Mayor Lurie Launches New Online Portal for Families to Sign Up for Childcare, Expanded Subsidies Now Available

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today launched a new online portal that makes it easier for San Francisco parents to access free and low-cost childcare and preschool, now accessible to more families with expanded subsidies under Mayor Lurie’s Family Opportunity Agenda. On the new Early Learning for All (ELFA) Parent Portal, parents can apply for childcare and preschool, find participating programs, and identify available financial assistance. And they will find more opportunities available, with dozens of providers in the process of joining the city’s ELFA network.

Under Mayor Lurie’s Family Opportunity Agenda, San Francisco is on track to be the first major city in the U.S. where every family with kids under five can access childcare. Earlier this year, the city made families earning up to 150% of area median income ($243,150 for a family of four) eligible for free care at one of more than 550 childcare providers in the ELFA network, and now, as of July 1, families earning up to 200% of area median income ($324,200 for a family of four) may qualify for a 50% tuition subsidy at these locations. This summer, the city made nearly 750 new early learning spots available in neighborhoods across the city, with a focus on spots for infants and toddlers.

“Through our Family Opportunity Agenda, we are bringing down the cost of living so families can build a life in San Francisco. Now, more families can access affordable childcare—and our new portal will make it easy,” said Mayor Lurie. “Making childcare affordable lifts a huge burden for parents and strengthens the future of our entire city.”

The ELFA Parent Portal replaces the city’s old portal that was created nearly a decade ago. It gives families a single convenient website where they can check their eligibility, submit an application, and search for programs based on location, schedule, language, and other preferences.

As more families take advantage of the expanded childcare offerings, the city is preparing to bring at least 30 new childcare providers into the ELFA network—increasing the number of providers in the network by 5%. The expansion reflects the city’s continued focus on adding spots for infants and toddlers, the population for whom capacity is already most constrained.

“Expanding eligibility for low-cost childcare is a major step toward making San Francisco more affordable for families, but the benefit only works if families can find it, understand it, and use it,” said Ingrid Mezquita, San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Executive Director. “We looked closely at the parent experience and designed a new portal that makes it easier for families to access childcare. Families can now start in one place, see whether they may qualify, apply online, and connect with programs through a more coordinated process.

With the ELFA network now comprising nearly 70% of the city's licensed infant and toddler care capacity, the city is working to create new childcare seats in addition to bringing existing providers into the network. Following the city’s investments in new facilities, seven new sites are expected to open in Fiscal Year 2026-27, adding licensed capacity for 274 children. The Department of Early Childhood is also partnering with established ELFA providers to expand and, where feasible, convert preschool classrooms to serve infants and toddlers, where the need for additional capacity is greatest. Six family childcare expansions will add 36 spaces, and one classroom conversion will add another 12 spaces, for a total of 48 new spaces in the fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the ELFA network supported 9,152 children, up 25% from 7,308 in Fiscal Year 2022-23.