Admissions Overview

Thank you for your interest in SOMACC's schools and programs!

Selecting an early care and education program, your child’s introduction to formal education, is one of the most important and sometimes difficult decisions you will make. The process can be demanding and daunting for both you and your child.

South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) provides an admissions route that is designed to help your family become better acquainted with our programs and understand the steps to take and what to expect when applying to SOMACC. In addition, this journey allows ample opportunities for our school community to form relationships with you and your child.

  • SOMACC is aware of the shortage of early care and education spaces in San Francisco and of the frequent long wait periods to gain access to service. While we would love to accept each child who applies for entry into SOMACC, we must adhere to strict licensing capacity and enrollment guidelines, hence we maintain a waiting list of families interested to enroll in our schools.

    If after a thorough exploration of our website and a tour of our school(s) you find that your values and philosophies coincide with ours, please feel free to submit an application to be placed on our waiting list. We are hopeful that down the road, we would be able to serve your child and family.

    We look forward to meeting you and learning about your family.

Enrollment at SOMACC

Enrolling at SOMACC means becoming a part of our amazing community of families and educators from all walks of life who are dedicated to a successful partnership between school and home. Our school community also has a high level of parent/family participation and involvement, which not only supports our Agency but also enhances our students' development and learning experiences.

  • SOMACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, medical condition, or disability in admissions or in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship, and financial aid programs, or other school-administered programs.

    SOMACC reserves the right to make enrollment, classroom makeup, and placement decisions depending on the needs of individual children and/or the greater school community.

    SOMACC also reserves the right to dismiss any student if the school, in its sole discretion, determines that the child's or the school's welfare requires such removal.

Our Schools

SOMACC operates two full-day, year-round schools: the Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center (YBG CDC) and the Transbay Child Development Center (TB CDC). Every year, our schools' Early Care and Education Programs serve nearly 130 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

  • SOMACC has always prioritized serving low-income, immigrant, and vulnerable populations in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco and surrounding communities.

    There is great diversity among the children and families we serve. Our SOMACC community is comprised of people from various cultures, languages, socioeconomic levels, family structures, backgrounds, and abilities/disabilities. Children and families impacted by poverty and other risk factors account for at least 55% of our enrollment.

Admissions Process

  • Attend a tour to learn about South of Market Child Care, Inc. (SOMACC) and our schools, Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center (YBG CDC) and Transbay Child Development Center (TB CDC).

    Although a tour is not required before submitting a waitlist application, we still believe that "seeing is believing." This is why we strongly encourage all prospective students' parents/guardians to attend one of our tours before submitting an application. Before you choose our school(s), we want you to have as much information as possible to ensure a good match for your child and family.

    You will gain a better understanding of our organization, programs, philosophies, and other services during your visit; walk through our environments; observe the children and our amazing and dedicated staff in action; and have your questions answered.

    Reservations are required for our tours because space is limited and spots fill up quickly. For tour availability, please click here.

  • Due to the high demand for high-quality, full-time early care and education services in San Francisco, our schools are often at full enrollment capacity, needing the maintenance of a centralized waiting list of families interested in enrolling.

    Waitlist applications are accepted throughout the year. The submission of a completed application form along with a $100.00 non-refundable fee places your child on our waitlist.

    The application fee can be paid via Venmo or by check (payable to SOMACC).

    Download a Waitlist Application Form


    How to submit an application form

    • Email + Venmo

    Send your application to joy@somacc.org and pay your application fee to one of the following Venmo accounts:

    @SOMACC (under "Businesses")
    @joywi-somacc (under "People")

    5852 is the last four digits of the phone number associated with the accounts.

    Please write "Application Fee for (child's name and due date/date of birth)" in the Venmo comment.

    • Postal Service

    Send your application form and check to:

    South of Market Child Care, Inc.
    Attention: SOMACC Admissions
    790 Folsom Street
    San Francisco, CA 94107

    • In-person

    Make an appointment to drop off your application form and fee at 790 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 by emailing Joy Wi at joy@somacc.org.

    Please Note

    • We only offer full-time positions.

    • Being on the SOMACC waitlist does not guarantee enrollment in our programs. We also cannot guarantee that your requested start date will be met.

    • All applications and fees are non-transferable and non-refundable.


    For More Information

    If you have any questions about private enrollment, please email Joy Wi, Development and Admissions Manager, at joy@somacc.org.

  • If you think you are eligible for low-income assistance, go to the Early Learning SF website to apply.

    Early Learning SF is a county-wide centralized early care and education eligibility list that connects families to financial assistance for early care and education through a single application. It's an easy-to-use website that allows families to select childcare or preschool programs that meet their specific needs.

    For More Information

    If you have any questions and would prefer to speak with someone in person, please contact the following organizations:

    • Children’s Council of SF
      Phone: 415.343.3300
      Email: rr@childrenscouncil.org (Multilingual staff available)
      Walk-in: 445 Church Street
      Hours: Mon-Thu 8:30am-4pm, Fri 8:30-noon.

    • Wu Yee Children’s Services
      Phone: 1.844.644.4300
      (Multilingual staff available)

    • Compass Family Services
      Phone: 415.644.0504
      (For homeless families only)

    If you would like to speak with someone from SOMACC, please email Rabiya Shaikh at rabiya@somacc.org.

  • SOMACC values the partnership between school and home, and thus recognizes the importance of getting to know the parents, as well as the child and the rest of the family, during the admissions process.

    To that end, when an opening becomes available, we look at the existing classroom needs and match them with the families on the waitlist. Families who are eligible for admission are contacted via email and/or phone, and the parents/guardians and child are invited for a dialogue and a school visit. The child must be present during the visit.

    Through the dialogue, parents and SOMACC staff will be able to learn more about each other and the program in order to determine if there is a good fit between the school, the child, and the family.

    Participating in the school visit can ease the child and family's transition into a new environment. It will provide them with the opportunity to become acquainted with the school, meet the teachers and students, participate in class activities, or simply play and explore. This allows us to get to know your child and family further in a relaxed, nurturing, fun, yet structured environment.

  • Your application will be reviewed after the dialogue and school visit, and you will be notified of SOMACC's acceptance decision via email and/or phone within a few days. You may also be offered enrollment on the spot during your visit.

    SOMACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, medical condition or disability in its admissions decisions.

  • When a family accepts an enrollment offer, SOMACC requires a signed Enrollment Contract and a non-refundable enrollment deposit equal to 50% of the monthly tuition fee to secure the child's place at the school. The enrollment deposit will be applied to the child's tuition during the first month of attendance at SOMACC.

  • Parent orientation meetings can be held virtually or in person. Class orientations and play dates are held on-site.

    In addition to completing an enrollment packet, mandatory orientation meetings for parents are conducted prior to the child's start date so that we can share information that will help the family and the child not only get off to a good start but also have a positive experience while enrolled at SOMACC. A play date will also be held to introduce the child to our school and his/her classroom, teachers, and peers.

    At the meeting:

    • Review the SOMACC Parent Handbook which includes the Agency's policies, practices, and procedures.

    • Discuss SOMACC's services and the family's Service Contract.

    • Learn more about the child and family.

    • Review the class policies, curriculum, routines, schedule, etc.

    • Discuss any concerns or issues.

Please read our Waitlist FAQs for more information about SOMACC's waiting list.