The Arkansas Department of Education announced changes to the state’s Child Care Assistance Program on Monday. These updates include reduced work requirements and the removal of a lifetime limit on benefits.
The Child Care Assistance Program offers financial help to low-income families for quality childcare. It is funded by the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The key changes, effective July 1, include:
- Families now need to show they work 20 hours a week, down from 30 hours.
- Eligibility criteria based on state median income will be updated yearly, rather than every two years.
- Co-payments for families earning at or below 75% of the state’s median income will be waived, an increase from the previous 40%.
- The 60-month limit on benefits has been removed, allowing eligible families to qualify indefinitely.
- A single application can now be used for both CCDF programs and the Arkansas Better Chance program, which provides early education services to children from birth to age 5 who are at developmental and socio-economic risk.
These changes aim to improve access to high-quality early learning experiences under the LEARNS Act, according to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Education.
The LEARNS Act is a comprehensive education law that raised the state’s minimum teacher salary to $50,000, created a school voucher program, and transferred the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education. It also established the Office of Early Childhood within the education department to oversee the CCDF.
“Research shows that access to high-quality child care increases a child’s readiness for school and success later in life,” said Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. “Through LEARNS, the focus on improving access has become a priority. These changes to the CCDF grant program serve as another opportunity for more Arkansas families to achieve the necessary early learning supports for their children while they work to support their families.”
In 2023, the Arkansas Department of Education awarded more than $125 million to families, the press release stated.
The Child Care Assistance Program operates based on available funds. If funds are not available when families apply, they will be notified and placed on a waiting list in their county. The application is effective for 12 months.
Once eligible, families must select a provider that is licensed, registered by the Office of Early Childhood, and actively participates in the Child Care Assistance Program.
