A short, honest guide to Pennsylvania daycare.
Pennsylvania sits comfortably in the middle of the national daycare cost spectrum, with a wide gap between Philadelphia and its closer-in suburbs and the rest of the state. Three things every Pennsylvania parent should understand before signing a contract: DHS licensing through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Keystone STARS quality rating system, and the Child Care Works (CCW) subsidy.
Pennsylvania licensing and ratios
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) licenses and inspects every legal child care center, group home, and family home in the state. Center ratios are 1:4 for infants under twelve months, 1:5 for one-year-olds, 1:6 for two-year-olds, 1:10 for three-year-olds, and 1:10 for four- and five-year-olds. Family child care homes allow up to six children with one caregiver; group homes allow up to twelve with two caregivers.
Source: 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270 (Child Day Care Centers) and Chapter 3290 (Group Child Day Care Homes), Chapter 3280 (Family Child Day Care Homes). Approximately 5,900 licensed providers statewide as of 2025.
Keystone STARS
Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania's continuous-improvement quality rating system, run by OCDEL. Programs are rated STAR 1 (entry-level participation) through STAR 4 (highest). STAR 3 and STAR 4 programs meaningfully exceed state minimum standards on staff qualifications, curriculum, family engagement, and leadership. Filter our directory by STAR level.
Pre-K Counts and Head Start in Pennsylvania
Pre-K Counts is the state-funded pre-K program for eligible three- and four-year-olds. Eligibility is income-based (currently 300% of the federal poverty level). Programs operate at participating community, school-district, and Head Start sites. Federal Head Start funds additional free seats for the lowest-income families. Many Pennsylvania families combine a free Pre-K Counts placement with extended-day wraparound care.
Financial help in Pennsylvania
Child Care Works (CCW) is Pennsylvania's child care subsidy. Working families up to a state-set income threshold may qualify, with subsidies portable to participating providers. CCW is administered through your county's Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC). Wait times in higher-demand counties can be long, so apply early. All families can use the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA if offered through work. Our tax credit explainer walks through the math.
Where Pennsylvania parents tend to overpay
- Premium Main Line and inner Philadelphia centers when a STAR 4 program in West Philadelphia, Northwest Philadelphia, or the Lehigh Valley runs $300 to $700 less per month.
- Registration and supply fees that bundle items families already own, including diapers, wipes, and crib sheets.
- Paying private preschool tuition for a four-year-old without checking Pre-K Counts and Head Start eligibility first.
Before your first tour, download the free DaycareSquare comparison checklist and the tour questions list.
