Last verified: October 2026
Who qualifies for Smart Steps child care assistance in Tennessee?
Smart Steps helps families whose parents average at least 30 hours a week of work or undergraduate study and whose household income is at or below 85% of the state median income. It covers children from six weeks old through kindergarten, and the family pays a weekly copay.
TDHS also runs related programs for teen parents in school, relatives caring for a child in a Families First case, families leaving Families First, and referrals from DCS and SNAP Employment and Training.
Is there a waitlist for Smart Steps in 2026?
Yes. TDHS says it has begun contacting families on the Smart Steps waitlist in groups; contacted families have 14 days to respond and submit an application.
Applications go through the One DHS Customer Portal, and benefits must be renewed every 12 months.
How does Smart Steps fit with private school funding for a Nashville family?
Smart Steps fills the years before EFS starts and pays for care rather than tuition. A family with a toddler and a second-grader might use Smart Steps at a church child care center and EFS at an elementary school in the same year.
Use the TDHS Find Child Care search and filter for providers that accept the child care assistance program.
| What Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| Payment help for licensed child care, 6 weeks through kindergarten | Not tuition aid for grades 1-12 |
| Income-tested at 85% of state median income | Not free for most families (a weekly copay applies) |
| Tied to 30 hours a week of work or school | Not immediate for everyone while the waitlist is worked |
| Run by TDHS, not TDOE | Not the same as Voluntary Pre-K |