equal-access-payment-rates

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency’s payment rates for infants in center-based care and 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: 01/30/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Continue to advocate for legislation that moves the rates to at least the 50th percentile across the board. 06/30/2025 2 Put in a decision package for FY27 that raises rates to at least the 50th percentile for infants and preschool. 08/29/2025 3 Use Preschool Development Grant funding to look at piloting infant rate increases in the interim to support the infant/toddler sector based on what RI applied for. Use data from pilot to support rate increases in the future through legislation. 08/29/2025