San Francisco Department of Early Childhood

08/19/2026

KQED just published an article of how San Francisco's Early Learning For All (ELFA) works, and it might just answer questions you've had about the program.

It covers all three levels of tuition support (free tuition, full tuition credit, and a 50% discount), who qualifies based on household size and income, and how to sign up and browse the nearly 560 early learning programs in our network to find the right fit for your family.

San Francisco is the first city in the country to offer this kind of comprehensive early childhood education support for children under 5, and we know figuring out if you qualify and how to apply isn't always simple.

Here's the link to the article and share with your friends and family who may also find it helpful:

San Francisco is the first U.S. city to offer a robust early childhood education program for children under 5. Here’s how families can opt into its Early Learning For All system.

08/18/2026

There are ongoing eligibility changes for Medi-Cal and Calfresh. Watch the video on how you can stay informed and reach out to SF San Francisco Human Services Agency for support.

Please know that this does not change the benefits and services of Family Resource Centers.

08/05/2026

With the recent expansion of ELFA eligibility, families can now access one of three levels of support, depending on your household size, income, and your child’s age.

The income limits are higher than many people realize, so it’s worth checking for your family.

You can find out if you qualify in just a few minutes by visiting sf.gov/childcare

07/28/2026

On Friday, DEC joined Wu Yee Children's Services to celebrate the opening of a renovated outdoor play space at the Kirkwood Early Learning Center in Bayview–Hunters Point.

Outdoor play is such an important part of early learning. It gives young children the space to build strength and confidence, explore, and connect with nature. With this renovated play area, Kirkwood’s children now have even more opportunities to learn and grow beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to Wu Yee Children’s Services, and thanks to everyone who played a part in bringing this project to life: San Francisco Housing Authority, Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF), San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, CAL FIRE, and Head Start

📍 729 Kirkwood Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

07/27/2026

Wondering if your family qualifies for free or low-cost child care and preschool? 🤔

Early Learning For All (ELFA) recently expanded eligibility, so more San Francisco families may now qualify including families who didn't qualify before because their income was too high. How much support you get depends on your household size, income, and your child's age.

Swipe through our guide to see the three levels of financial support ELFA offers:
👉 Free Tuition: No cost for covered care once enrolled at a participating ELFA program
👉 Full Tuition Credit: Covers the full ELFA credit amount
👉 Half Tuition Credit: Covers 50% of the ELFA credit amount

Eligibility for tuition support does not guarantee an opening at a particular program.

And if you missed it: last week we launched an ELFA Parent Portal on sf.gov, so you can easily search participating programs by zip code, child's age, and care needs.

Visit sf.gov/childcare to see whether you may qualify, apply for tuition support, and search for participating programs.

07/20/2026

Applying for Early Learning for All (ELFA) just got a whole lot simpler for San Francisco families! 🎉

ELFA is expanding free and lower-cost child care across the city, and more families than ever can now qualify. The amount of support you get is based on household size, income, and your child's age.

Families can now search for participating programs through our brand-new ELFA site on sf.gov, filtering by zip code/location, child's age, care needs, and program information.

Check out our 4-step guide to learn how to apply!

Know a family who could benefit from this? Share this post or tag a friend who's navigating child care right now! 👇

07/08/2026

Over the last two months, our Celebrating Young Children (C*C) series brought free, family-friendly events to Family Resource Centers across San Francisco:

🎡 Balboa Family Carnival at Balboa Park (Family Connections Centers)
🌸 AAPI Families Wonderfest at Gordon J Lau Elementary School(Gum Moon)
🌊 Bayview Family Festival at India Basin Waterfront Park (Support For Families Of Children With Disabilities)
☀️ Visitacion Valley Summer Soiree at Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park (Family Connections Centers)
🎪 Safe & Sound Family Carnival in Bayview (Safe & Sound)

C*C is a chance for families to connect, have fun, and feel part of each community.

Thank you to every family who joined us and to every partner who made it all happen. Here's to celebrating the littlest San Franciscans and all the caregivers who love them. We can't wait to do it all again! 💛

Swipe through to catch all the smiles from this season's C*C events! 😃

07/06/2026

One City Day is almost here.

There is still time to sign up and take part in this citywide day of service on July 11.

Bring a friend, join with your neighbors, or sign up as a group. We would love to see you there.

Sign up: https://www.sf.gov/one-city -day-saturday-july-11-2026

06/30/2026

This is what Bloom Shaboom looks like.

Our 5th Annual neighborhood block party brought the Portola together on May31 for a free day of arts and crafts, gardening, carnival games, face painting, and live music from DJ KG.

The San Francisco Public Library hosted story time, the Sf Bike Coalition led bike skills activities, and families filled the block from start to finish.

Our Executive Director, Ingrid Mezquita, joined the celebration and shared why this work matters to the community we serve.

Scroll through for some of our favorite moments from the day. Thank you to everyone who came out, and to the partners who helped make the day
possible.