DE SR16

Direct the Department of Health and Social Services to submit reports on December 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, and June 1, 2024 detailing Purchase of Care (POC) Program utilization, spending, and funding sources for fiscal years 2019-2023.

Require POC reports to include demographic data on children and families served (race, income level, household type), utilization rates by age group and season, and cost projections for provider rate increases at various parity levels.

Instruct the Division of Social Services to consult with the Delaware Early Childhood Council to consider policy changes regarding partial-time attendance, unenrollment, holiday/closure billing, and definitions of enrollment, utilization, and attendance, with findings circulated for public comment by January 10, 2024.

Direct the Department of Education to report by January 1, 2024 on funding sources and children served by ECAP, Redding, Head Start, Early Head Start, and Purchase of Care programs, broken down by age and county, including eligibility and percentage of applications funded.

Require the Department of Education to collect annual licensing visit data on enrollment capacity, facility capacity, and whether POC providers have waiting lists or staffing shortages, separated by child care center and family child-care center types.