Child Care Development Fund
– State Plan for Federal Fiscal
Years 2010 and 2011
Board of Early Education and Care
April 14, 2009
1
Discussion Overview
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CCDF State Plan Requirement
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Estimated CCDF Funding
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CCDF Goals and Purposes
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2
CCDF Goals
CCDF Purposes

CCDF Eligibility Requirements and Flexible Administration

CCDF Contents
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CCDF Updates

Key Policy Directions/Themes FY2007-2012

CCDF Plan: Next Steps and Submission Timeline
CCDF State Plan Requirement

In order to receive CCDF funds, Federal law
requires all States to submit a State Plan every
two years


The Lead Agency must submit a new State Plan
prior to the expiration of the current Plan in
order to continue receiving CCDF Funds

3
See 45 CFR Part 98.13(c); 98.17(a)
See 45 CFR Part 98.17(b)
Estimated CCDF Funding
4

EEC estimates that over $535 million in federal and state
funds will be available for child care services in FY10.

CCDF law places certain limitations and requirements on
Lead Agencies charged with administering child care
programs and services funded with federal funds. For
example:

At least 4% must be spent on activities to improve the quality
of child care

No more than 5% may be spent on administrative expenses

Not less than 70% shall be used for families: (1) on TANF;
(2) transitioning off TANF; or (3) at risk of receiving TANF

Congressional earmarks require states to spend sum certain
amounts on quality, in addition to the 4% requirement, on:
• Infant-Toddler activities
• General child care quality initiatives
CCDF Goals

5
Federal law identified the following 5 goals in creating
the CCDF block grant:

Allow each State maximum flexibility;

Promote parental choice;

Encourage States to provide consumer education to help
parents make informed choices about child care;

Assist States to provide child care to parents trying to achieve
independence from public assistance; and

Assist States in implementing the health, safety, licensing and
registration established in regulations.
CCDF Purposes

6
Federal lawmakers established that the purpose of
CCDF is to increase the availability, affordability and
quality of child care by:

Providing low-income families with the financial resources to
find and afford quality child care

Enhancing quality and increasing the supply of child care

Providing parents with a broad range of options

Strengthening the role of family

Improving the quality and coordination of child care

Increasing the availability of early childhood development
programs and before/after school services
CCDF Eligibility Requirements and
Flexible Plan Administration

Although Federal guidance grants great flexibility to
States in the design and implementation of their CCDF
State Plan, the regulations do contain certain minimum
requirements

For example, in order to be eligible for child care
services funded by CCDF, a child must:
be under 13 years of age, or under the age of 19 if special
needs;
 must reside with a family whose income does not exceed
85% of the state’s median income; and
 must either reside with a parent or parents who are
working or attending a job training or educational program
or be receiving protective services.
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CCDF Contents
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Part 1:
Administration
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Part 2:
Developing the Child Care Program
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Part 3:
Child Care Services Offered
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3.2 -- Payment Rates for the Provision of Child Care*
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Part 4:
Parental Rights and Responsibilities
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Part 5:
Activities & Services to Improve the Quality
and Availability of Child Care

Part 6:
Health and Safety Requirements for Providers
*Market Rate Study section to be completed week of April 20th
8
CCDF Updates

The New CCDF Plan references specific achievements, in line with the
Board’s Strategic vision, including:

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Quality improvements: Regulation Reform; UPK Expansion and
Policy Change; UPK Implementation Evaluation; Early Childhood
Mental Health Funding; QRIS; and Early Childhood Accountability
System – Technical Assistance Grant
Family Support, Access and Affordability: Increased Access for
MA Homeless families; Cost of Living Increase in MA SMI; and New
procurement for Income-Eligible contracts
Workforce Improvements: Early Recommendations by Education
and Care and Out of School Time Workforce Development Task
Force; New guidelines for ECE Scholarships; and New Professional
Development calendar
External and Internal Communications Strategy: New Family
Guide released – “Learn and Grow Together”; Progress on translation
of EEC materials; and Enhanced Child Care Search on website
Infrastructure Improvements: Developing an upgraded and
unified IT System; and Launched Single-Sign On web applications
Key Policy Directions/Themes
FY2007-2012
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
Streamlining access/making system more responsive for families
 Improving translation services
 Allowing communication via mail
 Streamlining documentation reviews
 Reassessing eligibility annually
 Extending SACC through age 13

Encouraging interagency collaborations
 Improving services for families involved with multiple state agencies

Integrating quality measures to ensure low-income families have access
to higher quality programs
 Income Eligible contract requirements
 Focusing on UPK Commissioner districts

Improving equity & transparency for families and ease of use
 Developing Unified IT System and Single Sign-On

Increasing accountability of providers and families
 Integrating IAP approach into monitoring
 Converting locally managed funds to centralized system
CCDF Plan: Next Steps and
Submission Timeline
11

April 14th Board Meeting – Initial Board Discussion
 April 17th– Submit plan to Planning & Evaluation Committee (PEC)
 April 24th– Receive comments/ edits from PEC
 April 28th- Post Document to Board Website for full review

May12th Board Meeting - Board votes to put plan out for public
comment

End of May – Public Hearing(s) are to be held

First Week of June– Summarize and review public comments and
revise plan, if needed; post final draft to Board website in preparation
of the June Board meeting

June 9th Board Meeting –Board votes to approve plan and authorize
submission to ACF

July 1st – CCDF State Plan due to ACF