Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner Vermont Department for Children and Families 280 State Drive, NOB 1 North Waterbury, Vermont 05671

Dear Deputy Commissioner McLaughlin: The Office of Child Care has completed its review of the proposed amendments to Vermont's approved Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for FFY 2025- 2027, submitted on February 13, 2025.

This letter is to inform you that the following CCDF Plan amendments were approved.

Eligibility and Enrollment: Eligibility • Plan Question 2.2.2. Eligibility criteria: reason for care. Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/7/2024.

• Plan Question 2.2.4. Initial eligibility: income limits. Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/6/2024.

Equal Access: Affordability • Plan Question 3.1.2b. Sliding fee scale and percentage of income. Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/6/2024.

• Plan Question 3.1.2c. Effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s). Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/6/2024.

Program Integrity: Effective Internal Controls • Plan Question 10.1.5b. CCDF requirements and program integrity training: providers. Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 1/15/2025. Approval of this amendment indicates that Vermont’s CCDF Plan demonstrates compliance with the Final Rule, as required by 98.68(a)(3).

330 C Street, S.W., Washington DC 20201 | www.acf.hhs.gov

Page 2 – Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner

Please note the following amended Plan questions are complete.

• Plan Question 3.1.2d. Link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s). Amended to reflect Changes that affect CCDF administration, procedures, and/or policies that affect parents and/or providers access to the program, effective 10/6/2024.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact Samantha Reinstein, Child Care Program Manager in our Region I Regional Office at (617) 565-1149 and Samantha.Reinstein@acf.hhs.gov.

We appreciate your efforts to meet the child care needs of eligible families in Vermont and look forward to our continued partnership in the administration of your Child Care and Development Fund Program.

Sincerely,

Digitally signed by ANNE-MARIE TWOHIE Date: 3/26/2025 1:22 PM EDT

Anne-Marie Twohie Acting Director Office of Child Care

cc: Chris Case, Director of Policy and Planning Emily Hazard, Child Care Benefits Administrator Samantha Reinstein, OCC Regional Program Manager, Region I Christine Johnson-Staub, Program Operations Liaison, Office of Child Care