The Dallas City Council approved the Early Childhood and Out-of-School Time Services (ECOSTS) Program on Sept. 23 to continue providing childcare subsidies for working families across the city.
Funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, the program served 200 children ages 0-12 during fiscal year 2025-26 and will have the same capacity for fiscal year 2026-27, according to the city.
“This program helps address a critical need for childcare for working families in the city,” Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a press release. “The City Council’s action reiterates its strong support for expanding access to quality childcare and emphasizes the program’s role in helping Dallas parents maintain employment and educational opportunities.”
According to the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment, the $550,537 in CDBG funding supports one full-time staff position, with the remaining amount allocated based on the number of children who transition into fiscal year 2026-27.
As of Oct. 1, 68 families are on the program’s waiting list, according to the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment.
Families from fiscal year 2025-26 are completing the recertification process, and those who are approved will transition into fiscal year 2026-27. Once the budget is evaluated, the city will determine how many additional children can be enrolled.
The city currently works with 14 childcare providers. The program supports a combination of daycare and after-school care providers.
