Management Bulletin 20-18

Early Learning and Care Division

Subject: Reopening and Reimbursement Requirements for Direct Service Contractors

Number: 20-18

Date: September 24, 2020

Expires: June 30, 2021

Authority: Senate Bill (SB) 98 (Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020) and SB 820 (Chapter 110, Statutes of 2020)

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Administrators of General Child Care and Development Programs (CCTR); California State Preschool Programs (CSPP); California Family Child Care Homes Education Networks (CFCC); Programs for Children with Severe Disabilities (CHAN); Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG).

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Purpose

The purpose of this Management Bulletin (MB) is to notify and provide guidance to General Child Care and Development Programs (CCTR); California State Preschool Programs (CSPP); California Family Child Care Homes Education Networks (CFCC); Severely Disabled Programs (CHAN); Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG) direct service contractors on:

• Requirements for reopening and reimbursement limitations
• Parent signatures on monthly attendance records or invoices for CFCC contractors only
• Prioritizing services to enrolled families due to capacity limitations
• Services for school-age children during distance learning
• Attendance and fiscal reporting reminders and requirements

Background

Reimbursement is determined by the specific contract type as defined in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR). Specifically, 5 CCR Section 18054(a) requires that General Child Care and Development Program (CCTR), California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Severely Disabled Program (CHAN), and Migrant Child Care and Development Program (CMIG) direct service contractors are reimbursed the lesser of:

1. The Maximum Reimbursable Amount (MRA) as stated in the contract;
2. Net reimbursable program costs; or
3. The product of the adjusted child days of enrollment for certified children, times the contract rate per child day of enrollment, times the actual percentage of attendance plus five percent (5%), but in no case to exceed one hundred percent (100%) of enrollment.

The annual Funding Terms & Conditions (FTC) Section V(L) requires that CFCC contractors are reimbursed based on the lesser of:

1. The contract’s MRA; or
2. The amount earned, which is defined as net reimbursable program costs, of which at least seventy percent (70%) must be payments for direct services, not more than thirty percent (30%) may be for support services and administrative costs together, and no more than fifteen percent (15%) may be for administrative costs alone.

The California Education Code (EC), Section 8271 states that agencies that are unable to operate due to circumstances beyond the control of the operating agency, including but not limited to: incomplete renovations, fires, floods, or earthquakes; shall not be penalized for incurred program expenses, nor in subsequent annual budget allocations. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit California, this EC section was relied upon pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 117, Chapter 3, Statutes of 2019, to allow direct service contractors to file COVID-19 Emergency Closure Requests in order to be credited with days of attendance when the program was closed due to reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EC Section 8209, authorizes the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) to waive any requirements of EC or 5 CCR requirements that would directly impede disaster relief and recovery efforts, or would disrupt the current level of service relating to early learning and childcare programs and child nutrition programs when the Governor declares a state of emergency. Any waiver granted pursuant to EC Section 8209 shall not exceed 45 calendar days.

In recognition of the ongoing impacts of early learning and care (ELC) facility closures, low-attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related public health directives, Senate Bill (SB) 98 (Chapter 24, Statutes of 2020) amended EC 8209(f), authorizing the SSPI to reimburse agencies contracted to operate a CCTR, CSPP, CHAN, CMIG, or CFCC that meet certain requirements, as specified in the guidance below.

On September 18, 2020, the Governor signed SB 820, which includes permitting direct service contractors who operate on a Local Education Agency (LEA) campus that is closed by local or state public health guidance or orders, to remain closed and be funded to be operational when the LEA has required the early learning and care program to close. In order to promote continuity of care, the LEA authority that required the early learning or childcare program closure is required to discuss in a public hearing the early learning or childcare closure and prepare a plan for safely reopening those early learning or childcare programs as soon as safely possible, but no later than when the LEA campus opens for in-person instruction.

The SB 820 authorizes the SSPI to establish guidance on prioritizing families for in-person early learning and childcare services when a direct service contractor’s ability to serve enrolled children is limited due to local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 that impacts group size or ratios. Additionally, SB 820 requires direct service contractors to provide children who are not able to receive in-person services with distance learning services pursuant to guidance issued by the SSPI.

The SB 820 allows providers reimbursed by alternative payment programs using the Regional Market Rate (RMR) to submit an attendance record or invoice without the parent or guardian signature when the parent is unable to sign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The provider must attempt to collect the parent’s signature and the monthly attendance record or invoice must meet all other requirements set forth in EC 8221.5.

The CDE sent out an email to subscribers of the ELCD’s email distribution list on July 19, 2020, that stated that direct contract programs, including CCTR, CSPP and CMIG that are operated by a LEA or operate on a LEA campus, including community-based organizations that operate on a LEA campus, may physically close and continue to be funded when the LEA site has determined it may not open. Other program models not on a LEA campus must remain open unless these programs have been directed to close by a local or state public guidance or order related to COVID-19. Any early learning or childcare program or program component that closes as a result of these conditions must provide distance learning for enrolled children and families. Additionally, this email informed direct service contractors of the requirements from SB 98 to reopen by September 8, 2020 or twenty-one (21) days from the approved calendar start date, and allowed those contractors to submit revised calendars for the 2020-21 program year. This MB supersedes that email, and direct service contractors shall follow the directives listed in the MB below.

On September 11, 2020, the CDE, ELCD released MB 20-17 Requirements for Distance Learning Plans, Program Quality, and Distance Learning Services for Direct Service Contractors. This MB provides direct service contractors with the requirements for the distance learning plan, program quality, and the delivery of distance learning services for children and families who are not receiving in-person services. The MB 20-17 can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2017.asp

Policy

For FY 2020-21, the direct service contractors listed above are to be reimbursed the lesser of 100 percent of the contract’s MRA or net reimbursable program costs in accordance with the directive below. In order to be reimbursed pursuant to the limits defined in EC Section 8209(f), direct service contractors must either:

1. Physically open to provide early learning or childcare services for enrolled families by September 8, 2020, or within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the start date of the contracting agency’s FY 2020-21 approved program calendar, whichever is sooner, and remain open and offer services through the 2020-21 program year; or
2. Not physically open by September 8, 2020, or within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the start date of the contracting agency’s FY 2020-21 approved program calendar, due to local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare that prevents the program from reopening; or
3. Physically re-open by September 8, 2020, or within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the start date of the contracting agency’s FY 2020-21 approved program calendar, with any future days of closure being due to a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare; or
4. Operate programs on LEA campuses, as defined in EC 8208 (al), that are closed due to local or state public health guidance or orders, and the LEA has required a closure of the early learning or childcare program, provided that the following requirements are met:
   1. The LEA authority that required the closure of the early learning or childcare program has submitted a written verification that the early learning or childcare program may not reopen, and
   2. The LEA authority shall discuss in a public hearing and prepare a plan for safely reopening the early learning or childcare program as soon as safely possible, but no later than when LEA campus opens for in-person instruction

For the purpose of this MB, local or state public health order or guidance may include written orders, advisories, or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare issued by a local or state government agency.

Section 70 of SB 820 requires that, effective July 1, 2020, CFCC contractors to reimburse providers who submit an attendance record or invoice without a parent signature so long as there is documentation of the provider’s attempts to contact the parent to obtain the signature.

Section 71 of SB 820 requires direct service contractors to prioritize children and families for in person services when capacity is limited due to a local or state public health order related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare.

Effective July 1, 2020, providers must be reimbursed for services provided during the time a school-age child is participating in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) -12 distance learning and is attending the childcare program during the typical school hours.

The EC Section 8263(h) requires that families are eligible for services for no less than 12 months, once they have established eligibility or ongoing eligibility. Direct service contractors are required to recertify families in a timely manner, however recertification of families may be postponed when social distancing requirements cannot be met. Families should be recertified when it is feasibly safe to do so.

Directive

The directives below will address the following:

1. Programs that are open or reopen
2. Programs that close due to a local or state public health order
3. Programs that close without a local or state public health order
4. Programs that are closed due to a non-COVID-19 emergency
5. Reimbursement for programs that are closed due to a non-COVID-19 related emergency
6. Reimbursement for Family Child Care Home Education Network providers
7. Prioritization for services
8. Reimbursement requirements for school age children
9. Data reporting requirements: attendance and expenditure reporting requirements

Programs That are Open or Reopen

Direct service contractors that are physically open to provide early learning and care services to enrolled families by September 8, 2020, or within 21 calendar days from the start date of the contracting agency’s approved FY 2020-21 program calendar, whichever is sooner, and remain open throughout the program year, will be reimbursed based on the lesser of net reimbursable program costs or the contract’s MRA.

To the extent possible, program sites and classrooms must be physically open and accessible to all currently enrolled families that require services. Direct service contractors operating multiple sites/classrooms may consolidate sites/classrooms if parent demand for services is low at some sites/classrooms, as long as the alternate sites/classrooms are reasonably accessible for all enrolled families. When it is not possible to provide services for all enrolled families due to a local or state public health order or guidance limiting group sizes, direct service contractors must prioritize services as specified below.

When there is not a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare that requires closure of the early learning or childcare program, offering only distance learning services does not qualify as being open. However, direct service contractors must provide distance learning services, as specified in MB 20-17, for children and families who are not receiving in-person services, including for families who are sheltering in place.

Direct service contractors will be required to submit data related to sites providing services on a quarterly basis. Additional information regarding this requirement will be forthcoming from the CDE.

Programs that Close Due to a Local or State Public Health Order

Direct service contractors that are required to close all sites/classrooms, including direct service contractors that open and subsequently close all sites/classrooms anytime during FY 2021-21, due to a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, must complete and submit the Notification of Closure Due to Public Health Order template within thirty (30) days of the closure. The Notification of Closure Due to a Public Health Order template can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/documents/closurenotificationpublic.pdf. A copy of the local or state public health order or guidance and completed template must be submitted to the assigned ELCD, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) Office regional consultant in order for the direct service contractor to be reimbursed. When the public health order or guidance does not specify a date for reopening, the contractor must include a plan for reopening.

The LEA and community-based organization (CBO) direct service contractors whose programs are located on a LEA campus and who are unable to reopen, or who open and subsequently close anytime during FY 2020-21 due to mandated campus closures, as described in policy item number four (4) above, may remain closed and will be reimbursed based on the lesser of net reimbursable program costs or the contract’s MRA, provided the following requirements are met:

• The contractor must complete and submit the “Verification of Closures” template, located at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/documents/verificationofclosure.pdf, to their assigned CDE, ELCD regional consultant, which includes the following:
  • A statement that the governing authority of the LEA will discuss in a public hearing the LEA or community-based organization early learning or childcare program closure, and will prepare a plan for safely reopening the early learning or childcare program.
  • The signature of the governing authority of the LEA requiring the closure of the LEA or community-based organization early learning or childcare program. In accordance with EC section 8262.1 contractors may, but are not required to use digital signatures.

Direct service contractors who are closed according to the above requirements, meet the requirements for submission of a distance learning plan, and offer distance learning services for children and families not receiving in-person services, pursuant to MB 20-17, will be reimbursed for FY 2020-21 based on the lesser of net reimbursable program costs or the contract’s MRA.

Programs That Close Without a Local or State Public Health Order

Direct service contractors that do not reopen within the specified timeline and/or that are closed but not due to a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, or are without verification of the mandated closure of the LEA campus, as described above, will not be reimbursed for any period of time that the program is not in operation. Similarly, those contractors that open by the timeframe set forth in EC 8209(f), and subsequently close for reasons not due to the issuance of local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, or are without verification of a mandated closure for the LEA campus, as described above, will not be reimbursed for any period of time that the program is not in operation, unless the closure is otherwise currently allowed pursuant to EC 8271, and in accordance with the forthcoming Non-COVID-19 Emergency Closures MB.

A direct service contractor that does not open according to the above timeline, or subsequently closes without a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, or without verification of a mandated closure for the LEA campus, as described above, must submit a revised FY 2020-21 program calendar and program narrative change to their assigned ELCD Regional Consultant to ensure that the correct minimum days of operation (MDO) are reflected in their contract. Reimbursement will be limited to days when the program was in operation for in-person services. In this case, the contract will be amended to prorate the contract’s MRA based on the number of days the contractor was physically open.

Programs that are Closed Due to a Non-COVID-19 Related Emergency

While EC Section 8209(f) addresses reimbursement for contracting agencies that closed in FY 2020-21 due to issues related to COVID-19, there will be instances that some contracting agencies are unable to operate for non-COVID related reasons. Direct service contractors that are closed due an emergency not related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as earthquakes, fire, flood or other circumstances beyond their control, must submit an Emergency Closure request to their ELCD consultant, in accordance with the forthcoming Non-COVID-19 Emergency Closures MB. Until the forthcoming Non-COVID 19 emergency closures MB is released, direct service contractors shall submit requests for emergency closure approval in accordance with MB 10-09. MB 10-09 can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb1009.asp.

Reimbursement for Family Child Care Home Education Network Providers

Direct service contractors who provide services through a Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN) shall only reimburse providers who are physically open and providing services to enrolled families, or who are closed due to a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare.

The FCCHEN providers must be reimbursed based on the family’s certified need, regardless of attendance. For families certified for a variable schedule, for FY 2020-21 providers must be reimbursed based on the greater of:

• The average documented attendance over the most recent four weeks; or
• Actual attendance

A FCCHEN provider operating under a CCTR, CSPP or CMIG contract that closes without local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare will not be reimbursed.

A FCCHEN provider operating under a CFCC contract that closes without a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare shall not be reimbursed for any days of closure except for the ten nonoperational days authorized by 5 CCR Section 18076.2, as made applicable to CFCC contracts pursuant to 5 CCR Section 18074. (Note: FCCHEN providers operating under a CFCC contract will not receive an additional 14 paid non-operational days provided by SB 820 as those additional days are limited to alternative payment program providers).

Pursuant to MB 20-17, direct service contractors who provide services through a FCCHEN are required to collaborate with providers to ensure continued program quality and to deliver distance learning services to enrolled families that are unable to access services because the provider is closed, or because of capacity limitations due to a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare.

FCCHEN providers operating under a CFCC contract must continue to submit attendance records and/or invoices in accordance with EC Section 8221.5. The EC sections 8221.5 and 8262.1 allow contractors and providers to use digital signatures. Purchasing of software that use digital signatures is reimbursable within contract funds.

Pursuant to the SSPI’s authority provided by EC Section 8209, effective July 1, 2020, the SSPI temporarily waived EC Section 8221.5(b) and instructed contractors not to withhold reimbursement to providers on the basis of attendance records and/or invoices not having a parent or guardian’s signatures.

Effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, CFCC contractors must reimburse providers who submit an attendance record or invoice without a parent signature when the absence of a parent signature is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there is documentation of the provider’s attempts to collect the signature. When the attendance record or invoice is submitted without the parent’s signature, an attestation statement from the provider must be provided with the attendance record or invoice. The attestation, signed under penalty of perjury, must indicate the provider made attempts to contract the parent and that the parent was not available for signature due to COVID-19. A sample attestation is included for your convenience. Example: By signing and submitting this attendance record or invoice without the parent’s signature, I attest, under the penalty of perjury, that I have made and documented attempts to contact the parent, and the parent is either unavailable or unable to sign this attendance record/invoice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As always, the CFCC contractor should continue to work with families to ensure retention of certified childcare services. Any change to the certified need must be based upon a request by the parent in accordance with EC 8263(h)(4).

Prioritization for Services

Families with a certified need for services

When capacity is limited due to a local or state public health order related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, i.e. group size restrictions, direct service contractors must prioritize families with a certified need for in-person services in the following priority order:

1. Children who are the recipients of Child Protective Services through a county welfare department
2. Children who have been identified as at-risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation by a legally qualified health professional
3. Families who require services because the parents work outside the home, with the lowest income ranking in relation to family size. When two families have the same income ranking, the child with exceptional needs must receive in person services. If there is no child with exceptional needs, the family that has been receiving services for the longest length of time shall be prioritized for in-person services. For CSPP contractors, priority must be given to four-year old children before three-year-old children.
4. Families who are not working outside of the home, including those with who meet other eligibility and/need criteria, i.e. incapacitation, seeking employment,) with the lowest income ranking in relation to family size. When two families have the same income ranking, the child with exceptional needs must receive in-person services. If there is no child with exceptional needs, the family that has been receiving services for the longest length of time shall be prioritized for in-person services. For CSPP contractors, priority must be given to four-year old children before three-year old children.

Families that are receiving in-person services must not be displaced if another family with a higher priority is requesting in-person services.

NOTE: Enrolled families are certified for no less than twelve months and must not be disenrolled due to capacity limitations. Any families not receiving in-person services must be offered distance learning services.

Part-Day CSPP

Because families whose children are enrolled in a part-day CSPP do not have a certified need, part-day CSPP contractors are encouraged to develop models that provide in-person services to as many children as possible. Contractors may elect to offer enrolled children and families a combination of alternating both in person and distance learning services in order to provide some level of in-person services to all enrolled children and families. When a part-day CSPP contractor chooses not to utilize such a schedule in order to accommodate all families, or is unable to offer in-person services for all enrolled children and families, the contractor must adhere to the prioritization for services specified in EC 8236 (a)(1)(2), as follows:

1. Three or four-year-old children who are the recipients of Child Protective Services through a county welfare department
2. Three or four-year-old children who have been identified as at-risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation by a legally qualified health professional
3. Four-year-old children who are not enrolled in transitional kindergarten, with the lowest income ranking in relation to family size
4. Three-year-old children with the lowest income ranking in relation to family size

Families that are receiving in-person services must not be displaced if another family with a higher priority is requesting in-person services.

NOTE: Once families are certified for part-day CSPP, they are eligible for services for the program year and must not be disenrolled due to capacity limitations. Any families not receiving in-person services must be offered distance learning services.

Reimbursement Requirements for School Aged Children

Since Transitional Kindergarten (TK)–12 distance learning does not provide supervision for children, the CDE does not consider it to be “scheduled instructional minutes” for the purposes of 5 CCR 18076.2 prohibiting reimbursing providers during the hours of a child’s “scheduled instructional minutes.” Therefore, direct service contractors and FCCHEN providers shall be reimbursed for care during the time a school-age child is participating in TK–12 distance learning and attending the childcare program during the typical school hours.

If the child is participating in a hybrid model (in-person TK–12 instruction and distance learning) the direct service contractor or FCCHEN provider may only be reimbursed for the time the child is not receiving in-person TK–12 instruction. Contractors shall reimburse providers for the time the child is receiving TK-12 distance learning while attending the childcare program. Conversely contractors shall not reimburse providers for any time the child is receiving TK-12 in-person instruction. Direct service contractors are responsible for budgeting their contract funds to ensure providers will be reimbursed for an increase in the cost of the care associated with school-age children that are participating in distance learning.

Data Reporting Requirements: Attendance and Expenditure Reporting

For FY 2020-21, direct service contractors will be reimbursed at the lesser of the contract’s MRA or net reimbursable program costs when they meet the policy directives specified above. Therefore, for FY 2020-21, CCTR, CSPP, CHAN, and CMIG contractors will be reimbursed without regard to enrollment or attendance. If the days of closure are not attributable to closure by a local or state public health order or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, or other non-COVID-19 emergency closure under EC 8271, the contractor’s MRA will be pro-rated by the days of operation the contractor was not open to provide services. The CFCC contract reimbursement calculations and reporting requirements remain unchanged, as CFCC contractors are currently reimbursed based on the lesser of the contract’s MRA or net reimbursable program costs.

The CDE will use the submitted expenditure data to determine contract earnings and reimbursement. In accordance with 5 CCR Section 18068 and the FY 2020-21 FT&C, all contractors shall be required to submit attendance and fiscal reports to the Child Development and Nutrition Fiscal Services (CDNFS) office in the timeframes set forth, based on their contract status. Direct service contractors, whether providing in-person or distance learning services, are required to report the days of enrollment for all children receiving services in the program, as well as attendance for all children physically attending the program.

Reporting Days of Operation and Days of Enrollment for FY 2020-21

Both LEA and non-LEA direct contract programs that remained closed in order to prepare for a safe reopening at any time between July 1, 2020 through September 7, 2020 will be reimbursed for this time period. Therefore, for purposes of reporting between July 1 and September 7, 2020, direct service contractors will report the days of operation previously approved by the CDE and indicated in the program calendar, regardless of whether the program was open to provide in-person care to children. Direct service contractors will also report the days of enrollment associated with the days of operation during this period, regardless of whether the program was open to provide in-person services to children.

Beginning September 8, 2020, direct service contractors that do not reopen without written local or state public health orders or guidance related to COVID-19 and specific to early learning or childcare, LEA Verification of Closure or an approved Non-COVID-19 Emergency Closure request, will not be reimbursed for any period of time that the program was not physically open. Therefore, for purposes of reporting between September 8, 2020, and June 30, 2021, direct service contractors will report the days of operation and days of enrollment for this time period only if the program is either:

1. physically open and providing in-person services for children and families; or
2. not physically open due to written local or state public health guidance or orders; or
3. not physically open due to being on an LEA campus that is closed and the LEA is requiring the closure in accordance with EC 8209(f)(1)(C)(i).

Alternatively, if the contractor was closed without written local or state public health orders or guidance, a contract's MRA will be pro-rated and direct service contractors will not report the days of operation or enrollment of closure.

Reporting Days of Attendance and Excused Absences for FY 2020-21

Direct service contractors will only report the days of attendance for children who receive in-person services and will not report days of attendance for any children participating in distance learning activities. Excused absences will only be reported as a day of attendance for children who were expected to physically attend the program on any given day, but the child did not attend. Contractor excused absence policies should continue to be followed for children receiving in-person services. Direct service contractors are reminded that excused absences include family emergency and illness of the child or parent, which includes a positive COVID-19 case in the family, with the expectation that the child will return to in-person services when it is safe to do so. ​

Note: The above reporting requirements do not apply to the 801A report. Should there be any changes to reporting requirements for the 801A, contractors will be provided further guidance

Resources

State Guidelines--CDE and ELCD-Specific

The CDE, ELCD has developed a COVID-19 guidance and resource page that includes answers to frequently asked questions, all management bulletins issued to implement pertinent legislation, and other relevant resources at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/elcdcovid19.asp.

To be informed of updated information, please sign up for ELCD's email list at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/progspeclist.asp.

The CDE has developed a guidebook for the safe reopening of California’s public schools which can be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/documents/strongertogether.pdf [Link no longer available].

Social and Physical Distancing Guidance and Healthy Practices for Early Learning or Childcare Facilities

All contractors must follow healthy and safe practices and adhere to local and state public health orders in all early learning or childcare settings.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued public health guidance regarding cohorts/small groups of children in licensed and license exempt childcare settings, and before and after school programs. The CDPH guidance can be accessed at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/small-groups-child-youth.aspx.

The CDE worked collaboratively together with the California Department of Public Health, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) at the California Department of Industrial Relations, to issue joint updated guidance on the following topics:

• Childcare: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-childcare.pdf
• Support for working families: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-supportworkingfamilies.pdf [Link is no longer available]

The CDSS Community Care Licensing Division has developed Provider Information Notices (PIN) which provides guidance on social and physical distancing, ratio and group sizes, and healthy practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PINs released by CDSS can be found at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing.

For the state’s Early Learning and Care playbook for caring for children and getting back to work, visit https://californiaall.org/home [Link no longer available].

Choosing to Reopen and What it Looks Like to Reopen Facilities

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released guidance to assist providers in making the decision to reopen. You can find the Child Care Decision Tree at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Childcare-Decision-Tree.pdf [Link is no longer available].

For more information about COVID-19 guidance from the Office of Head Start, including the Collaborating Actively in Meaningful Planning (CAMP) series, please visit their website at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/coronavirus/responding-covid-19 [Link no longer available].

Other State and Federal Guidelines regarding Child Care and COVID-19

For more information about federal and state guidance and response to COVID-19, please refer to the following:

• The CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html [Link no longer available]
• The California Department of Public Health’s website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
• The California COVID-19 Response website at https://covid19.ca.gov/

The CDC recently released additional guidance for child care providers in The Supplemental Guide for Child Care which can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html [Link no longer available].

Staff Development Resources

Contractors should provide staff development using, but not limited to, the resources located at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/elcdcovid19.asp, as well as the resources below:

• View resources, including eight comprehensive 60-80-minute Health and Safety Modules for Child Care, located California Early Childhood Online at https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/
• Contact your local Quality Counts California to participate in professional communities of practice at https://qualitycountsca.net/quality-partners/
• Contact the Resource and Referral Network for professional development opportunities. Resources are also available at https://rrnetwork.org/provider-services/provider-support-resources [Link no longer available]
• View professional development resources at the Head Start Early Childhood Knowledge Center at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/professional-development/article/professional-development-go [Link no longer available]

Contractors should also contact the local R&R agency at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/rragencylist.asp and the local QCC consortia to identify additional resources to meet the needs of children, families, and staff.

Contacting your Program Quality Implementation Office Regional Consultant

If you have any questions regarding the information in this MB, please contact your assigned ELCD, Program Quality Implementation Office Regional Consultant via the ELCD Consultant Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp or by phone at 916-322-6233.

This Management Bulletin is mandatory only to the extent that it cites a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement. Any portion of this Management Bulletin that is not supported by a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement is not prescriptive pursuant to California Education Code Section 33308.5.

____________________________

Stephen Propheter, Director
Early Learning and Care Division