Child Care Subsidies & Assistance in Alaska
Alaska's Child Care Assistance (CCAP/PASS) covers families up to 85% of state median income with a sliding-scale copay above 60% SMI. Alaska has no state income tax — no state Child & Dependent Care Credit. State pre-K is limited; under 10% of 4-year-olds enrolled.
Data current as of May 21, 2026
See what you'd actually pay
Enter your income and household size to get an instant estimate of your copay, tax credits, and total savings in Alaska.
Child care subsidy (CCDF) in Alaska
- Program name
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) — also known as Parents Achieving Self-Sufficiency (PASS), with four tiers: PASS I (TANF), PASS II (transitional), PASS III (general low-to-moderate income), PASS IV (children in OCS protective services)
- Administered by
- Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office
- Income ceiling
- Family income up to 85% of State Median Income (SMI). Senate Bill 189 (signed 2024) funds an expansion to 105% SMI and a 7% income copay cap, pending federal approval and implementation in the FY 2026 budget.
- Family fee / copay
- Families with income above 60% of State Median Income pay a sliding-scale copay set by family size, income, and number of children in care. SB 189 (2024) funds a move to a 7% income cap, not yet implemented.
- Waitlist status
- No typical waitlist — No statewide waitlist. Supply — especially in rural and remote regions — is the binding constraint on access, not subsidy funding.
Income limits by family size
| Family size | Income ceiling (85% SMI, annual) |
|---|---|
| 3 | $74,304 |
| 4 | $88,464 |
- Income ceiling (85% SMI, annual): Maximum gross household income for CCAP eligibility at initial application.
Monthly figures from the federal ACF January 2025 CCDF Family Income Eligibility Levels by State table (85% SMI). Annualized for display. Effective January 1, 2025; check the state portal for the latest figures.
Priority groups (served first)
- Families receiving TANF / cash assistance (PASS I)
- Children in Office of Children's Services (OCS) protective custody (PASS IV)
State pre-K in Alaska
- Program name
- Alaska Pre-Elementary Grant (PEG) program
- Administered by
- Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
- Access
- Limited / pilot
- Eligibility
- Offered through participating school districts only. Ages 3–5; districts target school-readiness populations. Eligibility and seat availability vary by district.
- Coverage
- FY 2025 awarded approximately $3.2 million to 9 of 22 applicant districts. Fewer than 10% of Alaska 4-year-olds are served by state pre-K (NIEER).
State tax credits & extras in Alaska
- State CDCC
- Alaska does not offer a state Child and Dependent Care Credit. Alaska has no state personal income tax. The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit (IRS Form 2441) is the only income-tax-based credit Alaska families can use for child care expenses.
Where to apply or get help in Alaska
- Find a licensed daycare in AlaskaChildery directory — quality ratings, ZIP & city search
- Alaska child care portalhealth.alaska.gov/en/services/child-care-assistance/
- Alaska 211 (dial 2-1-1)alaska211.org/
- thread Alaska (statewide Child Care Resource & Referral)www.threadalaska.org/
- AKCCIS — licensed provider searchakccis.com/client/home
- Alaska Pre-Elementary Grant (DEED)education.alaska.gov/earlylearning/preelementary
- Strengthening Child Care initiative (SB 189 implementation tracker)health.alaska.gov/en/office-of-the-commissioner/strengthening-child-care/
- Federal childcare.gov — Alaska resourceswww.childcare.gov/state-resources/alaska
Find a daycare in Alaska
Once you know what you qualify for, Childery's directory helps you pick a provider. Browse Alaska's licensed daycares with independent Process and Structural quality ratings, or search by ZIP code or city.
Browse Alaska daycaresSources
- Alaska Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP / PASS) — Department of Health
- January 2025 CCDF Family Income Eligibility Levels by State — Federal ACF (2025)
- CCAP Policies & Procedures Manual — Alaska Department of Health
- Alaska SB 189 — Child Care Tax Credit & Subsidy Expansion (2024) (2024)
- Alaska Pre-Elementary Grant — Department of Education and Early Development
- Pre-Elementary Grant FY2024-2026 — IES REL Northwest (2025)
- Federal childcare.gov — Alaska resources
Every state layers its own program on top of a federal floor — CCDF (the federal block grant), Head Start, the federal DCFSA (employer pre-tax benefit), and the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit. See the federal overview for what the floor looks like before any state adds.