April 3, 2024 Submit a Comment: Child Care Development Fund Members of the public are invited to review Pennsylvania’s 2025-27 Child Care Development Fund plan and submit comments online or in writing through the mail. Child Care Development Fund Plan Every three years, the state is required to submit a Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) plan that describes how CCDF money will be administered in the state’s child care system. The plan is a requirement for funding through activities prioritized in the Child Care Development Block Grant. The CCDF is one of the primary federal funding sources for monitoring regulated child care programs as well as providing child care subsidies through Child Care Works, improving child care quality through Keystone STARS, and offering professional development. Public Comment Period The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has finalized the first draft of the 2025-27 CCDF plan. The public comment period for the draft is now open. Early childhood education professionals and partners can either submit a comment online or in writing through the mail to: OCDEL, Attention: Jessica Sands 607 South Drive 4th Floor Rotunda Harrisburg, PA 17120 The deadline for submitting comments is April 26. Virtual Public Hearing Those interested in submitting a comment may also do so by attending one of two CCDF State Plan Virtual Sessions. Members of the public can attend the virtual sessions without providing a comment, but they must still register for the session. Registration is now open for the virtual session on April 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and for the session on April 17 from noon to 2 p.m. Trying Together’s Office Hours Trying Together will offer office hours in April regarding the Child Care Development Fund plan. Providers can attend any of the following Zoom meetings without registering in advance: April 12, 1-2 p.m. April 15, 9-10 a.m. April 24, 2-3 p.m. April 25, 10-11 a.m. April 26, 12-1 p.m.
December 29, 2021 CCW Enhancements to Lower Family Copays and Increase Provider Base Rates On October 18, 2021, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced changes to Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program, that will decrease costs to families who qualify for subsidized care and add incentives for child care providers to participate in the program. This article was updated on December 29, 2021, to reflect a new effective date for copays. CCW Enhancements Pennsylvania received more than $1 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support the commonwealth’s child care industry, child care providers, and the children and families that rely on this system. $352 million in Child Care Development Fund federal ARPA funding will also support: Lower maximum copayments for families eligible for CCW, effective January 17, 2022: $121.9 million will be used to reduce the maximum family copayment for families participating in subsidized child care through CCW. Current copayments range from 3-11% of a family’s overall income. This change will lower the copayment to 3-7%, in line with federal recommendations for family obligations for subsidized child care. No family will see an increased copay through the adjustment, and providers will still receive the difference as a part of the CCW base rate. Increased base rates for providers participating in CCW, effective January 1, 2022: $213.7 million will support increasing base rates paid to subsidized child care to the 60th percentile compared to the private pay market rate. This change brings Pennsylvania closer to the federally-recommended 75th percentile. Nearly two-thirds of children whose families are eligible for CCW are enrolled in a STAR 1 or 2 rated facility. By investing in base rates to providers participating in CCW, Pennsylvania is investing in quality across the child care industry for the children and families served by this program. In March 2021, the Wolf Administration raised base rates from the 25th percentile to the 40th percentile. Rate incentives for providers that offer child care during non-traditional hours, effective January 1, 2022: $16.8 million will support add-on incentives to CCW base rates for child care providers that offer at least two hours of care during non-traditional hours. Prior to the pandemic, the Keystone Command Center for Economic Development and Workforce recommended expanding availability of licensed child care before 6 a.m. and after 6 p.m. – what is normally considered “traditional” child care hours – in order to give flexibility and security for working parents. These rate incentives will support providers that offer care outside of traditional hours, giving parents a safe place for their children and the security necessary to help parents return to work. More Information For more information on child care providers operating in Pennsylvania, visit www.findchildcare.pa.gov. Providers seeking to apply for Child Care Stabilization Grants can learn more and apply online. For details, read Gov. Wolf’s full press release.