify a staff member to serve as their Cultural Liaison. They must:
Be responsive to email correspondence
Manage the administrative details of the enrollment and payment process
Keep their colleagues and families at the center informed about Cool Culture happenings
Work with Cool Culture staff to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Choose someone who enjoys the arts and cultural events and wants to support your school and its families in increasing engagement with culturally enriching experiences. Ideally, they are in good standing within the community and have a positive relationship with both the children and their adult caregivers at your school. This leadership role also calls for someone who will enjoy leading family creative workshops and act as a voice for your school community by conveying its needs, interests, and concerns.
Did You Know?
Cool Culture is aligned with national, state and local Learning Standards. Our Citywide Cultural Access Program is aligned with DOE EarlyLearn requirements for community partnerships and family engagement, Blueprint for the Arts, and NYS Pre-K Learning Standards in social-emotional development and approaches to learning. Further, our programs, pedagogical frameworks, and practices are rooted in Cool Culture’s social justice values and situates families at the center of our work.
Did You
Know?
Cool Culture is aligned with national, state and local Learning Standards. Our Citywide Cultural Access Program is aligned with DOE EarlyLearn requirements for community partnerships and family engagement, Blueprint for the Arts, and NYS Pre-K Learning Standards in social-emotional development and approaches to learning. Further, our programs, pedagogical frameworks, and practices are rooted in Cool Culture’s social justice values and situates families at the center of our work.