Finding child care in Madison

How child care is licensed

In Wisconsin, anyone paid to care for 4 or more children under age 7 for less than 24 hours a day needs a license from the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

• Licensed family child care, usually in the provider's home, cares for 4 to 12 children.
• Licensed group child care centers care for 13 or more.
• Certified providers care for 1 to 3 children and are certified through the county.

Many programs also have a YoungStar rating from DCF, from 2 stars (meets health and safety standards) to 5 stars (meets the highest quality standards).

Check a program before you tour

Look up any program in Wisconsin Child Care Finder. It shows the license, the date of the last inspection and any violations from the past three years. Licensed programs must also post their visit reports near their license, where parents can see them.

On a visit, watch how staff talk with the children, and ask about staff turnover, ratios, the daily schedule, sick-child rules, closing days and how they handle tuition when your child is out. Get on several waitlists; infant spots are the hardest to find.

Free help finding care

4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) is Dane County's child care resource and referral agency. With city and state funding, its staff help families find care one on one, in several languages. Start at 4-c.org/families.

4K in the Madison school district

The Madison Metropolitan School District runs a 4K program for children who turn 4 on or before September 1 of the school year. 4K is held both in district schools and at community early childhood centers that partner with the district; some partner sites offer before- and after-school care, but the district itself doesn't provide wraparound care for 4K students.

Enrollment for the coming school year opens in the winter through MMSD's online enrollment. Check the district's 4K page for this year's sites and schedules, and ask partner centers about their hours and wraparound care.

Help paying for child care

• Wisconsin Shares is the state child care subsidy. To qualify when you apply, your family's income can't be more than 200% of the federal poverty level, and parents need an approved activity such as work, school or an apprenticeship. Apply online through ACCESS or through your local agency.
• City of Madison child care tuition assistance helps Madison residents who aren't eligible for Wisconsin Shares, on a sliding fee scale. As of 2026, the income guidelines were $43,284 for a family of two and $66,000 for a family of four, and families must use a center or family child care program accredited by the City of Madison. Call (608) 267-4996 for an application.
• The city's accreditation program also gives you another quality signal: City Accredited programs meet the city's own standards, and the Community Development Division (608-266-6520) can tell you which programs are accredited.