Help paying for child care in Palo Alto

For many Palo Alto families, child care is the largest monthly bill after housing. Full-time care for an infant is among the most expensive kinds. Waitlists for subsidized slots can be long. Several programs exist to help, from a city-funded subsidy to state and federal programs. Each has its own rules, so most families apply to more than one.

This page is informational. It describes programs as the City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto Community Child Care (PACCC) and the Santa Clara County Office of Education publish them as of November 2026. Income limits change every year and funding can run out, so confirm with each program. For a guide to the types of care and how to check a provider's license, see our preschools and childcare guide.

The programs at a glance

The City of Palo Alto subsidy

The city's child care resources page says it provides subsidy assistance for income-eligible residents, administered by Palo Alto Community Child Care. PACCC is a local nonprofit that runs centers and after-school programs around town. Its financial aid page sets out the rules.

Who qualifies

The parent or guardian must meet one of these conditions:

• live in Palo Alto;
• work for the City of Palo Alto;
• have a child attending Palo Alto Unified through the Voluntary Transfer Program.

The parent must also be employed, a student in an accredited program or unable to care for the child because of a disability. Household income must fall under these 2026 to 2027 limits:

Families of seven or more should email [email protected].

State-funded care through PACCC

PACCC also places families in care paid for by the California Department of Education. Any California resident can qualify if the family falls under the state income limit and has a need. PACCC lists these needs: employed, seeking employment, homeless or referred by Child Protective Services, a student in an accredited program or unable to provide care because of a disability.

Notice that the state limit is higher than the city limit for families of four or more. A family that misses one program may fit the other.

PACCC scholarships

PACCC offers its own scholarship for families slightly above the state or city limits, families who have lost income and families with a teen parent. Contact [email protected] to ask.

How to apply to PACCC

1. Review the funding rules and income limits on the financial aid page.
2. Log in to PACCC's Family Portal or create an account. Then complete the enrollment application.
3. A subsidy specialist contacts you to confirm eligibility. If funding is not available, you go on a waitlist.

The county's Alternative Payment Program

If you would rather choose your own provider, including a smaller family child care home, the Alternative Payment (AP) Program pays part of the cost. It covers children from birth through 12. The county's Child Care Resource and Referral program lists two AP agencies: Choices for Children at 408-297-3295, ext. 0 and Go Kids, Inc. at 831-637-9205.

Its posted income ceilings for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 run from $6,860 a month for a family of one or two to $9,020 for a family of four and $12,447 for a family of eight. Families must also show a need, such as work, job seeking, school or training, homelessness, a CPS referral, a CalWORKs Stage 2 referral or a parent who cannot provide care.

Expect paperwork before services start: proof of income, children's immunization records and proof of family size such as birth certificates. The county says the waitlist is not first come, first served. Families with an open CPS case or children at risk get priority. Others are ranked by income and family size. The county warns that wait times can be indefinite. Apply early and keep your contact details current.

CalWORKs child care

CalWORKs is California's cash aid and work program for families with children. Families in CalWORKs can get help paying for child care while they work or attend approved activities. California usually describes CalWORKs child care in stages, with responsibility shifting from the county to Alternative Payment agencies as a family moves toward stable work. The county's resource and referral page lists a CalWORKs Stage 2 referral as one of the needs that qualifies a family for AP care.

The City of Palo Alto lists the county Social Services Agency at (408) 758-3800 for CalWORKs. Ask your caseworker about child care as soon as you enroll.

Head Start, state preschool and transitional kindergarten

The county's paying for care page describes several subsidized early learning programs:

• Head Start and Early Head Start: federally funded programs for low-income children from birth to age five. They include learning plus medical, dental, mental health, nutrition and social services, with a strong focus on parent involvement.
• California State Preschool Program: part-day and full-day preschool run by school districts, colleges, community action agencies and nonprofits.
• General Child Care and Development: state and federally funded centers and family child care networks for children from birth through 12.

The county lists Palo Alto Unified among the providers of subsidized early learning programs. Call the Resource and Referral program at (669) 212-5437 to find out which Head Start and state preschool sites near Palo Alto have openings.

Transitional kindergarten, the first year of a two-year kindergarten program, is free in public schools. The city publishes a fact sheet comparing preschool with school-based TK. Our public schools guide covers PAUSD enrollment.

After-school care and summer

The city administers contracts for after-school care at 12 PAUSD elementary schools. Partners include PACCC, Right at School and Kids Choice. For questions about the district's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, PACCC lists a PAUSD contact on its financial aid page. Summer camps fill fast; see our summer camps guide for dates and costs.

Finding and checking licensed care

• Resource and Referral: the county program at (669) 212-5437 or [email protected] helps families search licensed providers, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• State license search: look up any program on the state Community Care Licensing Division site.
• City list: the city posts a list of licensed centers and family homes, updated April 2026. It notes that it does not license, screen or endorse any provider.
• City Office of Human Services: (650) 463-4906 at Cubberley Community Center.

Families with young children may also qualify for WIC and CalFresh. Our food assistance guide explains both. The city's utility discount now reaches households up to 80 percent of area median income; see utility bill help. For children's coverage through Medi-Cal or Covered California, see our health insurance guide.

Frequently asked questions