Nevada child care assistance and free pre-K: CCDP subsidy, copays and Nevada Ready! (2026)

DSS in Las Vegas, The Children’s Cabinet in Reno: who handles your case

Where you live decides who works your file. DSS staff handle eligibility and case management for southern Nevada families. In northern Nevada, The Children’s Cabinet, a nonprofit Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency, does that work ⁠⁶. The Children’s Cabinet office in Henderson only does resource-and-referral work, such as provider referrals and registering subsidy providers. Southern families with subsidy questions contact DSS at [email protected] or 775-684-0625 ⁠¹⁠⁶. For help finding a provider anywhere in the state, email [email protected] ⁠¹.

A child must be under 13, or up to age 18 if the child has a special need or is under court supervision. The family’s assets must not exceed $1,000,000 ⁠³⁠⁴.

Three income lines: 41% of SMI to enter, 49% to renew, 85% to keep care

Nevada uses a two-tier test. It sets limits on gross monthly income, which DSS updates every October 1 from the federal state median income (SMI) figure. The intake limit is shown above. The renewal and ceiling figures in effect from October 1, 2026 are ⁠²:

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The 85% figure applies to income changes reported during an open certificate. It is not a limit for new applications ⁠².

Certificates normally last 12 months ⁠⁴. If your pay rises during that time, you stay eligible as long as income stays at or below 85% SMI. A temporary rise from seasonal or irregular work does not change your eligibility or copay ⁠²⁠³. At renewal you must be back under 49% SMI.

Nevada’s flat $0, $90 and $150 monthly copays

Since October 1, 2024, Nevada has charged a flat monthly family copay instead of a percentage of income. The copay is set by household size and income band ⁠³⁠⁵. For a family of three in 2026-27, there are three bands ⁠²:

Other sizes: the $0 band ends at $1,964 (2 people), $2,888 (4) and $3,350 (5). The $150 band applies only at renewal ⁠².

The copay is one amount for the whole family, however many children are in care. It is not prorated for days attended. If your children go to more than one provider, the copay is split equally among them ⁠⁵. You pay it directly to the provider. DSS pays the provider the state maximum rate minus your copay ⁠⁴⁠⁵. A provider whose price is above the state rate may bill you the difference ⁠³. Families who fall behind get 10 days to catch up or sign a repayment agreement before benefits can end ⁠⁴.

No copay is charged to TANF/NEON households, foster and CPS placements, Head Start/Early Head Start wraparound children, or families experiencing homelessness. The same applies to families using only out-of-school-time providers and parents in an approved substance use disorder treatment program ⁠⁵.

The federal rule requiring states to cap copays at 7% of income was rescinded by a final rule published May 12, 2026 and effective July 13, 2026 ⁠¹⁴. In its 2025-2027 plan, Nevada lists 7% as its maximum ⁠³. For families of two or more, the flat fees stay below about 6% of income even at the bottom of each band ⁠².

The waitlist since April 2024, and who skips it

On April 1, 2024, the program started a waitlist for all new applicants and brought back copays ⁠⁶. DSS says there is no set limit on how long a family can wait. It reviews the list monthly and processes new applications in date order. Once approved, a family is guaranteed 12 months of care ⁠¹. To join the list, you submit the application (Form 2151-WC) and are prescreened on your own statements. The agency must send wait-listed families a request for updated information at least every three months ⁠⁴.

When money is short, the manual ranks priority groups in this order: NEON, CPS/foster care, families experiencing homelessness, Wraparound, then parents in a substance use disorder treatment or recovery program approved by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health ⁠⁴. The first three groups are exempt from the waitlist. Wraparound and treatment-program families still wait, but they are served ahead of everyone else ⁠⁴. Relatives who took in a child before any CPS action are also not wait-listed. Priority households get up to 90 days to turn in hard-to-get documents ⁠⁴.

Purpose of care: the work, school and training rules DSS applies

Every required adult in the household must have an approved “purpose of care.” DSS authorizes care only for the hours on your verified schedule. In two-parent homes, care covers only the hours when both parents are busy ⁠⁴. The rules are:

• Paid work. Nevada sets no minimum number of work hours. Commute time of up to 60 minutes each way counts. A parent on a graveyard shift who has no other caregiver may also get 8 hours of sleep time ⁠³⁠⁴.
• Job training. At least 20 hours a week of vocational, GED or employment-preparation training. Up to 2 hours of study time a day is allowed if the program requires it ⁠³⁠⁴.
• College. At least 6 credit hours a semester at an accredited community college, college or university, plus up to 2 hours of study time on class days ⁠³⁠⁴.
• Job search. The 2025-2027 plan says job search is not an eligible activity at initial eligibility or renewal ⁠³. If you lose your job during a certificate, you have 90 days to start a new activity before a 10-day closing notice ⁠³.

The manual lets DSS close the student and job-search categories when funding is short ⁠⁴.

Silver State Stars: what a center’s rating means for you

Silver State Stars is Nevada’s voluntary quality rating system for child care centers. It costs nothing for centers or families. Family child care homes are not rated at this time ⁠⁷. One Star means a center has joined the coaching program. Two to Five Stars means it has been formally rated above licensing standards, and the rating lasts two years ⁠⁷. NDE’s Office of Early Learning and Development runs the star search, which shows each center’s rating and its licensing report ⁠⁸.

Ratings affect what the subsidy pays. The base rate is the 1-Star rate. Each higher level adds a bonus, up to $5 a day or $25 a week per child at Five Stars ⁠³.

Nevada Ready! State Pre-K for 4-year-olds

Nevada Ready! State Pre-K (NR!PK) is full-day pre-K in school district classrooms and community child care centers. Your child must turn 4 on or before August 1 of the school year ⁠⁹. Families at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are eligible ⁠⁹. Children in foster care or experiencing homelessness, children with an IEP, and English learners also get priority ⁠¹¹. Programs can then fill seats with children from other groups, including rural, frontier and tribal families, children with an incarcerated parent, refugee and asylee families, and verified single-parent households. Families zoned to a One- or Two-Star school also qualify ⁠¹¹. The application and program pages call the program no-cost for eligible children. Transportation is not provided ⁠¹⁰⁠¹².

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Calculated from HHS’s 2026 guidelines ⁠¹⁵. NDE’s page links the 2025 chart, so confirm which year your program uses ⁠⁹.

Since July 1, 2026, one common application on First5Nevada.org covers most of the more than 90 participating programs ⁠¹⁰. Seven districts use their own process instead: Carson City, Clark, Lander, Lyon, Pershing, Washoe and White Pine ⁠¹². In Clark County, families use CCSD’s own 2026-27 Pre-K interest form. CCSD’s programs run 6 hours and 11 minutes a day ⁠¹³. Applying does not enroll your child. The program will ask for a birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of address and income. Charter schools also run lotteries ⁠¹⁰⁠¹¹. A child can use NR!PK and a CCDP certificate together. Subsidy then pays only for hours outside the 25 weekly hours of pre-K instruction ⁠⁴.

Applying for a CCDP certificate, step by step

1. Check your band

   Compare your household’s gross monthly income with the October 2026 intake table, then find your copay band ⁠².

2. Ask about priority status first

   If you receive TANF, your DSS NEON case manager sends a NEON Child Care Referral. Then you need only ID, the application and the referral ⁠³. Foster, CPS-involved and homeless families should say so on the application, because these households are not wait-listed ⁠⁴.

3. Gather current proof

   You will need ID, your child’s age and Social Security number, citizenship, residency, custody, and income. Documents must be dated within 30 days of your application ⁠⁴. For work, bring pay stubs, an employer letter, or Employment Verification Form 2186-WA. For school, bring an official class schedule ⁠⁴.

4. Submit the application

   Apply online through Access Nevada. In southern Nevada, you can also email Form 2151-WC to [email protected], mail it to 1470 College Parkway, Carson City, NV 89706, or drop it at a DSS office. In northern Nevada, email it to [email protected] ⁠¹.

5. Answer every update request while you wait

   Wait-listed families get requests at least every three months. When funding opens, you will be asked for a new application and verifications ⁠⁴.

6. Respond to a Request for Information within 10 days

   The plan requires a decision within 30 days of the application. Staff must act within 10 days of receiving your documents ⁠³⁠⁴. Benefits start on the date your application was stamped as received ⁠⁴.

7. Choose a registered provider and pay your copay

   Your certificate lists your monthly copay and number of providers ⁠⁵. Pay your copay and any overage directly to the provider ⁠⁵.

8. Appeal in writing within 90 days

   If the Notice of Action (Form 2158-WC) denies or cuts care, request a hearing in writing within 90 days of its date ⁠⁴.

9. Renew before the 12 months end

   Renewal uses the 49% SMI limit. Your new copay band is set then ⁠²⁠⁵.

See child care help in other states or all Nevada guides.