Paying for Daycare in Massachusetts

Child care is a big part of many family budgets. The good news is that you may have more than one way to pay: weekly tuition, a pre-tax dependent care FSA through work, and, for some families, Massachusetts child care financial assistance. This page explains those options in plain language and points you to our current rates at Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center in Carver.

We cannot give tax or benefits advice. Please confirm details with your employer, a tax professional, or the state agency that runs a program you are applying for.

Current tuition at Bright Beginnings

Tuition is based on your child’s classroom and how many days per week they attend. We offer 2-day, 3-day, and 4/5-day weekly schedules for infants, toddlers, preschool, and Pre-K.

Current weekly tuition, as listed on our Rates page, is:

• Infants: $240 (2 days), $320 (3 days), or $405 (4/5 days)
• Toddlers: $230, $310, or $395
• Preschool / Pre-K full day: $200, $245, or $315

A yearly registration fee of $50 ($25 for each additional child) is due at enrollment, along with the first week’s tuition. Tuition is due in advance, by Friday before the week of care, and is subject to change. For late fees, withdrawal notice, and first-day paperwork, see the Tuition & Enrollment FAQ.

How families pay

Families pay tuition by ACH, Procare AutoPay, or check. We do not accept credit cards. Tuition is due in advance, by the close of business on the Friday before the week of care.

Paying with a dependent care FSA

A dependent care flexible spending account lets you set aside money from your paycheck, before taxes, to pay for eligible child care. If your employer offers one, it can lower the amount of income tax you pay on dollars you were already going to spend on daycare.

For 2026, the federal limit is $7,500 per year, or $3,750 if you are married and file a separate tax return. Your employer’s plan may set a lower limit, so ask your benefits office how to enroll and how to submit claims. Keep in mind that FSA rules are specific: the care usually has to be for a qualifying child, and you generally have to use the funds for eligible expenses during the plan year.

If you already have an FSA, we are glad to help with the paperwork on our side. Ask us at your tour, or once you are enrolled, how to get the receipts or statements your plan needs.

Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance

Bright Beginnings accepts Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance, often called CCFA or an EEC voucher. The program is run by the Department of Early Education and Care. If you qualify and funding is available, the voucher can help pay for care here.

Families apply online through MyChildCareMA. You will need a MyMassGov account, and you will be asked for documents that show identity, Massachusetts residency, and household income. If funding is not open right away, you may be placed on a statewide waitlist. Official instructions are on the Commonwealth’s page, “Apply for funds to help pay for child care.”

If you already have a voucher, or you are applying, call us at (508) 465-1215 or mention it on your tour so we can walk through how it works with our calendar and billing. Eligibility, wait times, and payment amounts are set by the state, not by our school.

Other practical ways families plan ahead

A few details are worth knowing as you budget, whether you pay privately or use a benefit:

• Tuition is not prorated for days out. Holiday closures, weather closings, illness, and vacation days are still billed, as explained on our Schedule page. Weather and emergency closings are announced in the Procare app.
• Meals are packed at home. Families send a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack each day, plus a water bottle. That is a grocery cost to plan for, not a line on our tuition sheet.
• Two weeks’ written notice is required to withdraw. Without it, tuition is still due.
• Late pickup after 5:00 p.m. has a fee of $25 per child, plus $1 per additional minute per child.

If your employer offers backup care, a commuting benefit, or a different dependent-care program, bring those questions on your tour. We will tell you plainly what we can and cannot do.

Talk with us about your schedule

Sometimes the most helpful cost decision is the schedule itself. A 2-day or 3-day week may be the right fit while a parent is part-time or sharing care with a grandparent. A 4/5-day week may be the better value if you need full coverage. We can walk through those options in person, in the classroom your child would actually join.

Bright Beginnings is at 5 Green St, Carver, MA 02330, and is open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We are now enrolling infants through Pre-K on a space-available basis. Tours go to brightbeginningscarver@gmail.com.

Schedule a tour · Call (508) 465-1215 · See current rates