Finding daycare in Alaska is different from finding it in most other states. Roads connect only part of the state, winters shorten the usable day, and many families live hours from the nearest licensed provider. The listings here cover centers, preschools, school-age programs, and hospital or tribal programs, from Anchorage to Kotzebue. This page explains who regulates child care, how the picture changes between the road system and the bush, and what to know before you pick up the phone. Read it alongside the listing counts shown above.

Who Licenses and Oversees Daycare in Alaska

Child care facilities in Alaska operate under state law, mainly Alaska Statutes Chapter 47.35 and the regulations in 7 AAC 57. Those rules cover staff background checks, supervision, health and safety, and inspections. Outside Anchorage, the state's Child Care Program Office handles licensing. Inside the Municipality of Anchorage, the municipal health department runs its own licensing program, so Anchorage providers answer to local inspectors rather than state ones. When you compare providers, ask which office licenses them and check their record with that office.

The listings in this directory fall into a few practical groups:

Not every arrangement needs a license. Small home-based care and care by relatives can fall outside the licensing rules, and the regulations set the thresholds. If a provider says they are exempt, ask the licensing office to confirm. A license does not guarantee quality, but it does mean the provider has passed background checks and inspections.

Two statewide resources are worth knowing. Thread is Alaska's child care resource and referral network, and it helps parents understand their options and find providers. Learn & Grow is the state's quality recognition and improvement system, and participating providers can show their level. The state's Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible working or studying families pay for care. Eligibility depends on household size, income, and activity, so apply early.

Daycare Along the Road System: Anchorage, Mat-Su, and Fairbanks

Anchorage is where most Alaska child care is concentrated. The Anchorage Municipality County page lists programs across the city, from church-based preschools such as Amazing Grace Lutheran Preschool on Elmore Road to larger centers elsewhere in the municipality. Because Anchorage has its own licensing office, records and complaint processes differ from the rest of the state. Parents with a long commute along the Glenn or Seward Highway often choose a provider near work instead of home, so look at both ends of your route.

North of the city, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough County area has grown quickly, and many families there commute toward Anchorage. Wasilla is roughly 40 miles from downtown Anchorage. Providers include All About Kidz Child Care & Learning Ctr on South Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla, Little Friends Childcare on North Old Glenn Highway in Palmer, and Ccs Early Learning- Sutton/Palmer Center on Wright Way in Sutton-Alpine. Drive times matter more than miles here, especially in winter when the highway slows.

In the Interior, Fairbanks North Star County covers Fairbanks and North Pole. After School Program - Csf on Monroe Street and Jack Frost School Age Program on Lakloey Drive show that school-age care is a large part of local supply. Temperatures here can fall far below zero, so ask how a program handles outdoor play, drop-off, and closures. Fort Wainwright also operates federal military child care, which follows federal rules rather than the state licensing system.

Southeast, Kenai Peninsula, and Kodiak: Daycare Beyond the Highway Grid

Southeast Alaska has no road link between its main towns, so families look only within their own community. In Juneau City and Borough County, Aurora Lights Childcare Center on Cinema Drive is one local option. Juneau is the state capital, so many parents work in government, and the winter legislative session brings extra seasonal staff to town. Ketchikan General Hospital Child Care on Washington Street is an example of employer-linked care, and 3 To 5 Preschool Inc. on College Drive is one of Sitka's preschool options. Smaller towns have fewer choices: Serendipity Childcare Center in Petersburg, Craig Child Care Center on Prince of Wales Island, Chilkat Valley Preschool in Haines, and The Rookery At Gustavus.

On the Kenai Peninsula, the Kenai Peninsula County listings stretch along the Sterling and Seward Highways. Creative Play & Preschools Ltd-Soldotna on East Redoubt Avenue, Ak Kids Club on Bidarka Street in Kenai, Girassol Learning Center & Art Studio on Bartlett Street in Homer, and Roo's Rascals Preschool & Daycare Center on Madison Street in Seward each serve a different town. Fishing, tourism, and oil-related work create seasonal and shift schedules, so ask whether a provider offers flexible days or summer enrollment.

Kodiak is reached by air or ferry. Kodiak Baptist Mission on East Rezanof Drive is one of the island's listed programs, and families there depend almost entirely on local providers.

Rural and Tribal Child Care in Bethel, Kotzebue, Dillingham, and Nome

Many Alaska communities cannot be reached by road, and child care there is built around schools, tribal organizations, and regional nonprofits. In Bethel, Lksd Early Learning Programs on Ron Edwards Memorial Drive carries the name of the Lower Kuskokwim School District; the Bethel Census Area County page shows nearby listings. In Kotzebue, Maniilaq Children S House on Bison Street carries the name of the regional tribal health organization. In Dillingham, Bbna Child Care Center on Kanakanak Road is tied to the Bristol Bay Native Association. In Nome, Nome Preschool Association Inc on East 5th Avenue serves the Seward Peninsula hub.

Other examples include Galena Early Learning Center on Tom Cook Loop, Denali Pre-School And Learning Center in Healy, and Children's Pallas in Cordova. In towns this small, a single provider may serve the whole community, so capacity is limited and a call well ahead of time matters.

A Note on Alaska's 'County' Labels

Alaska has no counties. It has organized boroughs, plus a large unorganized area that the federal government divides into census areas. This directory uses county-style names such as Valdez-Cordova (CA) County or Wrangell-Petersburg (C County so that Alaska fits the same structure as other states. Those names come from census geography, and some of those areas have since been split or renamed. Rely on the town name and street address when you search.

In rural Alaska, phone calls usually work better than websites. Small programs often run on small staffs and may not update online listings. If you cannot reach a provider, the local school district office or tribal office can often tell you who is currently taking children.

Licensed daycare and childcare programs in Alaska are regulated by the state's child care licensing division, which establishes standards for health, safety, staff qualifications, and caregiver-to-child ratios to protect enrolled children.

Daycare locations are available in 28 cities across Alaska. They are spread across 20 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, reflecting population centers where working families have the greatest demand for licensed childcare options.

Families in Alaska searching for licensed childcare should verify that any facility is currently licensed by the state, check inspection history, and inquire about available subsidy programs that may reduce out-of-pocket childcare costs.

Daycare by Counties

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Daycare by Cities

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Families in Alaska can verify the licensing status of any childcare provider through the state's child care licensing agency online database. Income-eligible families may qualify for childcare subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund program administered at the state level.

Browse Daycare by county across Alaska to find the nearest location.

Before You Enroll in an Alaska Program: Questions Worth Asking

Start your search earlier than you think. Many Alaska providers keep waiting lists, and infant spaces are usually the hardest to find. If you are relocating for a military posting, a seasonal job, or a state government position, contact providers before you arrive. When you reach one, ask for the license number and the office that issued it, then check inspection records with that office. Bring these to a visit:

Ask about fees, deposits, late pickup charges, and holiday closures in writing. Costs vary by region, age group, and program type.

Alaska Daycare FAQs

Outside Anchorage, licensing is handled by the state's Child Care Program Office under Alaska Statutes Chapter 47.35 and the regulations in 7 AAC 57. Inside the Municipality of Anchorage, the city's own health department licenses and inspects providers instead. That split surprises many newcomers, so ask each provider which office issued its license. You can request inspection history and complaint records from that office. Licensed providers must meet requirements for background checks, staff supervision, and safety. A few small or relative-based arrangements are exempt, so a missing license is not always a red flag, but it is worth asking why.

Yes. The Child Care Assistance Program, run through the state, helps eligible families who are working, attending school, or in training. Eligibility depends on household size, income, and your activity. The state sets the current income limits and payment rates, and these change over time, so check the latest figures before you apply. Providers generally need to be approved to receive payments, so ask a daycare whether it accepts assistance before you enroll. Thread, the statewide resource and referral network, can often point families toward application help and other support.

Start with the town's own network. School districts, tribal organizations, and regional nonprofits run or support many rural programs, as the names Lksd Early Learning Programs in Bethel, Maniilaq Children S House in Kotzebue, and Bbna Child Care Center in Dillingham suggest. Call the program directly, since small providers often keep phone lines current before websites. Ask the school district office or tribal office about openings, and contact Thread for referrals. Expect limited capacity and ask about age ranges, because some small programs take only preschoolers. If no licensed program exists in your village, ask about licensed home providers in a nearby community.

Ask for the written policy on extreme cold, including the temperature at which children stay indoors, and how the program announces closures. Ask how children are dressed for outdoor play, whether the building has enough indoor space for active play during long winters, and how drop-off works when roads are icy or snowy. In Fairbanks, North Pole, and Interior communities such as Galena and Healy, cold snaps can be severe, so a clear policy matters. Also ask about backup plans if staff cannot reach the building during storms, and whether the program closes when the local school district does.

School-age programs appear throughout our listings. After School Program - Csf on Monroe Street in Fairbanks and Jack Frost School Age Program on Lakloey Drive in North Pole are two examples, and Ak Kids Club on Bidarka Street in Kenai is worth a call. Ask whether pickup from your child's school is included, how the program handles early-release days, and whether it offers care during school breaks and summer. Hours and age limits differ from one program to the next. School-age spaces can fill in late summer, so call before the school year starts rather than in the first week of classes.

Apply as early as you can, ideally months before you need care. Infant spaces are the hardest to find, and popular programs keep waiting lists. Anchorage has the largest supply in the state, but good programs there can still fill. In Wasilla and Palmer, families who commute toward Anchorage compete for the same spaces. In Juneau, a small market means fewer openings at any one time. Many families join several waiting lists, then tell the other providers once a spot opens. That courtesy helps the next family on the list and keeps your relationship with the provider good.