A new tuition-free preschool from Jeff Bezos' Montessori network has opened inside a Glendale, Arizona, senior living center, raising questions about whether intergenerational learning models could help families squeezed by income limits and child care waitlists.
What's happening?
Founded in Washington state in 2020, Bezos Academy was created to broaden access to early childhood education in underserved communities. As the Arizona Republic reported, the Glendale location is the first Bezos Academy in the state that is not connected to an existing school.
The school enrolls children ages 3 to 5 and offers free tuition and meals to households at or below 400% of the federal poverty level — $132,000 for a family of four. Arizona ranks 45th nationally for public preschool enrollment among 4-year-olds, according to the 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook from Rutgers University's National Institute for Early Education Research.
Head Start serves households at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, while the Arizona Department of Economic Security reports waitlists involving 15,000 children and 9,000 families for child care assistance.
Kresta Horn, head of school at Bezos Academy Glendale - Sahuaro Glenn, said the higher income cap is intended to include children who might otherwise be missed and give them a chance to build important skills before kindergarten.
Here's what to know
Rather than operating on a traditional school site, the preschool is located at the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging, where leaders want residents to volunteer and form relationships with students that could benefit both generations.
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Tommy Medina, chief people officer for the Glencroft, said volunteer opportunities may be especially meaningful for residents who struggle with depression or do not have families of their own, giving them a chance to act as "surrogate grandparents." Horn added that residents can bring a lifetime of knowledge into those interactions.
Arizona's literacy rates have been declining, with Center for the Future of Arizona data showing third-grade reading proficiency at 36% in 2025, 10 percentage points below the 2019 pre-pandemic level. Horn said research shows adults who regularly read to children can support early development, and the school sees resident volunteers as one possible way to strengthen that effort.
Before enrollment, the school uses an Ages & Stages Questionnaire to get a clearer picture of each child's development, along with a model inspired by Montessori methods, which emphasize training the senses and guidance to encourage self-education, centered on one-on-one lessons and practical life skills.
More background
Horn said the school expects to have four classrooms by this month and one more in 2027, enough for 100 students by the 2027-28 school year.
School leaders are developing a resident volunteer system with possible roles, including reading to students, helping distribute lunches, supporting the garden, and displaying children's artwork. Staff is screening volunteers for factors such as required permits, child-safety paperwork, and whether they can comfortably handle an active preschool environment.
Kim Cortright, the school's instructional and inclusion family specialist, said the school also uses an orientation period and may connect families with services such as speech therapy at little or no cost.
What's being done?
Horn described the model this way: "Every resident has something to share if they want to share it, and we need to build into that."
Cortright said the challenge reaches beyond one campus. "I've seen teachers work really, really hard with not a lot and do their very best, and it still isn't enough for the kids," she said.
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at other Bezos-backed initiatives and the environments shaping young children.
• Jeff Bezos' philanthropy is also drawing scrutiny as activists warn of an attempt to take over climate agendas.
• As preschool models evolve, nature-based preschools are growing more popular with families seeking outdoor learning.
• In Finland, daycare redesigns are showing lasting impacts on children's health through more natural play spaces.
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