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reflected variation in geographic area (e.g., county, region, urban, rural). Include information on whether parts of the State or Territory were not represented by respondents and include information on how prices or costs could be linked to local geographic areas. Results of the market rate survey were analyzed at the state and county levels. Based on county-level data and reported rates, counties were assigned to one of three market rate zones. Zone One encompasses the highest tier of rates and generally coincides with the counties in the Atlanta metro area; Zone Two encompasses the middle tier of rates and generally coincides with the state’s counties encompassing mid-sized metro areas; Zone Three encompasses the lowest tier of rates and consists of the remainder of the state’s counties. ii. Describe how the market rate survey or pre-approved alternative methodology reflected variation in type of provider (e.g., licensed providers, license-exempt providers, center-based providers, family child care home providers, home based providers). Results of the market rate survey were analyzed and reported by child care learning centers and family child care learning homes, the two types of providers that make up the priced market for CCDF. While licensed-exempt and informal caregivers are allowed to participate in the subsidy program under certain conditions, their inclusion as an option to families should not mean that they should be considered an influential part of the priced market to be considered in the Market Rate Study. These programs typically care for less than 1.5% of all children in care in the subsidy program. For licensed-exempt providers to participate, they must be either government owned and operated or a seasonal camp for school aged children. An informal caregiver can also participate but is not typically a provider that would market themselves for services or otherwise collect a fee for services. Including these unlicensed providers would ultimately skew analysis in a way that would negatively impact license providers and their markets. Also, licensed-exempt providers that participate are reimbursed at the same level as child care centers and informal caregivers are reimbursed at the same level as family child care learning homes. iii. Describe how the market rate survey or pre-approved alternative methodology reflected age of child (e.g., infant, toddler, preschool, school-age): Results of the market rate survey were analyzed and reported by the following age groups: under 1 year, 1 year olds, 2 year olds, 3 year olds, 4 year olds, 5 year olds, and school-age. In addition, results were reported by age groups that align with subsidy payment rates: infant (birth - 12 months), toddler (1 - 2 years), preschool (3 - 5 years), school-age (5 years and older). iv. Describe any other key variations examined by the market rate survey or ACF pre- approved alternative methodology, such as quality level: Results were broken out by different Quality Rated (QRIS) levels and by providers' participation in CCDF subsidy 4.2.2 Cost analysis If a Lead Agency does not complete a cost-based pre-approved alternative methodology, they must analyze the cost of providing child care services through a narrow cost analysis. A narrow cost analysis is a study of what it costs providers to deliver child care at two or more levels of