San Francisco Makes Childcare Free — And Other US Cities Are Following

San Francisco has joined a growing wave of US jurisdictions offering free or heavily subsidised childcare.

Families earning under $230,000 will receive fully free care; those earning up to $310,000 get a 50% subsidy. It's part of a broader "Family Opportunity Agenda" from the city's mayor covering housing, education, food, healthcare, and transport.

The city joins New York City (free care for all 2-year-olds) and New Mexico (the first US state to provide free childcare for every child) in what is becoming a national movement.

Key Facts

• Free childcare for families earning under $230,000/year (The Guardian)
• 50% subsidy for families earning up to $310,000
• Average SF childcare cost: $20,000–$30,000/child/year
• Part of broader "Family Opportunity Agenda" (Optimist Daily)

Why This Matters

The US has long been an outlier among wealthy nations in lacking universal childcare. Average costs exceed college tuition in many states, forcing millions of parents out of the workforce. SF's initiative, with its generous income thresholds, effectively covers the middle class in one of America's most expensive cities — and the pattern is spreading.

What We Don't Know Yet

The high income threshold may draw criticism. Funding sustainability is unclear with strained municipal budgets. Quality and availability of providers remains a bottleneck. And previous similar programmes have faced implementation delays.

Sources: The Guardian · Optimist Daily
Published 17 February 2026 · Category: Policy & Governance