Florida child care assistance.

The program that helps Florida families pay for child care, who can apply, how to apply, and how providers take part. Last checked November 3, 2026.

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The program in Florida

WhatDetails
ProgramSchool readiness programSource: Florida Statutes 1002.87, School readiness program; eligibility and enrollment, The Florida Legislature. Checked November 3, 2026.
Run byFlorida Department of EducationSource: Florida Statutes 1002.81, Definitions, The Florida Legislature. Checked November 3, 2026.

For families: who can apply

For families: how to apply

For providers: how to take part

Questions about child care assistance in Florida

What is the child care assistance program in Florida called?

School readiness program. It is run by the Florida Department of Education.

Who can apply for child care assistance in Florida?

Children younger than 13 from working families that are economically disadvantaged can qualify. Economically disadvantaged means a family income that does not exceed 55 percent of the state median income. In a single-parent family, the parent must work or do eligible work or education activities at least 20 hours a week. Early learning coalitions enroll eligible children as funds allow, including children on a waiting list, in priority order.

How do families apply in Florida?

Families apply online through Florida’s child care financial assistance portal. Official page: https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/

How does a child care provider take part in Florida?

A provider must be a licensed child care facility, a licensed or registered family child care home, or another type the law lists. Child care staff must meet the state screening requirements and the training requirements of the Department of Education. A provider signs the standard statewide provider contract.

Sources

Every source is an official government page.

About this page

We read each source above on an official government site on November 3, 2026. Each fact links to the page it came from.

If a fact is not here, we could not read it on an official page, so we left it out.

Programs change their rules, limits and forms. Confirm with the agency before you apply or enroll as a provider.

This page is a summary of public information. Bloomily does not run these programs or decide who qualifies.

More about child care in Florida

Child care assistance in other states

Billing a family with a subsidy

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