LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INTRODUCES CHILD CARE PROGRAM WAITING LIST EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1
Published 10:06 am Thursday 22 September 2022
(BATON ROUGE, LA – September 22, 2022) — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is giving eligible families the opportunity to apply for the Child Care Assistance Program before a waitlist begins October 1. The program currently serves approximately 24,500 children in Louisiana. As the number of eligible families approaches the program’s budgeted funding level, the waiting list will be established to ensure funding is available for eligible families who apply before the end of September. The waitlist also implements a process for eligible families applying on or after October 1 to access grants when they become available.
Louisiana’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) provides families with financial assistance for child care services. CCAP helps parents or guardians who work, attend school, or study to pay for quality childcare for children under 13 or children with special needs up to 18 years of age. CCAP pays part of the childcare costs, and families pay the difference made by the provider.
In February, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved an increase in payment rates and expanded eligibility to serve more working families. As a result, participation in CCAP has grown to an average increase of another 3,000 children. At the current pace, the number of eligible families expected to apply could exceed the amount of funding available. The waiting list has been established to allow eligible families access to places as soon as funding becomes available.
Applications received before October 1st will be reviewed and will receive funding immediately if determined to be eligible. Eligibility is currently determined within 60-90 days of receipt of a complete application. Eligible children affected by homelessness, children from families participating in STEP or Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, children in foster care, or eligible children with special needs are exempt from the waiting list.
Eligible families applying on or after October 1st will be placed on the waiting list. They will be notified that they have been placed on the waitlist through the LDOE website if they apply online, or by mail if they use a paper application. When funding becomes available, families at the top of the waiting list will be notified by phone, mail, and email. There is currently no limit to the number of families that can be added to the waiting list.
Families can apply online. A FAQ document has been created with more information on the CCAP waitlist. For more information or questions, please contact the LDOE via email at [email protected] Questions can also be directed to 1-877-453-2721.
