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CAPS Policy – Participating Providers No.: CAPS/00-11 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 10/01/2024 Revision Effective: 10/01/2024

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 63 of 109 their learning or has a court order for supervision) at a given time, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parent(s)’ state-approved activity. For the purpose of the CAPS program, the parent cannot reside at, or work for, the family child care learning home that receives subsidies for the parent’s children. For each child in Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) custody, the State shall be considered the parent. Therefore, a foster parent of each child in DFCS custody is not considered the parent for the purposes of CAPS. 11.4.2 Licensed providers must be Quality Rated to participate in the CAPS program. For the purpose of CAPS, a Quality Rated Provider is one that is Star Rated, in CAPS/Quality Rated Probationary Status, or in CAPS/Quality Rated Provisional Status. For additional information on Quality Rated refer to the CAPS Quality Rated Guidelines and Requirements (Appendix II). 11.4.2.1 Providers who fail to earn or maintain a one-, two-, or three-star rating in Quality Rated may be placed in CAPS/Quality Rated Probationary Status. Providers in CAPS/Quality Rated Probationary Status will be enrolled in a Quality Rated Cohort Group as directed by Quality Rated. Providers in CAPS/Quality Rated Probationary Status may participate in CAPS for up to twelve (12) consecutive months if they maintain adequate progress as reported to CAPS by Quality Rated. Providers who do not achieve at least a one-star rating after the initial twelve (12) months may, at DECAL’s sole discretion and not subject to appeal, be granted an additional six (6) months in CAPS/Quality Rated Probationary Status. Providers with a probationary status can accept new CAPS scholarships and retain any existing CAPS scholarships if they maintain adequate progress to obtain a star rating as reported to CAPS by Quality Rated. 11.4.2.2 Providers new to CAPS and not a Quality Rated Provider may be placed in CAPS/Quality Rated Provisional Status. Providers in CAPS/Quality Rated Provisional Status will be enrolled in a Quality Rated Cohort Group as directed by Quality Rated. Providers in CAPS/Quality Rated Provisional Status may participate in CAPS for up to twelve (12) consecutive months if they maintain adequate progress as reported to CAPS by Quality Rated. Providers who do not achieve at least a one-star rating after the initial twelve (12) months may, at DECAL’s sole discretion and not subject to appeal, be granted an additional six (6) months in CAPS/Quality Rated Provisional Status. Providers with a provisional status can accept new CAPS scholarships and retain any existing CAPS scholarships if they maintain adequate progress to obtain a star rating as reported to CAPS by Quality Rated. 11.4.2.3 Providers who choose not to become Quality Rated will not be able to receive child care subsidy payments. Providers currently participating in the CAPS program who allow their rating to expire will be dismissed as prescribed in CAPS Child Care Provider Rights and Responsibilities Policy (CAPS/00-12). 11.4.2.4 At DECAL’s sole discretion and not subject to appeal, CAPS may grant a family a time- limited waiver allowing the issuance of scholarships to a provider who is not a Quality Rated Provider. License-exempt Child Care Providers 11.5.1 Providers with the following exemption types may participate in the CAPS program. For current exemption rules and regulations, visit http://www.decal.ga.gov/CCS/Exemptions.aspx. 11.5.1.1 Government owned and operated (Category 1) – As defined in Georgia Rules for Child Care Learning Centers, Rule 591-1-1-.46(b)1, programs which are owned and operated by any department or agency of state, county, or municipal government. This includes, but is not limited to, the customary school day, as defined in Georgia law, and before and/or after school programs in public schools operated by the public school system and staffed with school system employees and recreation programs operated by city or county parks and recreation departments and staffed with city or county employees. 11.5.1.2 Day camps (Category 7) – As defined in Georgia Rules for Child Care Learning Centers, Rule 591-1-1-.46(b)7, Day camp programs for children five years of age and older that are operated between school terms, whose primary purpose is to provide organized