Early Childhood Education FAQs

The Tung Lok Early Childhood Learning Center, Gateway Child Development Center, and Villa de Kapuso Child Development Center have minimum and maximum ages of 3 months to 5 years old. 

Lutheran Church of Our Savior Preschool, Alice Chalmers Preschool, and Mission YMCA Preschool have a minimum and maximum ages of 2 to 5 years old. 

Our program hours of operation are 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. 

Yes, we offer optional extended hours. Optional extended care during regular operating hours may be available, subject to staffing and enrollment, during the requested time period. Families requesting extended care must submit a request to the Director at least 48 hours in advance. We will do our best to meet your family’s needs whenever possible. For more information, please contact the center’s Site Supervisor. 

 Yes, when ratios allow, we can accept children for drop-in care. Our daily drop-in fee ranges based on the number of days for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. For families interested in drop-in care, please contact the program location for rates. The registration fee includes snacks and lunch for children over 18 months. 

Please note that Community Care Licensing requires the mandatory paperwork to be submitted on or before the child’s first day of care (e.g., immunization records, emergency contact information, etc.). 

Payments for daily drop-ins must be submitted two weeks in advance, prior to the day of service. 

Step 1: Email Anne Senores at [email protected] or Katia Alvarez at [email protected] (Spanish Language Translation Support) 

Step 2: Connect with the site supervisor to schedule a tour. 

Step 3: If you are interested in enrolling your child you will need to sign up for the waitlist after the tour. An non-refundable (waived for tuition subsidized families) application fee applies. If registering the child within 30 days from the waitlist sign-up date, the fee may be applied towards the first month’s tuition. 

Step 4: Gather and submit all required licensing documents and forms to the site supervisor. 

Step 5: Submit tuition payment method and documents 5 days before the child’s start date: i.e., credit card on file, and/or ELFA scholarship, 100% or 50% credit required application, required proof of household income, residence, etc. 

Step 6: We will work together to schedule a transition period at least 5 days before the child’s first full day. Transitioning into the program depends on the child’s readiness. The transition could take 2 to 5 days.

Yes, we offer the following to families: 

Early Learning For All (ELFA) Grant – For San Francisco Centers Only 
The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood – Early Learning for All (ELFA) program helps income-eligible families access affordable early care and education for young children. The ELFA grant provides tuition assistance that can reduce or fully cover tuition at participating partner centers, including ours. 

Depending on household income, families may qualify for one of the following ELFA tuition assistance options: 

• Free Tuition/Scholarships (ELFA/MRA) – Full tuition coverage with no copay. 

• 100% ELFA Full Credit – A 100% ELFA credit is applied toward tuition costs; a copay may still apply. 
• 50% ELFA Half Credit – A 50% ELFA credit is applied to help reduce tuition costs. 

Eligibility for ELFA tuition credit is based on the following: family income, child’s age, San Francisco residency, and participation in qualifying programs. 

Families interested in learning more about ELFA eligibility and enrollment should speak with the center’s Program Coordinator or Director. 

Third-Party Vouchers 
We work with the following subsidy programs and accept third-party vouchers from 4Cs of San Mateo County, the Department of Human Services, Wu Yee, Children’s Council of San Francisco, CalWORKs, and more. Vouchers from 3rd party help to subsidize tuition costs for low-income families. 

YMCA Facility Members’ Discount 
San Francisco Sites – Families with a YMCA membership will receive up to a 20% tuition discount, regardless of household income. Must have an active membership. 

South San Francisco Site (Gateway) – Tuition rates are competitive and set at low levels to ensure affordability; no additional tuition discounts are offered to facility members. However, all families receive free membership while enrolled at Gateway. 

YMCA Financial Assistance 
The YMCA of San Francisco is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that reinvests back into the programs it offers to the community. Through the generosity of our many supporters and active fundraising efforts, YGSF offers affordable programs and services for people of all income levels. Please inquire with the site coordinator or program director regarding financial aid eligibility requirements and policies. 

Sibling Discount 
Families with multiple children enrolled in our program are eligible for a 20% sibling discount. Please note that the sibling discount is not available to families receiving ELFA funding. 

Transitions between age suites or classrooms are based on age, staff observations, developmental assessments, and parent input. When a transition is recommended, families will be provided with a planned schedule of visits to the new classroom.

Download our full FAQ PDF for more details here.

Sign In
In the morning, a parent or guardian must escort the child to the classroom and remain with the child until a teacher has accepted responsibility for the child. Each day, parents or guardians are required to sign their child into the YMCA of Greater San Francisco Early Childhood Education program by providing a full, legible signature and date in the classroom attendance binder, on the iPad/tablet, or through the online PIN system. 

Children may not sign themselves in using the PIN system. Signing a child in is the legal responsibility of the parent, guardian, or authorized adult, as required by Community Care Licensing. 

Sign Out
At pick-up time, please gather your child and all their belongings before leaving the center. Parents or guardians must sign the child out of our program each day using the attendance binder or electronic system used at your site. Children may only leave the center after being signed out by an authorized adult. 

Children will only be released to the authorized adults listed on the Identification and Emergency Form. We will check photo identifications and/or make a copy of the identification card for people picking up your child for the first time, or if we are unfamiliar with the person. For safety reasons, we request authorization updates every 4 to 6 months. 

Maintaining the good health of all children and staff involved in the center is very important to us. We do everything possible to work with families when a child is not feeling well, but if the health of other children or staff is compromised, we will ask that the child be brought home. 

If the child’s illness requires them to stay home for more than 3 days, please provide a doctor’s note upon their return. This will help us ensure that the child is not in danger of a relapse or still contagious. If staff feel that the child is ill or cannot engage in normal classroom activities, the parents (or other emergency contacts) will be contacted to pick up the child. The child will be isolated from other children as they wait for their parents or an authorized person to pick him/her up. Parents must pick up their child within one hour of being notified. 

View more information about our policy here.

Staff are selected based on their professionalism, education, experience, skills, training, and demonstrated ability to work effectively with children. Prior to employment, all staff must successfully complete required criminal background clearances, including Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) checks, as well as professional and personal reference checks, TB clearance, physical health screening, proof of required immunizations, and all other licensing and regulatory requirements. 

We must also receive proof of education, training, and a professional permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), as well as a training certificate of completion. 

We recognize that a well-trained, stable, and nurturing staff is essential to providing a high-quality early care and education program. The YMCA is committed to supporting staff growth and excellence through ongoing professional development opportunities, training, and continuing education at all levels. 

The YMCA of Greater San Francisco ECE Program operates year-round, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with limited exceptions. During our core program hours from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, we maintain lower teacher-to-child ratios than those required by California Community Care Licensing (CCL) to provide more individualized attention and support for children. 

Our program ratios compared to CCL maximum ratios are: 

• Infants: 1 teacher to 3 children (CCL maximum: 1:4) 

• Jr. Preschool/Twos: 1 teacher to 8 children (CCL maximum: 1:12) 

• Preschoolers: 1 teacher to 10 children (CCL maximum: 1:12) 

Our curriculum is grounded in research-based practices and current understanding of child development. It incorporates Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), Program for Infant/ Toddler Care (PITC), Reggio Emilia–inspired approaches, and the Creative Curriculum framework. 

Through a balance of teacher-guided and child-initiated, play-based learning experiences, children are encouraged to explore, investigate, create, and problem-solve. 

Curriculum planning is guided by developmental goals while also reflecting children’s interests, questions, and experiences. Project-based learning and nature-based experiences foster curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and environmental awareness. 

Teachers provide individualized support and responsive interactions to promote each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. 

The YMCA of Greater San Francisco Early Childhood Education Program is guided by the core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility, which are integrated throughout the curriculum and daily interactions. 

Infants, toddlers, and preschool/pre-k children explore and learn at different stages.

To view our daily schedule for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers/pre-kindergarteners in our program, please click here.

Children over 12 months of age will follow the center’s established meal and snack schedule. The center provides morning and afternoon snacks that meet CACFP meal pattern requirements, including components from at least two food groups for children in the appropriate age groups. Lunch is also provided at sites participating in the CACFP food program. 

At our non-CACFP site, Gateway Center, families may choose to purchase a catered hot lunch through Chefables for children 18 months and older at an additional cost or provide a packed lunch for their child. Chefables application forms and monthly menus are available at the front desk. 

For children under 18 months old, parents/guardians are responsible for providing all required breast milk, infant formula, and complementary foods, meals, and snacks for older infants (12 – 23 months old). Formula must be provided in ready-to-feed bottles, each labeled and prepared for a single feeding. Center staff will follow the infant’s Individual Infant Feeding Plan provided by the parent/guardian to ensure consistency with home feeding routines, when appropriate. 

Parents/guardians are responsible for providing all necessary feeding supplies, including bottles (for infants), drinking cups, and eating utensils. For safety and sanitation, all items must be non-breakable and microwave-safe, and labeled with the child’s name. 

We do not microwave bottles or food for infants; instead, we place the bottle or container in warm water or a bottle warmer to warm it. 

We understand that communication about a child’s development is important, especially during the early years. The lines of communication are kept open in a number of ways: formally and informally via our daily infant sheets/Swaddo, daily/weekly written notes, newsletters, parent groups, incident reports, email, texts, bulletin boards, conferences, surveys/questionnaires, and events. 

Frequent communication between families and the YGSF ECE program staff is essential in supporting a child. To provide the best possible care for a child, it is important for parents to inform us of any changes at home that may affect the child’s behavior at school. This will help us understand the child’s behavior at school and better support their needs at the center. 

We welcome parents to visit their child during the day to observe their progress. 

Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Each age suite has a schedule for periodic conferences for the children in that age group. There will be semi-annual conferences for infants, toddlers, and preschool families. This gives the staff the opportunity to share important observations and information with parents about their child. 

It also gives parents the opportunity to see their child’s progress and work with teachers to support any specific needs. The tool used is the “Desired Results Developmental Profile” (DRDP) developed by the California Department of Education. This tool is based on observations of the child during program activities. Daily communication between parents and teachers will also include this information. Parents and staff should feel free to meet as often as needed and not wait for a scheduled meeting if they have any concerns about a child, curriculum, or program. 

The YMCA of Greater San Francisco’s ECE program is family-centered. We believe in collaboration between parents and the program team. We encourage and welcome parent participation in the program by visiting the center and becoming involved through family programs, volunteering, and participating in our semi-annual program evaluations, annual campaign, and special events. 

Click here to view a full list of ways you can get involved as a parent.

The YMCA of Greater San Francisco ECE Program is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate environment where children can explore and learn with minimal stress and frustration. Teachers and staff model respectful and appropriate behavior to help children develop positive social skills. Our discipline approach considers each child’s age, developmental level, emotional needs, and individuality. 

We believe that a supportive and trusting environment reduces the need for frequent discipline while still providing clear structure, rules, and expectations. When conflicts arise between children, staff encourage children, when appropriate, to use words and problem-solving skills to resolve the situation independently. 

Staff will support and guide children through this process and will intervene when necessary. If a conflict cannot be resolved, children may be temporarily separated while staff addresses the situation with each child individually. Staff use these moments as learning opportunities to discuss appropriate behavior and the natural consequences of actions. 

Parents may contact their child’s primary teacher, co-teachers, and site supervisors regarding concerns about their child’s progress. The program staff may, when necessary, refer the child for further assessment to either the Golden Gate Regional Center or the local school district to monitor the child’s progress. The child’s parents will be responsible for initiating the additional screening, and YMCA program staff may assist with the process.