Mayor Lurie Announces Major Expansion Of Free And Low-Cost Childcare With Hundreds Of New Spots For Families With Infants And Toddlers

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced a major expansion of free and low-cost childcare for San Francisco families, a significant step under his Family Opportunity Agenda to make San Francisco the first U.S. city to ensure every family with children under five years old has access to childcare and save families tens of thousands of dollars every year. Beginning this summer, nearly 750 new early learning spots will become available, with a focus on infants and toddlers, in neighborhoods across the city, including the Sunset, Parkside, Richmond, Mission, Bayview, Portola, Mission Bay, Excelsior, Glen Park, and SoMa. The new slots will expand the city’s early childhood system for infants and toddlers by more than 8%—broadening access to affordable, high-quality childcare for working families as the city opens applications for more providers to join the Department of Early Childhood’s (DEC) Early Learning for All (ELFA) network.

The significant expansion builds on Mayor Lurie’s investment in free and low-cost childcare through his Family Opportunity Agenda. In January, he announced a plan to leverage unspent 2018 Proposition C (“Baby C”) dollars to broaden childcare access for San Francisco families, making it free for those earning under 150% of area median income ($230,000 for a family of four) and providing a 50% subsidy for those earning under 200% of area median income ($310,000 for a family of four), who will be newly eligible for financial assistance.

Under his Family Opportunity Agenda, Mayor Lurie is continuing the work his administration has done through the Family Zoning plan and support for families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to make housing, childcare, education, food, health care, and transportation more affordable for San Franciscans and alleviate some of the largest expenses for families, young people, and workers.

“In January, we launched the Family Opportunity Agenda and committed to bring down the cost of living for families across the city. And today I am proud to announce a major expansion of free and low-cost childcare in San Francisco,” said Mayor Lurie. “When families have access to quality, affordable childcare, they can stay and build a life in San Francisco. For children, it supports their academic and emotional growth long before kindergarten. And for our entire city, it strengthens our future—helping families stay and keeping our communities strong.”

Through ELFA, San Francisco connects families with trusted early learning programs and supports providers with public funding. As part of this expansion, the city is accelerating the process of inviting providers to join the ELFA network, especially those serving infants and toddlers, CalWORKS families, children with special needs, and families who have historically faced barriers to care. The application period, which usually does not begin until July, will open April 30 and close on June 30, 2026. The new spots will be created through a mix of family childcare 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.

“This is what a strong public system looks like,” said Ingrid X. Mezquita, DEC Executive Director. “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 city has also implemented quality standards for providers and introduced first-in-the-nation investments into early educator wages that help attract and retain the talent essential for student success—leading to better outcomes for San Francisco kids, including four straight years of growth in kindergarten readiness with an 11% increase since 2021. Infant and toddler enrollment has increased 135% since 2018, even as the number of young children in the city has declined. Children in special education are also making progress with 45% ready for kindergarten, and 58% of African American children are reaching kindergarten readiness.  

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. “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 ELFA system. From Preschool for All to EFLA, the city’s goal is to give every child a strong start and every family a chance to thrive in San Francisco.

Families interested in early learning support can learn more and begin the application process online or by contacting San Francisco’s local Resource and 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 can review the eligibility requirements, application criteria, and validation process and apply online.