Facebook Icon Instagram Icon
We're Hiring!
Inquire Now
Teacher assisting a child with blue plastic manipulative links at a table.

Get The Support You Need For Quality Care

Discover More About CAPS, Child Care Tax Credits, Military Support, Employer Benefits, & More

Help On Hand For Your Hard-Working Family

Child care is one of your biggest priorities, and you want to be sure your child is getting the very best start. There are options available to help you offset the cost of care, and we’ve made it easy to learn about them.
Parents sitting on a couch listening attentively as their child gestures with hands.

See What Option Works for You

Georgia CAPS (Childcare and Parent Services) helps eligible families pay for early childhood education. And we accept it at every single one of our centers—Covington, Jackson, and Loganville—because we believe:

  • Family finances should never stand between a child and a quality early education.
  • Every child deserves a safe, loving, nurturing place to learn and grow. 
  • Every child deserves teachers who see them, celebrate them, and pour into them. 
  • Every child deserves a strong start—no matter what.


If you’re looking for support to give your child the best start, learn more about CAPS here, check out the FAQs below, and explore the quality care we offer by calling your nearest location:

Eligibility: Military includes active duty, Army Reserve, National Guard, veterans, and immediate family members. First Responders include police, firefighters, and EMTs (must show valid ID).

Discount:

  • 50% off the annual registration fee ($75 instead of $150)
  • 5% off weekly tuition

Eligibility: Full-time public school teachers and teacher’s aides (must show valid school ID or pay stub)

Discount:

  • 5% off weekly tuition


Break Attendance Waiver: Because your schedule aligns with the school calendar, you will not be charged weekly tuition for any scheduled break weeks (Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring) if your child does not attend.

A child tax credit is intended for people who are financially supporting—you guessed it—a child. For 2025, the credit is worth up to $2,200 ($1,700 refundable) per child.

To qualify, a child must be under age 17 at the end of the year; have a Social Security number; be your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant; live with you for more than half of the year; be claimed as your dependent; and pay for no more than half of their own expenses. You’ll also have to satisfy income requirements.

Separate from the child tax credit, this credit is available for taxpayers who paid care expenses for another person (a dependent) while they worked or looked for work. To qualify for this credit, your dependent must be under age 13, or someone (typically a spouse or parent) who lives with you at least half the year and is unable to care for themselves.

The child and dependent care credit covers 20% to 35% of your work-related expenses, depending on your income, up to a maximum of $3000 for one person ($6000 for two or more people).

The earned income tax credit, or EITC, is intended for workers with low to moderate incomes. To qualify, you must have a Social Security number, be a citizen or resident alien, have a certain amount of earned income, not have foreign income, and have less than $11,000 in investment income.

How much your EITC is depends on how many eligible children you have (the more kids/relatives you claim, the higher your income and credit can be). For 2023, the maximum EITC without kids was $600. With one child, $3995; with two, $6604. For three or more children, $7430.

Keep in mind that if you claim the EITC or additional child tax credit (mentioned above), the IRS is legally obligated to hold onto your tax refund until mid-February.

If your family needs help with tuition, there are state and local agencies to provide tuition subsidies. This map is a great starting point for finding the financial assistance resources available.

More and more employers are adding child care benefits to their employee compensation packages because it’s hard to do your job without reliable child care! 

Talk with your employer or your HR department about whether they offer child care benefits and how to use them. 

When you refer another family to us, and they enroll a child for at least a month, you get a discount on a week’s worth of tuition.

CAPS FAQS

CAPS helps make quality early education more affordable for Georgia families. Below are answers to some of the most common questions parents ask:

CAPS stands for Childcare and Parent Services. It is a scholarship program run by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) that helps low-income families pay for child care. The program supports families while they work, attend school or training, or participate in other work-related activities. Think of CAPS as a helping hand–so you can focus on providing for your family while your child grows and learns in a safe, nurturing environment.

You can apply for CAPS online through Georgia Gateway, the state’s benefit portal.

The amount CAPS pays depends on several factors, including your family’s income and size, the type of child care center, your child’s age, and the location and star rating of your provider. 

On average, CAPS pays about $268 per child monthly. Some families may also pay a small weekly family fee toward the cost of care, based on their income. The best way to know your exact benefit amount is to complete an application. CAPS will calculate your scholarship based on your specific situation.

To qualify for CAPS, families must meet all of the following basic requirements:

  • Georgia resident with a child 12 or younger who is a US citizen.
  • Child must have up-to-date immunizations
  • You must be working, attending school or training, or participating in other state-approved activities
  • Income limit: your family’s income must be at or below 50% of the State Median Income


Priority is given to:

  • Children in DFCS custody
  • Families experiencing domestic violence
  • Children with disabilities
  • Children enrolled in a GA Pre-K Program
  • Families transitioning from TANF
  • Minor parents
  • Families experiencing homelessness
Once you submit your application, a CAPS staff member will contact you to review your application. If approved, CAPS will notify you and your child care provider. We will receive the scholarship in the CAPS system once your child’s schedule and hours are approved.
CAPS are applied annually, and they are not automatically renewed. That means you’ll need to complete an annual redetermination to keep your scholarship. CAPS will send you a notice when it is time to renew.
We believe that every child deserves a high-quality early education regardless of their family’s financial situation. Accepting CAPS allows us to welcome more families into our AKW community and fulfill our mission of providing loving, caring, and safe learning environments for all children. We are proud to be a CAPS-approved provider and to partner with Georgia families.

If you don’t see answers to your questions about making childcare costs easier, call us or drop in for a chat.

How Old Is Your Child?

Infant smiling brightly while resting in a colorful seat.
Infants

6 Weeks - 1 Year
Toddlers sitting on a play mat playing with colorful plastic building blocks.
Toddlers

1 - 2 Years
Child sitting in a wooden high chair smiling warmly.
Preschool

3 - 4 Years
Child smiling brightly outdoors in front of leafy green foliage.
Pre-K Prep

3.5 - 4 Years​
Child smiling happily in front of classroom storage cubbies.
Georgia Pre-K

4 - 5 Years​
Child standing near an entrance and smiling brightly.
Before & After School

5+ Years​
Children sitting outdoors on a curb enjoying snacks together.
Summer Camp

5 - 12 Years​