Last verified: October 2026
Is pre-K free in Knox County?
Pre-K is free for Knox County four-year-olds who qualify for Voluntary Pre-K, which Knox County Schools runs at 23 sites with income as the main test. A child must turn four on or before August 15, and three-year-olds may fill open seats after the 30th day of school.
The 2026-27 KCS preschool application opened March 6, 2026; watch the district's preschool page for the 2027-28 date.
Can I get help paying for daycare in Knoxville?
Often, yes. TDHS's Smart Steps program shares the cost of licensed care from six weeks old through kindergarten for working or studying parents (30 hours a week on average) whose income is at or under 85% of the state median, and some of those families owe a small weekly copay.
TDHS is currently contacting waitlisted families in groups, with 14 days to respond.
Can EFS pay for a private kindergarten in Knoxville?
Yes, if the kindergarten is EFS-registered. Several programs that stop at kindergarten are on the 2026-27 list, including Giving Tree Montessori, Morning Star Child Development Center and West Hills Baptist Church Preschool and Kindergarten. EFS cannot pay for pre-K.
Our preschool hub has 12 programs whose top grade is pre-K or kindergarten.
| Voluntary Pre-K | Smart Steps | EFS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | Four by August 15 | 6 weeks through kindergarten | Kindergarten and up |
| Run by | Local school district | TDHS | TDOE |
| Cost to family | Free if eligible | Weekly copay for some | Tuition above $7,530 |
| Main test | Income and risk factors | Income at or under 85% SMI plus 30 hours work/school | Residency and citizenship; tiers by income |
Where does a Knoxville family go from here?
Send us five answers in the funding check. A counselor then tells you, for your child specifically, which Tennessee program to apply for, how much it should pay and the very next deadline.