Preschool and child care costs: how to get help paying in Ohio

Tuition varies a lot from program to program, and we don't publish prices because programs set and change them. Ask each program for its current weekly or monthly rate. What we can explain is the public help available to Ohio families and how to apply.

Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC)

Ohio's PFCC program helps eligible families pay for child care while they work, attend school or job training. You may still pay part of the cost as a copayment. Ohio's 88 county Job and Family Services offices decide eligibility (Ohio DCY: Child Care (Publicly Funded Child Care)).

According to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, you may qualify if you are a parent or guardian who is employed, in school, in job training, receiving Ohio Works First cash assistance, homeless, or required by a Children's Services case plan to have protective child care, and your income is at or below 145% of the federal poverty level, or at or below 150% if your child has a county-verified special need. Once enrolled, families can stay eligible up to 300% of the federal poverty level (Ohio DCY: Child Care (Publicly Funded Child Care); Ohio Admin. Code 5180:6-1-02 (PFCC application and eligibility)).

2026 monthly income limits (gross, effective October 1, 2026)

Source: Ohio DCY: 2026 Early Care and Education Income Eligibility Standards (effective Oct 1, 2026). Larger families: see the source letter.

Child Care Choice Voucher (CCVP)

The Child Care Choice Voucher helps with child care costs for families between 146% and 200% of the federal poverty level, the families who earn too much for PFCC (Ohio Child Care Search (definitions of PFCC, OPP, CCVP, Head Start, SUTQ); Ohio DCY: 2026 Early Care and Education Income Eligibility Standards (effective Oct 1, 2026)).

Ohio Preschool Program (OPP)

Ohio Preschool Program grants pay for preschool for 4-year-olds in families that meet the income rules. These seats can be in child care programs, community preschools or public school preschools (Ohio Child Care Search (definitions of PFCC, OPP, CCVP, Head Start, SUTQ)). OPP's income limit is 200% of the federal poverty level (Ohio DCY: 2026 Early Care and Education Income Eligibility Standards (effective Oct 1, 2026)). Use the "Ohio Preschool Program" note on each listing to see which programs report taking part.

Head Start

Head Start offers early childhood education and other services to eligible children from birth to age 5. Eligibility depends on the child's age, family income and other circumstances (Ohio Child Care Search (definitions of PFCC, OPP, CCVP, Head Start, SUTQ)). PRE4CLE notes that Head Start is free for families who meet the rules (PRE4CLE 2026 Enrollment Guide).

Free public preschool in Cleveland

PRE4CLE's 2026 enrollment guide says Cleveland Metropolitan School District preschool is free for Cleveland residents, and that other school districts may charge some tuition (PRE4CLE 2026 Enrollment Guide).

How to apply

1. Online: apply through the Ohio Benefits self-service portal at ssp.benefits.ohio.gov (you'll need an OHID login). Choose "Child Care Assistance" (Ohio Benefits: Early Care and Education; PRE4CLE: Guide to preschool financial assistance).
2. Phone: 844-640-6446 (Ohio Benefits: Early Care and Education).
3. Paper: the JFS 07200 application, mailed, faxed or taken to your county JFS office (Ohio Benefits: Early Care and Education).

Your county office decides within 30 days and will tell you what documents to send (Ohio Benefits: Early Care and Education). PRE4CLE suggests choosing your preschool first, because the application asks for the program's name, license number and address. Every listing on this site shows the state license number (PRE4CLE: Guide to preschool financial assistance).

Your county office

• Summit County Job & Family Services: Russell M. Pry Building, 1180 South Main St., Akron, OH 44301. Phone 844-640-6446 (Summit County Job & Family Services).
• Cuyahoga Job & Family Services: Virgil E. Brown Center, 1641 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114. Phone 844-640-6446 (Cuyahoga County: Child Care Assistance Programs).