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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 1/2021 Age category exceptions 9.24.6 Age category flexibility related to kindergarten start dates CCAP recommends that agencies consider a child to be preschool age for payment purposes until September 1st following the child’s 5th birthday. When September 1st falls in the middle of the week, the school-age category and rate change is effective the following Monday (see Chapter 9.24, Provider Rates). CCAP allows for the following exceptions: • Child within four months of entering kindergarten - In August of each year, MEC² will complete the annual school age change batch. This process changes the age category for children who have reached the appropriate age to start kindergarten in the fall and who have a kindergarten start date entered on the child’s school window. Without a date entered in that field, the age change cannot occur and the child will remain in the preschool age category when they should be changed to school age. - If the parent or provider requests that the child be moved to the school age category, the worker may change the age category. When changing the age category, override the Service Authorization using the “Provision for Age Rate Flexibility” override reason, select the appropriate Age Rate Category and enter a case note explaining why the override was done. See “Edit Service Authorization” in the MEC² User Manual. When the age category of the child is changed, review the Service Authorization to ensure the appropriate maximum rate is paid. • Child starts kindergarten after 6th birthday - CCAP recommends that agencies consider a child to be school age for payment purposes on September 1st following the child’s 5th birthday unless the parent informs the agency that the child will not be starting school in September of that year. In this case, the child would not be school age until September 1st of the following year. MEC2 will determine the child’s age category based on information coded on the Member and School windows. Update the school window with the future kindergarten start date reported by the parent to continue paying the preschool rate. • Child starts kindergarten before 5th birthday - If a child starts school before the child’s 5th birthday, the child is considered school age on the day the child starts school. When the school start date falls in the middle of the week, the school-age category and rate change is effective the following Monday (see Chapter 9.24, Provider Rates). When changing the age category, override the Service Authorization using the “Provision for Age Rate Flexibility” override reason, select the appropriate Age Rate Category and enter a case note explaining why the override was done. See “Edit Service Authorization” in the MEC² User Manual. When the age category of the child is changed, review the Service Authorization to ensure the appropriate maximum rate is paid. Specialized infant and toddler family and group family child care providers A child attending a specialized infant and toddler family and group family day care is considered a “toddler” if they are least 12 months old but less than 30 months old. If the child meets the age criteria and the provider is licensed as a specialized infant and toddler family and group family child care provider, payments should be made at the toddler age-rate category. When changing the age category in MEC², override the Service Authorization using the “Provision for Age Rate Flexibility” override reason, select the appropriate Age Rate Category and enter a case note explaining why the