Mayor Lurie’s Family Opportunity Agenda Opens More Doors to Affordable Child Care Across San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced that San Francisco has begun opening 550+ new early learning spots for children across the city, expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care for working families and strengthening the city’s early childhood system.

The expansion is part of the Mayor’s Family Opportunity Agenda and will add child care options in neighborhoods across San Francisco, including Sunset, Parkside, Richmond, Mission, Bayview, Portola, Mission Bay, Excelsior, Glen Park, and SoMa. The new spots will be created through a mix of family child care homes and early learning centers, with a particular focus on infant and toddler care, one of the hardest and most expensive types of care for families to find.

“Too many San Francisco families are being forced to make impossible choices because child care is out of reach,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “We are doing something about it. This expansion means more spaces for children, more support for parents, and more opportunities for providers. It is an investment in our families, our workforce, and our future.”

The city is also broadening eligibility for early learning financial support, making assistance available to more working families. Families qualify based on household income, family size, their child's age, and San Francisco residency. Under the updated threshold which begins in July, a family of four earning up to approximately $317,000 a year, or twice the area median income, will be eligible for tuition assistance for the first time.

Through Early Learning For All, or ELFA, San Francisco connects families with trusted early learning programs and supports providers with public funding. As part of this expansion, the city is inviting providers to join the ELFA network during the open application period of April 30 – June 30, 2026, especially those serving infants and toddlers, CalWORKS families, children with special needs, and families who have historically faced barriers to care.

“This is what a strong public system looks like,” said Ingrid X. Mezquita, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood. “Families need access to care they can afford. Providers need a clear path into a system that supports quality and stability. And children need nurturing, high-quality settings where they can learn and grow from the start.”

San Francisco is investing deeply in early childhood this year, including $149 million in early learning, $58 million in the early childhood workforce, and nearly $11 million in facilities. Those investments are helping to expand enrollment, support providers, improve classroom quality, and ensure that early learning opportunities reach every part of the city.

The results are already visible. San Francisco has seen four straight years of growth in kindergarten readiness. Infant and toddler enrollment has increased 135% since 2018, even as the number of young children in the city has declined. English Learners are making progress, and African American children are reaching kindergarten readiness levels the city has not seen before.

The Department of Early Childhood is also investing in educators and providers. Nearly 78% of the department’s 147 trainings this year were offered in Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese, and coaches spent more than 9,000 hours working directly with early educators. Today, 93% of San Francisco neighborhoods have early childhood mental health consultants in their programs.

“Early Learning For All lets us do what matters most: care for families with trust and a true sense of belonging,” said Ben Wong, Executive Director of Wah Mei Children’s Center. “With this expansion, more families, especially those with little ones, can find early learning support right here in our neighborhood. When children are cared for by people their families know and trust, parents can go to work without worry, kids get the strong foundation they deserve, and our communities grow stronger.”

San Francisco has invested in early care and education for more than two decades. In 2004, voters committed local funding to early childhood programs, helping build the foundation for today’s Early Learning For All system. From Preschool for All to Early Learning For All, the goal remains the same: give every child a strong start and every family a real chance to thrive in San Francisco.

Families interested in early learning support can learn more and begin the application process at sf.gov/sfdec or by contacting San Francisco’s local Resource & Referral organizations: Children’s Council at (415) 343-3300 or Wu Yee Children’s Services at (844) 644-4300. Staff and community partners are available to help families in multiple languages online and by phone.

Providers interested in joining the city’s ELFA network are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements, application criteria, and validation process and apply at provider.sfdec.org/join-elfa/.