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develop the appropriate strategies based on the needs of communities where gaps may exist. Until a quantitative method is defined, more general strategies are in place and those include higher subsidy rates for care, technical assistance for implementing best practices in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, offers business support through the Thriving Child Care Business Academy online platform of free training and resources to give owners and administrators the knowledge and tools to enhance their financial management skills with the goal of making their centers and family homes thriving child care businesses, and continuous improvement of the child care licensing process to ease the potential burdens related to becoming a licensed child care program. ii. Method of tracking progress: The Lead Agency’s Research and Policy Analysis Team and Enterprise PM Director report trends for relevant data at the monthly, quarterly, and annual level. iii. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using family child care homes? Until a quantitative method is defined, more general strategies are in place and those include higher subsidy rates for care, technical assistance for implementing best practices in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, offers business support through the Thriving Child Care Business Academy online platform of free training and resources to give owners and administrators the knowledge and tools to enhance their financial management skills with the goal of making their centers and family homes thriving child care businesses, and continuous improvement of the child care licensing process to ease the potential burdens related to becoming a licensed child care program.

iv. What is the plan to address the child care shortages using child care centers? Until a quantitative method is defined, more general strategies are in place and those include higher subsidy rates for care, technical assistance for implementing best practices in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, offers business support through the Thriving Child Care Business Academy online platform of free training and resources to give owners and administrators the knowledge and tools to enhance their financial management skills with the goal of making their centers and family homes thriving child care businesses, and continuous improvement of the child care licensing process to ease the potential burdens related to becoming a licensed child care program. c. In care for special populations: i. Data sources used to identify shortages: In 2021, the Lead Agency commissioned the Urban Institute to conduct stakeholder engagement activities that identified overall early education needs across the state. One of the needs identified was for child care during nontraditional work hours. Based on these initial findings, the Urban Institute conducted further research to determine where nontraditional hour care was most needed. This supplemental research study was completed in early 2023. Based on these findings, the Lead Agency created a pilot program: Expanding Parents’ Access to Nontraditional Delivery (EXPAND) grants, offering child care providers and community collaboratives funds to extend hours and/or create local community solutions. Also, existing data tools are enabling staff to