Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Kansas

Find the right daycare in Kansas in under 5 minutes. 1,300 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services. Free, no signup.

1,300
Licensed Centers
$900/mo
Avg Infant Care
$720/mo
Avg Preschool
1:3
Infant Ratio
Search 1,300 Kansas centers Estimate your monthly cost

Kansas Childcare Licensing

In Kansas, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:3 for infants under 12 months, 1:7 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:12 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services

What's distinctive about Kansas: Kansas requires the country's tightest infant ratio at 1:3. Costs are mid-range despite tight ratios because rent and wages remain modest. CCDF caseloads are stable.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services
Infant ratio
1:3
Toddler ratio
1:7
Preschool ratio
1:12
Avg infant cost
$900/mo
Avg preschool cost
$720/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Kansas

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Wichita
95 centers
Topeka
34 centers
Kansas City
23 centers
Overland Park
18 centers
Shawnee
14 centers
Lenexa
12 centers
Leawood
11 centers
Neodesha
10 centers
Olathe
9 centers
Belleville
9 centers
Garnett
8 centers
Newton
7 centers
Financial help

Kansas Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Kansas families can apply for Kansas Child Care Subsidy Program based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (888) 369-4777

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Kansas & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Kansas
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Kansas

Montessori
163 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
163 centers
Family Daycare
163 centers
Child Care Center
163 centers
Preschool
162 centers
Infant Care
162 centers

Recently Verified Centers

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O Preschool

Overland Park Learning Tree #5

West Mineral

Preschool (2-5) Cap 94
J Head Start

Jumping Jacks Overland Park #6

Yates Center

2 years - 12 years Cap 69
O Before/After School

Overland Park Sunflower Daycare #7

Zcta 667hh

School Age (5+) Cap 34
O Infant Care

Overland Park Panda Kids Academy #8

Emporia

Preschool (2-5) Cap 95
O Montessori

Overland Park Wonder Years #9

Admire

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 43
L Licensed Center

Little Genius Overland Park #10

Bushong

Infants & Toddlers Cap 93
O Family Daycare

Overland Park Cloud Nine Kids #11

Alta Vista

School Age (5+) Cap 96
N Group Care

Nurturing Hearts Overland Park #12

Americus

School Age (5+) Cap 18
O Preschool

Overland Park Smart Start Academy #13

Burdick

Preschool (2-5) Cap 59
O Head Start

Overland Park Little Angels #14

Strawn

2 years - 12 years Cap 60
E Before/After School

Explorer Kids Overland Park #15

Burns

School Age (5+) Cap 29
O Infant Care

Overland Park Generations Daycare #16

Cassoday

Preschool (2-5) Cap 101

Daycare in Kansas — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Kansas is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/186/Search-for-a-Licensed-Child-Care-Provid.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Kansas?
State minimums in Kansas are roughly 1:3 infants, 1:7 toddlers, and 1:12 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Kansas?
Full-time infant care averages about $900/month; preschool runs around $720/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Kansas trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Kansas?
Yes. The primary state program is Kansas Child Care Subsidy Program, reachable at (888) 369-4777. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Kansas daycare?
File a complaint with the Kansas Department for Children and Families — Child Care Services via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 1,300 Licensed Kansas Centers

Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.

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