Resources — Choosing a Daycare, Subsidies & State Directories

State Directories

Browse Childery's licensed childcare providers in every U.S. state.

Choosing a Daycare

Every state sets its own minimum teacher-to-child ratios, group sizes, and teacher qualifications — and those minimums are looser than what NAEYC recommends. Pick your state for a parent-action checklist: how to read the state quality rating, how to check for national accreditation, and what to ask on a tour.

51 states covered so far. Each page covers the state QRIS, national accreditation, ratios, group sizes, lead-teacher credentials, and questions to bring on a tour.

State Rankings

Side-by-side rankings of every U.S. state on the metrics that most affect a parent's child care choice — minimum classroom ratios, required teacher qualifications, subsidy access, tax credits, and quality-rating participation. Every page cites its primary sources and the date the data was last refreshed.

Cost of Daycare

What daycare actually costs in the United States — typically $6,500–$15,600 a year for one child, with the most expensive U.S. counties topping $27,000. Includes the share of family income, the multi-child math, why daycare costs what it does, and five levers parents actually control.

Read the full breakdown

Subsidies & Financial Assistance

Every state runs its own child care subsidy program on top of a federal floor. Pick your state below for the actual eligibility ceiling, copay rule, waitlist status, state pre-K, and state tax credits — or scroll down for the four federal programs every family can use.

Child Care Affordability Calculator

Enter your income and household size to instantly see your subsidy eligibility, estimated copay, and tax credit savings.

Try it →

Find help in your state

51 states covered. Each page shows the program name, agency, income ceiling, copay rule, waitlist status, state pre-K, and any state tax credits — sourced from the state portal.

Federal programs every family can use

These four programs work the same in all 50 states and DC. Your state may layer additional benefits on top — see your state page for those.

CCDF — Child Care and Development Fund

Federal block grant that funds every state's child care subsidy program.

Who it's for: Working/learning parents at or below 85% State Median Income (the federal ceiling). Most states set lower thresholds.
What you get: Voucher or contract slot at a participating provider; family copay capped at 7% of income under the 2024 Final Rule.
How to apply: Through your state's program — pick your state above. childcare.gov also has a state-by-state directory.

Head Start & Early Head Start

Free, federally funded preschool (Head Start, ages 3–5) and infant/toddler care (Early Head Start, 0–3).

Who it's for: Families at or below the federal poverty line, or categorically eligible (homeless, foster, TANF/SSI). Special-needs children prioritized.
What you get: Free year-round or school-year child care plus health, nutrition, and family-support services.
How to apply: Find a local program at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator or call 1-866-763-6481.

Federal Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC)

Federal income tax credit for child care expenses paid so you can work or look for work.

How much: 20–35% of up to $3,000 of expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more — max $1,050 / $2,100. Non-refundable.
Who it's for: Filers with earned income who paid for care for a child under 13 (or a disabled dependent of any age).
How to claim: IRS Form 2441 with your federal return. Many states layer their own CDCC on top — see your state page.

Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)

Employer-offered pre-tax account for child care expenses — a payroll-deduction benefit, not a tax credit.

How much: $5,000 per household per year ($2,500 if married filing separately). The 2025 OBBBA raised the cap to $7,500 starting TY2026, but uptake depends on your employer's plan.
Who it's for: Employees whose employer offers a DCFSA. Most affordable for families paying $5K+/year in care who can predict their expenses.
How to enroll: During open enrollment with your employer. You generally can't combine DCFSA dollars and the federal CDCC on the same dollar of expense.

Subsidy programs change every legislative session — income tables get re-indexed each fall, waitlists open and close, and state tax credits shift. Childery's state pages list a “Data current as of” date plus the underlying state sources, so you can confirm any figure against the state portal before relying on it. If you spot something outdated, let us know.

Report a Violation

If something happened at your child's daycare and you don't feel it was handled properly, every state has an agency you can report it to. Our guide walks you through what to write down, when to go straight to the state, and what happens after you file.

How to Report a Daycare — Complete Guide

What to document, when to go straight to the state, how to file, and what happens after you report.

Read the guide →