Overview
Alberta is committed to making child care more affordable by reducing parent fees. That is why, under the federal-provincial child care agreement, Alberta will be providing Affordability Grants to licensed child care programs that commit to working with the government to ensure fees for all families reach $10 per day by March 2026.
Through the Affordability Grant Agreement, Alberta has actioned the Canada-Alberta Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement to support families with children up to kindergarten age attending child care during regular school hours by:
- Reducing parent fees by an average of 50% for all families between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024
- Lowering parent fees to an average of $15 per day between January 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025
- As of April 1, 2025, establishing a flat monthly parent fee of $326.25 per month for full-time care, equivalent to $15 per day, and $230.00 per month for part-time care*
- Further lowering parent fees to $10 per day by March 2026.
* Full-time is based on a child’s registration to attend 100 hours or more per month in a licensed day care facility or an approved family day home. Part-time is based on a child’s registration to attend between 50 and 99 hours per month in a licensed day care facility or an approved family day home. Parents with a child in a preschool program will receive a reduction of up to $100 off their preschool program’s stated monthly child care fees.
Eligibility
Affordability grants are open to eligible licensed child care programs such as preschools, daycares, and family day homes under licensed agencies that provide care to infants, toddlers and kindergarten-age children (in kindergarten and also attending child care during regular school hours).
Programs are eligible for affordability supports for full-time (100+ hours per month) and part-time (50 to 99 hours per month) child-care spaces.
How to apply
To determine if your program is eligible for the Affordability Grant, contact licensing staff at your regional Child Care Licensing Office.
Eligible licensed child care programs can access the Affordability Grant Agreement through the online Child Care Licensing Portal.
Read the Affordability Grant Funding Guide for additional information on the grant application process. This guide is for the 2024-25 Affordability Grant, which expires March 31, 2025. A new guide for the 2025-26 Affordability Grant will be posted once the grant is effective on April 1.
Changes on April 1, 2025
Read the fact sheets below to learn more about the new flat monthly parent fee and upcoming changes to Affordability Grant funding for your program:
- What's changing for daycare facilities
- What's changing for family day homes
- What's changing for preschools
Other child care grants
Alberta Child Care Grant Funding Program: Supports for Early Childhood Educators
Participating programs can also apply for wage top-up, professional development and release time funding to support certified Early Childhood Educators.
- Learn more Child Care Grant Funding Program.