With new income ceilings allowing more families to qualify for free preschool or child care assistance, Santa Cruz County is fortunate to have many excellent subsidized preschools and child care programs. Some, such as Head Start and Migrant Head Start are federally funded. Others are sponsored by the California Department of Education or the California Department of Social Services. Whether the programs are operated by school districts, non-profit agencies or colleges, these sites are dedicated to meeting standards of excellence while providing quality care and education that supports families and prepares children for school.
Here is the complete list of the agencies operating subsidized child care programs. The income charts and eligibility criteria are complicated, so please contact the agencies directly to learn more about their eligibility guidelines and enrollment options.
Cabrillo College Children’s Center
Community Bridges Early Education Division
Encompass Child & Family Development Programs
Live Oak School District Child Development & Extended Learning
Pacific Preschool
PVUSD Child Development Centers
PVUSD Family Child Care Network
PVUSD Migrant & Seasonal Head Start
SCCOE Migrant & Seasonal Head Start
UCSC Early Education Services
YWCA of Watsonville
