Tzaharon (After-School Programme) Funding for Kindergarten Children

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. 1

   In brief

   The Ministry of Labor participates in the funding of tzaharonim (after-school programmes) for kindergarten-age children whose parents work or study.

   *Note: funding is split between the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education.

   • Ministry of Labor (this page): for kindergarten children of couples in socioeconomic clusters 6–7 and single parents in clusters 6–10.
   • Ministry of Education: for kindergarten children in clusters 1–5 and children in grades 1–2 in all clusters — see the separate Ministry of Education tzaharon subsidy guide.

   Funding is provided during the school year (1 September to 30 June) for children attending Ministry of Labor–recognised tzaharonim, 5 days a week, until at least 16:00. Recognised tzaharonim can be found by locality on the Ministry of Labor's search tool or on Kol Sherut.

   The funding level depends on:

   • The family's per-person income.
   • The number of weekly hours the parent works or studies.
2. 2

   Which children qualify?

   Eligible age groups:

   • All children aged 2.9 to 5.9 years.
   • Children aged 5.9 to 6.9 years if a doctor or psychologist from a child development institute has confirmed the child is developmentally delayed and it is recommended they stay another year in kindergarten.

   Funding will NOT be given for:

   • Children attending a programme that already runs an Extended School Day programme.
   • Children in another programme extended by the local authority or the state (except programmes running 'Ofek Chadash' until 14:00).
3. 3

   Who is eligible?

   Parents living in the specified localities where each parent meets one of the following conditions:

   • Working at least 32 hours per week (including research work under a scholarship).
   • Studying at least 32 academic hours per week in one of the recognised programmes:
     • Vocational training under ministerial supervision/funding, up to 2 years long
     • Ulpan for new Olim
     • Undergraduate or graduate studies at a recognised academic institution
     • Open University degree at 4 courses per semester minimum (up to 3 years of eligibility)
     • Studies recognised by the Ministry of Education for a teaching certificate
     • Studies for engineer / practical engineer degrees (handasai / technai)
     • Nursing studies at Ministry of Health–certified schools
     • Nutrition vocational courses at Ministry of Health national training centres
     • Torah studies at institutions supported by the Ministry of Education
   • Combined work and study totalling at least 32 weekly hours, plus additional conditions.
   • Serving in national service, national-civic service, or mandatory military service.
   • Persons with disabilities receiving a disability allowance from a government body.

   Geographic eligibility:

   • Couples: must live in localities ranked in socioeconomic clusters 6–7.
   • Single parents (independent parents): must live in localities ranked in socioeconomic clusters 6–10.

   Place of residence is determined by the Population Registry only. If your address is not up to date, update it at the Ministry of Interior.

4. 4

   Funding levels and income calculation

   The funding level is set based on:

   • The family's per-person income.
   • The number of weekly work/study hours.

   Per-person income calculation:

   • Two-parent family: (Parent 1 gross salary + Parent 2 gross salary) ÷ number of family members (parents + children under 18).
   • Single parent: (50% of the parent's gross salary) ÷ (family members + 1).

   Gross salary is calculated using the same components used for income tax purposes.

   You can use the state-eligibility-level simulator to calculate your expected funding level based on income.

   Weekly work hours effect:

   Weekly work/study hours	State funding level
   36 hours and above	Based on income test
   32–35 hours	Based on income test plus one level (i.e. slightly less funding)

   Additional notes:

   • Families with at least two children in a recognised tzaharon are entitled to higher state funding, but not more than the maximum for their funding level per child.
   • Parents receiving disability allowance follow special calculation rules.
   • Levels 3–12: the higher the level number, the lower the state funding percentage.
5. 5

   How to apply

   1. Get confirmation from the tzaharon that your child has been accepted.

   2. Submit the online application for funding level and participation via the government services portal — one of the parents or the child's guardian completes the form.

   • Applications can be submitted through a shortened process with personal identification, or through a standard process without identification.
   • Parents are required to complete the application in all cases — even if they are waiving the funding assistance.
   • Scan and attach the required documents (per your eligibility case) as listed in the Ministry's support-testing procedure.

   3. For parents with more than one child in a tzaharon — submit one application per child, but attach all other documents only with the first application.

   4. Keep your application number. At the end of the process you receive an application number as confirmation of receipt. Keep this for tracking and inquiries.

   Need help? Call the Day-Care, Family Day-Care and Tzaharon call centre on *2969 or 12222969 — available in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and Amharic.

6. 6

   Receiving the funding

   • Funding starts from the date the child enters the tzaharon or the date the tzaharon was recognised — whichever is later.
   • If the child enters the tzaharon by the 15th of the month, the subsidy is granted in full for that month.
   • If the child enters after the 15th of the month, no subsidy is granted for that month — the parents pay the full cost.
   • The subsidy is paid directly to the tzaharon (not to the parents).
7. 7

   Special cases

   Parents on maternity/parental leave (chufshat leidah):

   • Eligibility is preserved for 15 weeks from the start of the leave (extended by 3 weeks per additional baby in a multiple birth, and further extended if the leave was extended due to hospitalisation).
   • The funding level during the leave is based on the level set before going on leave.
   • Parents must update the number of family members (attach the ID card sefach — personal-details page) — the recalculated per-person income applies from the birth month.
   • At the end of the leave, parents must report returning to work via an employer's confirmation.

   Exceptions committee (Vaadat Charigim):

   • Parents who don't meet the eligibility conditions can, in certain circumstances, apply to the tzaharon funding exceptions committee.

   Changes in eligibility conditions during the year:

   • Parents must notify the Parents Employment Encouragement Division within 30 days of any change in the conditions on which the funding level was set.
   • Notify via the division's contact centre — details on the division's contact page.
   • The funding level will be updated (up or down) based on new data.

   Updating your funding level:

   • Salaried parents: submit 3 recent consecutive full-month payslips (or one payslip within the tax year covering at least 3 consecutive months). The updated level applies from the earliest of the 3 payslip months.
   • Self-employed parents: submit an accountant's or tax advisor's confirmation (Appendix 4 in the support-testing procedure) for at least 3 consecutive months. The updated level applies from the start of the school year, the date the child entered the programme, or the start of eligibility — whichever is later.
8. 8

   Helping organisations

   Government call centres:

   Organisation	Phone
   Ministry of Labor — Day-Care, Family Day-Care and Tzaharon centre	*2969 or 073-2458356 (Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic)
   Ministry of Welfare	118
   Sh'il — Citizens' Advice Service	118
   Central Government Response Centre	1299

   Support organisations:

   • Organisations supporting single-parent families
   • Organisations supporting women
   • Organisations supporting economically disadvantaged populations