equal-access-payment-rates

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency’s payment rates for preschoolers in center-based care are not sufficient to ensure equal access, as required by 98.45(a). (Plan Question 4.3.2a) Overall Target Completion Date: 08/01/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Analyze market rate survey and flag possible rate increases 06/30/2024 2 Prepare a cost estimation of increased expense of rate increase and expected impact on overall decrease in number of children to be served 01/31/2025 3 Plan stakeholder meetings to discuss upcoming proposed policy change 04/30/2025 4 Take proposed policy change to Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council for endorsement and state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval 06/30/2025 5 Program new rates into payment system and test 09/30/2025 6 Policy change goes into final rule, Lead Agency conducts broader communications with the field 10/31/2025