Antoinette Mitchell, Superintendent of Education Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) 1050 First Street, NE Washington, District of Columbia 20002

Dear Superintendent of Education Mitchell: The Office of Child Care has completed its review of the proposed amendments to District of Columbia's approved Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for FFY 2025-2027, submitted on January 23, 2026.

This letter is to inform you that the following CCDF Plan amendments were approved.

Eligibility and Enrollment: Continuity of Care (12-Month Eligibility) • Plan Question 2.5.2a. Minimum 12-month eligibility at initial determination. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.21(a)(1).

• Plan Question 2.5.2c. Policies for redetermination. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.21(a)(1)(ii).

Equal Access: Payment Rates • Plan Question 4.2.1. Completion of the market rate survey or ACF pre-approved alternative methodology. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(c)(1), 98.45(c)(2), 98.45(e)(1), 98.45(e)(2), 98.45(d)(1).

• Plan Question 4.2.2a. Method of narrow cost analysis. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(1)(ii).

330 C Street, S.W., Washington DC 20201 | www.acf.hhs.gov

Page 2 – Antoinette Mitchell, Superintendent of Education

• Plan Question 4.2.2b. Variations in cost analysis. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(1)(ii).

• Plan Question 4.2.2c. Assumptions and data used in cost analysis. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(1)(ii)(A).

• Plan Question 4.2.2d. Definition of and assumptions related to higher quality in cost analysis. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(1)(ii)(B).

• Plan Question 4.3.1b. Effective date of current payment rates. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024.

• Plan Question 4.3.2a. Base payment rates and percentiles. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(a).

• Plan Question 4.3.2b. Percentiles calculated based on most recent MRS or alternative methodology. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(2)(i).

• Plan Question 4.3.4a. Methodology or process for setting payment rates. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(2).

• Plan Question 4.3.4b. Adequacy of rates to meet requirements. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(2)(ii).

Page 3 – Antoinette Mitchell, Superintendent of Education

• Plan Question 4.3.4d. Accounting for the cost of higher quality while setting payment rates. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(2)(iii).

• Plan Question 4.3.4e. Additional facts considered in setting payment rates. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(b)(8).

Equal Access: Provider Options for Parents • Plan Question 4.5.1. Child care services available through grants or contracts. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2025. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.30(b)(1).

Comprehensive Background Check: Background Check Processes • Plan Question 5.7.13a. Completion of background checks within 45 days. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.43(e)(1).

Consumer Education: Website and Resources for Parents • Plan Question 4.2.3. Publicly available report on the cost and price of child care. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. Approval of this amendment indicates that District of Columbia’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with 98.45(f)(1), 98.45(f)(1)(iii).

Please note the following amended Plan questions were complete.

• Plan Question 4.2.2e. Gap between cost and price in cost analysis. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. This question is now complete.

• Plan Question 4.3.4c. Use of cost of care in setting payment rates. Amended to reflect changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents

Page 4 – Antoinette Mitchell, Superintendent of Education

and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/1/2024. This question is now complete.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact Agda Burchard, Regional Program Manager at (215) 861-4096 and agda.burchard@acf.hhs.gov.

We appreciate your efforts to meet the child care needs of eligible families in District of Columbia and look forward to our continued partnership in the administration of your Child Care and Development Fund Program.

Sincerely,

Digitally signed by ANNE-MARIE TWOHIE Date: 3/26/2026 4:12 PM EDT

Anne-Marie D. Twohie Deputy Director Office of Child Care

cc: Sara Mead, Deputy Superintendent of Early Learning, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Hannah Matthews, Director, Policy, Planning and Research, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Agda Burchard, Regional Program Manager, Office of Child Care Meryl Barofsky, Program Operations Liaison, Office of Child Care