How Child Care Is Licensed and Overseen Across Tennessee

Anyone searching for a daycare in Tennessee will deal with one main state agency: the Tennessee Department of Human Services, usually shortened to TDHS. Its child care licensing staff set minimum standards, inspect facilities, and follow up on complaints. There is no separate county licensing system. A center in Memphis answers to the same state rules as a home program in Trenton or McMinnville.

Licensing is organised by size. Family child care homes are private residences that look after a handful of children, roughly five to seven. Group child care homes take a somewhat larger group, up to about twelve. Child care centers care for thirteen or more children, and they make up most of the commercial and church-based programs in our database. Each type has its own rules on staff training, space, supervision and safety.

Staff at licensed programs must pass background checks before they work with children, and the screening includes fingerprints. Inspectors check hygiene, medication storage, sleeping arrangements, playground conditions and emergency plans. A licensed provider should be able to show you its current license on request. Inspection findings are public, so you can look up a provider's record before you enrol.

Tennessee also publishes a Child Care Report Card, which includes a star-quality rating for participating programs. Ratings run from zero to three stars, and a higher number reflects practices that go beyond the legal minimum. A star rating is a useful tiebreaker between two similar programs. It is not a substitute for visiting in person.

Not every program in our listings is overseen in the same way. Several names carry an (-E-) tag, such as Blue Springs Pre-K/Head Start in Cleveland and Elizabethton Early Learning Center. Those are generally exempt programs, often connected to school systems, and they follow different oversight than a standard licensed center. If you are considering one, ask which agency inspects it and get the answer in writing.

Daycare in West, Middle and East Tennessee: Metro and Rural Differences

Tennessee is divided into three Grand Divisions, and child care supply follows population. The pattern in our database is clear. The large metros hold most of the listings, while rural counties have a thin supply that can fill quickly.

West Tennessee and the Memphis Area

Memphis dominates the western end of the state. Shelby County has more daycare listings than any other county, from neighborhood programs such as Just For Kids on Marlin Road to large church-linked centers. Outside Shelby County the supply thins out. Jackson, in Madison County, has a solid cluster that includes A+ Kentay's Childcare Service on Tucker Street. Small towns such as Trenton, in Gibson County, may have only a few options, like Little People's Day Care on East 4th Street. Families in these towns should confirm hours and openings by phone before relying on a program.

Middle Tennessee: Nashville and Its Fast-Growing Suburbs

Davidson County is centered on Nashville, where American Child Care Center on Murfreesboro Pike is one of many listed programs. The sharpest growth is in the surrounding counties. Rutherford County, with Murfreesboro and Smyrna, lists Annie's Playhouse and Big Hearts Little Hands. Williamson County, home to Franklin and Brentwood, includes Bethlehem United Methodist Pre K and Harpeth Hills Preschool. Waiting lists in fast-growing suburbs can be long, especially for infants, so start looking well before you need the space. Farther out, Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville and Lebanon each have their own local supply. Amare Montessori on Warfield Boulevard in Clarksville and Blessed Beginnings in Columbia are two examples.

East Tennessee: Knoxville, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities Corridor

Knoxville anchors the east, and Knox County lists programs such as Central Baptist Ftn City School Age on North Broadway, a good example of the school-age care many listings offer. Hamilton County covers Chattanooga, where 21st Century Child Development And Learn on Bailey Avenue is listed. In the northeast, Kingsport has George Washington Sch/Early Childhood on Bellingham Drive, and Greeneville, Morristown and Elizabethton have smaller but active markets. Maryville, in Blount County, includes Apostolic Christian Academy After School. Mountain geography matters here. A program that looks close on a map can mean a longer drive on winding roads, especially in winter.

Reading a Tennessee Daycare Listing: What the Names and Types Tell You

Names in the database often hint at who runs a program. Entries such as Asbury Child Enrichment Center in Greeneville and Children First at First United Methodist in Hendersonville suggest a congregation hosts the program. Others, like Ms Sherry's Day Care in Lebanon or Ma-Ma's Kiddie-Poohs in Cookeville, read like smaller, home-style businesses. These are only clues, so confirm the details with the provider. Here are the main types you will meet:

Always call the number in the listing to confirm that a program is open, taking new children, and approved for your child's age. Listings are compiled from public records and can lag behind closures or changes of ownership.

Paying for Daycare in Tennessee and Finding Financial Help

Costs vary by county, by the child's age and by program type. Infant care costs more than preschool care because each caregiver can look after fewer babies. We do not quote prices here because they change often. Ask every provider for a written fee sheet that covers registration, supplies, late pickup charges and holiday closures.

Families with limited income may qualify for help through the TDHS Child Care Certificate Program, which pays part of the cost at participating providers. Eligibility depends on household income, family size and a qualifying reason such as work, school or job training. Apply through TDHS, and ask each provider whether it accepts certificates before you commit.

Tennessee's Voluntary Pre-K runs through local school districts for four-year-olds, with priority for children from lower-income families. Head Start is a federal program with its own eligibility rules. Contact the school district or the program directly for current enrolment dates.

Before You Enrol in a Tennessee Program: A Practical Sequence

Start with a short list of three programs near your home or workplace. Call each one and ask about openings for your child's age, hours, fees and the license type. Then book a visit during a normal weekday, not a quiet moment, so you see real routines.

During the visit, watch how staff speak to children and how many children each adult supervises. Look at the sleeping area, the outdoor space and the way medication and allergies are handled. Ask how the program communicates with parents and what happens when a child is sick. Finally, check the state report card and inspection record, and trust your own judgment about the place.

Licensed daycare and childcare programs in Tennessee 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 376 cities across Tennessee. They are spread across 95 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, reflecting population centers where working families have the greatest demand for licensed childcare options.

Families in Tennessee 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

A
B
C
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W

Daycare by Cities

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W

Families in Tennessee 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 Tennessee to find the nearest location.

Matching a Tennessee Daycare to Your Commute and County

In Tennessee, the best daycare is often the one that fits your daily route, not the one closest to home. Families in the Nashville area commonly weigh interstate traffic into the choice. Someone who lives in Murfreesboro but works downtown may prefer a program near the office. Others choose a program in Rutherford County so that pickup is easy on the way home.

The same trade-off applies in Williamson County, where Franklin and Brentwood programs draw families from several surrounding communities. In Clarksville, in Montgomery County, many households have ties to nearby Fort Campbell. Military families should also ask about installation child development programs, which are federal and operate under their own rules rather than the TDHS licensing process described on this page.

For rural counties, the question is availability more than choice. Programs in towns like Trenton, McMinnville and Cookeville may serve a wide area, so ask about waiting lists and backup care. A practical approach is to keep a second option on file in case your first choice closes, changes hours or fills up. Write down each provider's name, phone number and the date you spoke, so follow-up calls are easier.

Daycare in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions

The Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses and monitors most child care agencies in the state. Its licensing staff set standards for centers, group homes and family homes, conduct inspections and respond to complaints. Counties and cities do not run separate licensing programs, so the same state rules apply in Memphis, Knoxville and small towns alike. Some programs, such as certain school-run or other exempt programs, fall under different oversight. When you call a provider, ask which type of approval it holds and which agency inspects it.

Start with the state Child Care Report Card, which TDHS publishes online. It shows license information, star-quality ratings for participating programs and inspection results. You can also ask the provider to show its current license, which should be available on request. If something in the record is unclear, contact TDHS child care licensing directly and ask for clarification. Check the record before you visit, then compare what you read with what you see on the tour.

In our data, names such as Blue Springs Pre-K/Head Start in Cleveland, Elizabethton Early Learning Center and Donelson Christian Aca At Silver Sprins in Mount Juliet carry an (-E-) tag. It generally marks an exempt program, which is one that is not licensed in the standard way, often because a school or similar body operates it. Exempt does not mean unsafe, but oversight differs. Ask the program which agency inspects it, what staff screening it requires and how complaints are handled.

Yes, if your household qualifies. TDHS runs the Child Care Certificate Program, which helps eligible families pay part of the cost at participating providers. Eligibility depends on income, family size and a qualifying reason such as employment or school. Not every provider accepts certificates, so ask before you enrol. For four-year-olds, Voluntary Pre-K through your local school district is another route, and Head Start serves eligible families through separate federal rules. Apply early, because processing and enrolment can take time.

Generally, yes, in terms of choice. Memphis alone accounts for 984 of the 5,617 listings in our database, so families there can compare many programs by price, hours and location. In smaller places such as Trenton, McMinnville or Cookeville, you may find only a few providers, such as Little People's Day Care in Trenton or Grow And Learn Day Care in McMinnville. Fewer options mean you should call early, ask about waiting lists and keep a backup. Availability also depends on your child's age, since infant openings are scarce nearly everywhere.

Providers usually ask for your child's immunization record, often on the state certificate of immunization form or a record from a doctor or health department. Bring your child's birth date documentation, emergency contacts, the names of people authorised to pick up, and your doctor's contact details. Write down any allergies, medications and special feeding or sleeping needs. If you are using a payment certificate, bring that paperwork too. Each provider sets its own list, so call ahead and ask exactly what is required on the first day.