1.1 Introduction

The DC Child Care Subsidy Program (“Child Care Subsidy Program”), administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), provides financial assistance to families with eligible children seeking access to child care while the parent(s) or guardian(s) work or attend job training or educational programs. A child may also qualify for enrollment in the Child Care Subsidy Program through special circumstances. This manual is intended to help families, child care providers, and other stakeholders understand key policies and procedures related to the Child Care Subsidy Program. OSSE's Division of Early Learning (DEL) provides leadership and coordination of the Child Care Subsidy Program with support from the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) and Level II child care providers. The Child Care Subsidy Program is an important component of DC's efforts to support all DC families with young children to access high-quality, affordable child care for children birth to 5. It is also essential in supporting safe and enriching out-of-school time (OST) care for children enrolled in school up to age 13 (or 19 for children/youth with a disability). School-age children (ages 5 and older) may only participate in the Child Care Subsidy Program for OST care and may not receive a child care subsidy when public educational services are available. The policies established in this document are based on adherence to the following federal and local laws including, but not limited to: • The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act and its implementing regulations, 45 C.F.R. Part 98; • The Day Care Policy Act of 1979, effective Sept. 19, 1979 (DC Law 3-16, DC Official Code § 4-401 et seq.); • District of Columbia’s Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan, current version; and • Chapter 2 of Title 5A of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (5A DCMR § 200 et seq.). The funding available for this program is DC local funds, as well as federal funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the CCDF and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, as appropriate.