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professionals. Program changes included adjusting eligibility requirements to make more professionals eligible for the program and increasing financial supports for earning a CDA. Early data shows the program changes are resulting in more people accessing DECAL Scholars. CCDF funding will be used to maintain program changes. 6.1.2 Strategies to support provider business practices a. Describe other strategies that the Lead Agency is developing and/or implementing to strengthen child care providers’ business management and administrative practices. Recognizing that business owners in the child care industry would need skills to help them become financially self-sustaining as federal coronavirus relief funds reached an end, the Lead Agency partnered with a national management consulting firm and a statewide small business development center in 2023 to create the Thriving Child Care Business Academy. The Academy provides an online platform of free training and resources to give owners and administrators of child care centers and family homes the knowledge and tools to enhance their financial management, leadership, marketing, and human resources management skills to make their facilities thriving businesses. The training includes webinars, small study groups, individual coaching, and self-study guides and videos covering dozens of business topics for which providers can receive state-approved training hours and stipends in some cases. The Lead Agency plans to use CCDF funds to continue the Thriving Child Care Business Academy training program and expand its offerings during the next state plan period, including adding 3 ￿ 5 new trainings and associated resources. Additionally, the Lead Agency incorporates training around business practices into its grants offered to child care administrators and will continue to provide offerings during the next state plan period. Directors of child care programs participating in Project LITTLE (Lifting Infants and Toddlers through Language Rich Environments) participate in a Director’s Forum that covers topics on leadership, supporting grant implementation, and administrative practices that contribute to running successful child care programs. b. Check the topics addressed in the Lead Agency’s strategies for strengthening child care providers’ administrative business practices. Check all that apply: i. [x] Fiscal management. ii. [x] Budgeting. iii. [x] Recordkeeping. iv. [x] Hiring, developing, and retaining qualified staff. v. [x] Risk management. vi. [x] Community relationships. vii. [x] Marketing and public relations. viii. [x] Parent-provider communications. ix. [x] Use of technology in business administration. x. [x] Compliance with employment and labor laws. xi. [x] Other. Describe any other efforts to strengthen providers’ administrative business: The free Thriving Child Care Business Academy’s online business training and resources available to center and family learning home owners and