Virginia Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programs
Virginia offers a variety of program choices for early childhood care and education. Below you can learn more about each program and how they support families. Whether you want your child on the bus with a sibling, in a family day home, or need full-day and full year care, there are options to fit your needs. Learn what is unique about each program below.
Head Start (HS)
Head Start services are available at no cost to children ages 3 to 5. Head Start is a child-centered, family-focused, comprehensive and community-based program providing high-quality services to promote academic, physical, social and emotional development for income-eligible children and their families. Head Start programs provide access to health screenings, including dental, vision, and hearing screenings, to ensure that children are healthy and ready to learn. They may also offer referrals for medical, dental, and mental health services as needed. Local Head Start programs are funded directly by the federal Office of Head Start.
Age Range
Ages 3-4, must be of age before September 30th
Eligibility
- The family’s income is equal to or below 100% of the federal poverty guideline.
- Child is in foster care (regardless of foster family income).
- Family is experiencing homelessness.
- Family is receiving or is eligible for Public Assistance, SNAP, SSI, TANF
- Children may be enrolled based on local criteria determined by a community needs assessment.
- Programs may offer enrollment slots to children with a family income in the 100-130% range of the fed poverty guideline.
Early Head Start (EHS)
Early Head Start services work with families that have children ages birth to under 3, and many also serve expectant families. It is a child-centered, family-focused, comprehensive and community-based program providing high-quality services to promote academic, physical, social and emotional development for income-eligible children and their families. Local Early Head Start programs are funded directly by the Federal Office of Head Start.
Age Range
Ages 0 – under 3, must be of age before September 30th.
Eligibility
- The family’s income is equal to or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. – The family’s income is between 100 to 130% the federal poverty guidelines.
- Child is in foster care (regardless of foster family income).
- Family is experiencing homelessness.
- Family is receiving or is eligible for Public Assistance, SNAP, SSI, TANF
Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI)
The purpose of the Virginia Preschool Initiative program is to increase kindergarten readiness. These programs are designed to provide high-quality preschool for at-risk students not served by Head Start. VPI programs are state funded and primarily in public schools (there are slots in private centers in some localities).
To obtain state funding, localities must develop and submit a written local plan for programs that includes:
- Provision for quality preschool education that helps prepare children for school.
- Working with the community to provide health services and facilitate comprehensive services.
- Family engagement.
- Quality preschool for all children.
- Program operations and transportation.
Age Range
Varies by each school system. All school systems serve 4-year-olds and some will also serve 3-year-olds. Age is determined by child’s age by September 30th of the enrolling year. Use the “Education & Care” navigation at the top of the page to check what ages your local public school serves.
Eligibility
Eligibility is based on various factors, not just income.
- Localities may, at their discretion, include students who meet locally defined eligibility (examples may include (but are not limited to): dual language households, being raised by others, child health concerns, past family history, developmental concerns)
- The family’s income is equal to or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline.
- family is experiencing homelessness.
- Parent(s) did not complete high school.
- Child has identified disability or needs special education services.
- Programs may offer up to 15% of funded enrollment slots to children from over-income families who have risk factors determined by eligibility criteria.
Mixed Delivery (MD)
Virginia’s Mixed Delivery program provides full-day, year-round preschool and child care for eligible infants, toddlers, and preschoolers – at low or no cost to qualifying families. Through Mixed Delivery more of Virginia’s littlest learners are able to experience high quality preschool and child care and get ready for kindergarten success. High quality preschool and child care experiences give young children opportunities to learn and practice important academic and social/emotional skills -like early math, early literacy, and increased independence.
Mixed Delivery Programs must:
- Maintain a regular or conditional license from the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Child Care Health and Safety.
- Offer at least 2,400 hours of full day, year-round ECCE services to children enrolled in MD
- Be open a minimum of 10 hours a day
- Participate in all VQB5 activities
- Use a state-approved curriculum in all classrooms serving children enrolled in MD
- Assess all 3 and 4-year-old students with the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) and Virginia Language and Literacy Screener assessments in Fall and Spring
Age Range
Ages 0-4, must be of age before September 30th. Each participating center has varied age ranges they can accept through Mixed Delivery funding.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Mixed Delivery, you must meet both eligibility requirements.
Child Eligibility (Must meet one requirement):
- Child’s family has an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
- Child’s family is experiencing homelessness.
- Child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) did not complete high school
- Child has identified disability or needs special education
- Localities may, at their discretion, include students who meet locally defined eligibility
Family Eligibility:
- All adults in your home must be participating in one of the following activities: working, job search, and/or education/training, or they are unable to provide care themselves.
Local Care & Family Day Homes (Including those accepting Child Care Subsidy)
Child day centers are child day programs offered to: (i) two or more children under the age of 13 years in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (ii) 13 or more children at any location. Licensed programs must meet the standards promulgated by the Virginia Board of Education. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) enforces these standards by inspecting centers at least twice a year and investigating complaints.
Family day home care is the most common form of child care in this country, especially for younger children. Parents may choose family child care for its intimate, home-like setting, flexible hours, consistency of caregiver, and small group size. A family day home caring for more than four children under the age of two, including the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home, must be licensed or voluntarily registered.
How to Search for a Facility
You can search local childcare centers, family day homes, religiously affiliated, and non licensed care providers at: Finding Child Care | Child Care VA. Just click the “search for care” link to see all your options. You will also be able to review health and safety violations through this portal. You can also see if a site accepts subsidy.
How to Apply for Child Care Subsidy
The Child Care Subsidy Program assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who are not eligible to attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or children with special needs under age who reside with the applicant. If you are eligible and are approved for services, the Subsidy Program can pay a portion of your child care costs directly to the child care provider. To apply for subsidy childcare, click the button below or visit www.commonhelp.virginia.gov.
Age Range
Varies by location
Eligibility
There are no restrictions to attend a local center or family day home and pay out of pocket. Certain Child Day Centers and Family Day Homes are registered subsidy agents and can accept Department of Social Services Child Care Subsidy funding.
