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CAPS Policy – Definitions and Acronyms No.: CAPS/00-2 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 10/06/2025 Revision Effective: 10/06/2025

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 8 of 109 2 DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS

Definitions Administrative Error – an error made by the Agency causing incorrect payment of subsidy and/or eligibility to be determined incorrectly.

Administrative Hearing – a judicial proceeding conducted so as to afford a parent or child care provider their due process rights required by applicable law.

Adult – for the purposes of CAPS, any person who is 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor. For the purposes of criminal records check processes, an adult can be 17 years of age.

Adult Basic Education (ABE) – academic instruction and services eighth grade level and below that increase an individual’s ability to: read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

Adult Secondary Education (ASE) – academic instruction and services between the ninth and twelfth grade levels that increase an individual’s ability to: read, write, and speak in English and perform mathematics or other activities necessary to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

Adverse Action – an unfavorable action taken by DECAL against a child care provider or a parent.

Adverse Action Period – the 14-day notification period CAPS gives parents before an adverse action will go into effect.

Alimony – money paid by a spouse pending or after a legal separation or divorce.

Appeal – the right to request a hearing as a result of an adverse action.

Applicant – the parent, guardian, or person acting in loco parentis (with whom the child resides) who submits the request for CAPS child care assistance.

Application – the form prescribed by CAPS used to apply for child care assistance.

Approval – disposition of an application for a parent who is determined eligible for CAPS services when funding is available. This occurs after an assessment has been made on a complete application.

Arrival and Departure Records – a daily attendance record documenting the child’s arrival and departure times signed by the parent or other authorized representative. Formerly referred to as sign-in / sign-out logs.

Authorized Representative – an individual granted written permission by the parent to perform specified duties, including duties related to the application process or daily pickup and drop-off. The authorized representative may not be an employee of the child care provider except in limited circumstances (e.g., the employee is a family member, friend, or neighbor of the child and routinely performs pickup and drop-off duties because of their relationship to the child).

Authorized Signer (delegee)-a person who is not legally responsible for the organization by virtue of their position but is granted permission to sign documents related to participation in the CAPS program.

Before and After School Scholarship – the type of scholarship authorized when child care is needed for a school age child before and/or after customary school hours while school is in operation for the child receiving care. Before and after school child care also includes children who are enrolled and attending Georgia’s Pre-K Programs or Head Start.

Biological – parent who has given birth to (mother) or fathered the child or is related by blood affiliation to the third degree of consanguinity, such as, a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, great-grandparent, or older sibling.