Child care grants in District of Columbia.

These are the grants the state runs for child care providers in District of Columbia. Each one links to its official page.

Checked on the official pages, November 4, 2026.

Who runs child care funding in District of Columbia

Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). It runs the DC Child Care Subsidy Program, with support from the DC Department of Human Services.Source: DC Child Care Subsidy Program Waitlist Policy (March 2026), Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Checked November 4, 2026.

Grants for child care providers in District of Columbia

Each grant as its official page describes it, with the day we read that page.

  • Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund

    • Staff and workforce
    • Centers and home daycares
    Who can apply
    Providers must run a child care facility licensed by OSSE for infants, toddlers or preschoolers.
    What it pays for
    OSSE pays providers directly so they can raise pay for early childhood educators.
    When to apply
    New providers can email OSSE to apply. A waiting list may be in effect. The page said this on November 4, 2026.
    Source: Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund: Frequently Asked Questions for Child Care Providers (September 2026), Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Checked November 4, 2026.

  • DC Leading Educators toward Advanced Degrees (DC LEAD)

    • Staff and workforce
    • Child care staff
    Who can apply
    Educators at licensed DC child care facilities who study to meet education rules can apply.
    What it pays for
    Scholarships cover tuition and books for college courses.
    When to apply
    Check the official page for the current window.
    Source: OSSE FY25-26 Performance Oversight Pre-Hearing Question Responses, Council of the District of Columbia (responses from OSSE). Checked November 4, 2026.

  • CDA Training and Preparation Program

    • Staff and workforce
    • Child care staff
    Who can apply
    Assistant teachers and associate home caregivers can take CDA coursework for free.
    What it pays for
    Grantees help educators finish the CDA process and can cover the credential application cost.
    When to apply
    Check the official page for the current window.
    Sources: OSSE FY25-26 Performance Oversight Pre-Hearing Question Responses, Council of the District of Columbia (responses from OSSE); Virtual Information Session for Early Childhood Educators (December 2024), Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Checked November 4, 2026.

Before you apply

  1. Read who can apply. Some grants need a license, a quality rating or a subsidy agreement first.
  2. Check the window on the official page. Grants open and close.
  3. Read what the money can pay for, and keep receipts for every cost.
  4. Ask what you must report after you get the money.
  5. Apply only through the official page or the office it names.

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More for providers in District of Columbia

Questions, answered

Are there child care grants in District of Columbia?

This page lists 3 grants the state runs for providers. Each one links to its official page.

Who runs child care funding in District of Columbia?

Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). It runs the DC Child Care Subsidy Program, with support from the DC Department of Human Services.

Is there a grant to open a daycare in District of Columbia?

None of the grants we found on the state pages is for opening a new program. Check back for new rounds.

Who decides who gets a grant in District of Columbia?

The state or the agency that runs each grant decides who gets it. This page is a summary of public pages. It is not legal or tax advice.

About this page

Checked on the official pages, November 4, 2026.

If a grant is not here, we could not read it on an official page.

Grants open and close. Confirm every detail on the official page before you apply.

The state or the agency that runs each grant decides who gets it.

This page is a summary of public pages. It is not legal or tax advice.

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