With the school year starting in New Jersey amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the state announced plans to dedicate $250 million in funding from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund, which will provide additional support to children and their families as well as for thousands of child care providers with resources.
School-Age Tuition Assistance Program
The New Jersey School-Age Tuition Assistance Program can help you pay for care for your school-age child in need of child care as a result of COVID-19 remote learning schools schedules. To be eligible for this assistance, you must be:
- a NJ resident;
- your child must be attending school remotely, either part-time or full-time; and
- your annual gross household income must be $150,000 or less.
Note, the income cap was increased from $75,000 to $150,000 on October 1. If you previously applied for tuition assistance and were denied because of income, someone will be reaching out to you shortly.
Tuition rates are:
| Provider Type |
Full-Time Monthly Rate |
Part-Time Monthly Rate |
| Licensed Child Care Centers |
$634.27 |
$317.14 |
| Registered Family Child Care |
$526.52 |
$263.26 |
This assistance is available until December 30, 2020 and applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted.
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Child Care Subsidy Program - Expanded Care
As part of this initiative, the state will pay your licensed or registered child care provider from September 1, 2020 through December 30, 2020 for child care during the school day. To be eligible for this assistance, your child must be attending school remotely, either part-time or full-time. You do not have to do anything to receive this expanded care as Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R) have reached out to eligible families. If you have not been contacted, you can reach out to your
local CCR&R for assistance.
Stabilization Grant
The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development (DHS/DFD) is making stabilization grants available to help New Jersey licensed child care centers and registered family child care programs meet the increased costs of re-opening and remaining open. The grant will offer providers that are open or will open by October 1 with stabilization grants to manage added operational costs due to new COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. These grants will be available to the nearly 6,000 child care providers in New Jersey to support COVID-19-related costs such as purchasing PPE and other supplies and materials, cleaning and sanitation. For more information, visit the
Grants page.
Supplemental Payment for Subsidy Providers
To support the reopening and sustainability of child care providers, licensed centers and registered family child care programs that are serving children receiving the state child care subsidy, the state will provide supplemental payments of $75 per subsidy-eligible child, per month, starting September through December 30, 2020. This includes infants, toddlers, and school-age children. Providers will be receiving information shortly regarding these supplemental payments.