Our 2025 Annual Impact Report is now live!
Mayor Lurie just announced a historic expansion of free and low cost childcare!
Putting the pieces together so children can soar.
Meet San Francisco’s Department of Early Childhood.
We partner with all of the adults who care for young children, so that together we can create healthier, happier, and more imaginative childhoods. And that makes the city a better place to live for us all.
Parents, we're here for you.
Parenting can be hard, which is why we put parents at the center of what we do. DEC is the City department solely dedicated to our youngest children. We work to support San Francisco families by funding family services and early childhood programs. DEC is here to make it easier to raise young children in San Francisco.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Growing together in early childhood.
Early childhood educators and partners help children grow, learn, and thrive. They make our city stronger. We work together to give children and families amazing resources in our city.
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News & Updates
Press Release: Mayor Breed Announces Budget Investments to Expand Early Child Care Efforts
In partnership with Supervisor Melgar, the proposed initiatives will build on the City’s groundbreaking early education and child care initiatives by expanding eligibility to moderate income families and piloting extended-hour
Press Release: Nature-filled Play Areas Coming to Child Care Sites Across San Francisco
Benefits include better mental health and creativity. SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ten San Francisco child care centers and family child care homes have been transformed into nature-filled oases that inspire
Engaging Communities: A Blueprint for Happier, Healthier, More Imaginative Childhoods
When we launched DEC, we did so with a strategic plan that clearly lays out our mission, what we’ll do to achieve it, and why. A significant part of our
Popping-Up with the People: Bringing Information, Resources and Joy to the Bayview Pop-Up Village’s Youth Future Zone
The Pop-Up Village is a site activation project that harnesses the power of design to bring together people and programs in vibrant and thoughtfully selected public spaces. Its mission is
National Leadership through Local Action: House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark Look to DEC as a Model for Early Childhood Investment.
Image Description: From left to right: Jerry Yang, Executive Director, Kai Ming Head Start; Monique Guidry, Owner, Guidry Early Child Care and Education Program; Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, United States
The Power of Connection in Education: Highlights from the Attachment Innovation Challenge
Over the weekend, DEC hosted the “Attachment Innovation Challenge” in collaboration with our funded partners at WestEd. This event encouraged early educators to devise creative solutions to foster secure attachment
Press Release: The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood Invests $15 Million in Pathways Program to Strengthen Early Education Workforce
San Francisco – The Department of Early Childhood (DEC) is investing boldly in the future of early childhood education by launching its Early Educator Pathways Program. Over the next two
Celebrating remarkable milestones: Read DEC’s 2024 Annual Impact Report
The Department of Early Childhood is thrilled to announce the release of our 2024 Annual Impact Report. Every year has been exciting, but this year, we are celebrating a truly
Why we’ve invested $46 million to increase early educator wages
In a city known for its innovation and commitment to progress, DEC is taking bold steps to ensure San Francisco’s future is brighter than ever! Research shows that investing in