San Francisco Early Learning For All (ELFA)

San Francisco residents may also qualify for free or discounted child care and preschool through Early Learning For All (ELFA), run by the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood.

The program is for children from birth to age 5 and is paid for with a local business tax plus state and federal funds,¹ making the city the first in the U.S. to ensure universal access to early learning for children under five.

Families must live in San Francisco and enroll their child in a participating ELFA program. How much you receive depends on your gross income as a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI):¹

Family income	What you get	Example income limit
Up to 110% of AMI	Free tuition	$142,650 for a parent with one child
111% to 150% of AMI	Full tuition credit, though you may owe a co-pay and fees for extra hours	$218,850 for a family of three
151% to 200% of AMI	50% tuition discount, and you pay the rest plus any fees for extra hours	$291,800 for a family of three

For the 2026–27 fiscal year, a full tuition credit is worth up to $3,027 a month for an infant, $2,306 for a toddler and $2,115 for a preschooler. The 50% discount is worth about half of that. Some programs have waitlists, so ask the provider about openings.¹

You can apply online through the Department of Early Childhood portal , or through a Child Care Resource & Referral agency or an ELFA provider. Learn more at sf.gov/early-learning-for-all .

San Francisco Department of Early Childhood
Children’s Council Resource & Referral Line
(415) 343-3300

Sources & notes

Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

KQED, San Francisco Child Care Is Now Free or Discounted for Many Families. Here’s How to Apply and Who Qualifies , August 17, 2026. ↩ ↩² ↩³

San Francisco Early Learning For All (ELFA)

Footnotes