Childcare in Arlington, TX: Plan Care Around Your Day

Write down the hours you need covered

Prepare a weekly schedule before contacting caregivers. Include departure from home, school dismissal, your return trip and the latest pickup time you can meet. List each child's age and campus, the days you need care, and any transportation, meal or accessibility needs. Ask each provider to confirm which parts of that schedule they can cover.

For the 2026–2027 school year, Arlington ISD lists elementary after-school care at select campuses for Pre-K4 through sixth grade. Peach Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade. Participating elementary sites operate Monday through Friday from dismissal until 6 p.m. Register through the provider assigned to the participating campus. [2]

If you need evening care, describe the handoff from the school program to the next caregiver. Name the adult who will collect your child, decide who communicates a delay and agree on a backup pickup person. Confirm authorization procedures with both caregivers before the first day.

Check school options before choosing private care

Arlington ISD offers free full-day pre-K4 and a bilingual full-day option. Its registration page directs families to the School Locator to identify campuses offering their preferred program. For the current school year, check whether your child was four by September 1, 2026, and confirm enrollment requirements with the district. [3]

Ask the school for its daily schedule, then price the remaining hours with a care provider. Confirm morning drop-off, afternoon pickup and school-break coverage as separate parts of your plan. Avoid paying a deposit until you know how the school placement and caregiver schedule fit together.

The district lists before-school care at selected campuses from 6:30 a.m. until school starts. It also describes holiday camps at selected district campuses or provider locations. Contact the relevant provider to confirm the dates, location, fees and registration process you need. [2]

Check scholarship eligibility and your share of cost

Tarrant County Child Care Management Services lists county residency, primary custody, child citizenship or legal immigration status, assets below $1 million and household income among its scholarship criteria. Its child-age guideline is under 13, or under 19 for a child with a disability. The administrator determines eligibility through application and verification. [1]

CCMS lists eligible activities such as work, school, job training and job search. Its weekly participation guidelines are 25 hours for single-parent families and 50 hours for two-parent families. The page also invites legal caregivers and families seeking work to discuss their circumstances. Ask CCMS how it will assess your household before ruling yourself out. [1]

Begin the application by creating an account through Texas Child Care Connection. CCMS also directs families to its Parent Share of Cost information. Ask the administrator about your expected contribution, application status and provider arrangements before treating assistance as part of your confirmed budget. [1]

Compare written fees for the same schedule

The sources here do not establish a local private daycare, nanny or sitter price range. Request quotes for the same child, days and hours so you can compare the offers. Ask providers to separate recurring tuition or hourly pay from enrollment charges, deposits, meals, transportation and late-pickup fees.

Ask how the provider handles absences, closures and changes to your schedule. Read the notice period for ending care and the terms for returning a deposit. For a sitter or nanny, agree on duties such as preparing meals or collecting children from school, and ask for a separate price for additional duties.

Meet the caregiver and agree on handoffs

Visit a group-care setting or interview an in-home caregiver before making your final choice. Ask who will supervise your child, how substitutes work and how the caregiver communicates incidents. Request references and discuss relevant training, CPR and first aid. Ask the provider to identify any regulatory status that applies to the arrangement so you can verify it before enrollment.

Discuss allergies, medication instructions, toileting, naps and behavior support. Ask how staff or the caregiver will respond if your child becomes ill or needs urgent help. Put emergency contacts, authorized pickup adults and transportation permissions in writing. Confirm your start date and backup plan before relying on the arrangement for work.

Tarrant County child care scholarship monthly income limits

Choose the next step for your family's schedule

Your hiring checklist

1. Write a weekly schedule that includes your commute and latest feasible pickup.
2. Record each child's age, campus, transportation needs and care instructions.
3. Confirm the school or program placement before paying a care deposit.
4. Ask the assigned provider about openings, start dates and pickup locations.
5. Request an itemized quote and read closure, absence and cancellation terms.
6. Meet the caregiver, request references and discuss supervision and emergency procedures.
7. Agree on authorized pickup adults, backup care and written handoff instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does free pre-K4 cover my whole workday?

Arlington ISD describes pre-K4 as a free full-day school program. Ask your assigned campus for its schedule and compare it with your workday. Confirm separate care for any morning, afternoon or school-break hours you need. [3]

Where do I register for elementary after-school care?

For 2026–2027, register through the provider assigned to your participating Arlington ISD campus. The district lists YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County and Tarrant County Kids, including on-campus and transported off-site arrangements. [2]

Does meeting the income limit guarantee a scholarship?

CCMS determines eligibility through application and verification. Income is one requirement alongside residency, child age and other household criteria. Ask the administrator to assess your circumstances and explain your Parent Share of Cost. [1]

How should I compare a sitter's quote with a program fee?

Give both caregivers the same required schedule. Compare the total payment for those hours, then ask about transportation, meals, missed days, late pickup and cancellation. Confirm who covers each handoff and any gap in care.