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Article 1. General Provisions of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Child
Care and Development Services Act.
The purpose of this chapter is as follows:
(a) To provide a comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective system of child care and development services for children from infancy to 13 years of age and their parents, including a full range of supervision, health, and support services through full- and part-time programs.
(b) To encourage community-level coordination in support of child care and development services.
(c) To provide an environment that is healthy and nurturing for all children in child care and development programs.
(d) To provide the opportunity for positive parenting to take place through understanding of human growth and development.
(e) To reduce strain between parent and child in order to prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
(f) To enhance the cognitive development of children, with particular emphasis upon those children who require special assistance, including bilingual capabilities to attain their full potential.
(g) To establish a framework for the expansion of child care and development services.
(h) To empower and encourage parents and families of children who require child care services to take responsibility to review the safety of the child care program or facility and to evaluate the ability of the program or facility to meet the needs of the child.
(a) To provide a comprehensive, coordinated, and cost-effective system of child care and development services for children from infancy to 13 years of age and their parents, including a full range of supervision, health, and support services through full- and part-time programs.
(b) To encourage community-level coordination in support of child care and development services.
(c) To provide an environment that is healthy and nurturing for all children in child care and development programs.
(d) To provide the opportunity for positive parenting to take place through understanding of human growth and development.
(e) To reduce strain between parent and child in order to prevent abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
(f) To enhance the cognitive development of children, with particular emphasis upon those children who require special assistance, including bilingual capabilities to attain their full potential.
(g) To establish a framework for the expansion of child care and development services.
(h) To empower and encourage parents and families of children who require child care services to take responsibility to review the safety of the child care program or facility and to evaluate the ability of the program or facility to meet the needs of the child.
It is the intent of the Legislature that:
(a) All families have access to child care and development services, through resource and referral services, where appropriate, regardless of ethnic status, cultural background, or special needs. It is further the intent that subsidized child care and development services be provided to persons meeting the eligibility criteria established under this chapter to the extent funding is made available by the Legislature and Congress.
(b) The healthy physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development of children be supported.
(c) Families achieve and maintain their personal, social, economic, and emotional stability through an opportunity to attain financial stability through employment, while maximizing growth and development of their children, and enhancing their parenting skills through participation in child care and development programs.
(d) Community-level coordination in support of child care and development services be encouraged.
(e) Families have a choice of programs that allow for maximum involvement in planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of child care and development programs.
(f) Parents and families be fully informed of their rights and responsibilities to evaluate the quality and safety of child care programs, including, but not limited to, their right to inspect child care licensing files.
(g) Planning for expansion of child care and development programs be based on ongoing local needs assessments.
(h) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in providing funding to child care and development agencies, promote a range of services which will allow parents the opportunity to choose the type of care most suited to their needs. The program scope may include the following:
(1) Programs located in centers, family day care homes, or in the child's own home.
(2) Services provided part-day, full-day, and during nonstandard hours including weekend care, night and shift care, before and after school care, and care during holidays and vacation.
(3) Child care services provided for infants, preschool, and schoolage children.
(i) The Superintendent of Public Instruction be responsible for the establishment of a public hearing process or other public input process that ensures the participation of those agencies directly affected by a particular section or sections of this chapter.
(a) All families have access to child care and development services, through resource and referral services, where appropriate, regardless of ethnic status, cultural background, or special needs. It is further the intent that subsidized child care and development services be provided to persons meeting the eligibility criteria established under this chapter to the extent funding is made available by the Legislature and Congress.
(b) The healthy physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth and development of children be supported.
(c) Families achieve and maintain their personal, social, economic, and emotional stability through an opportunity to attain financial stability through employment, while maximizing growth and development of their children, and enhancing their parenting skills through participation in child care and development programs.
(d) Community-level coordination in support of child care and development services be encouraged.
(e) Families have a choice of programs that allow for maximum involvement in planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of child care and development programs.
(f) Parents and families be fully informed of their rights and responsibilities to evaluate the quality and safety of child care programs, including, but not limited to, their right to inspect child care licensing files.
(g) Planning for expansion of child care and development programs be based on ongoing local needs assessments.
(h) The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in providing funding to child care and development agencies, promote a range of services which will allow parents the opportunity to choose the type of care most suited to their needs. The program scope may include the following:
(1) Programs located in centers, family day care homes, or in the child's own home.
(2) Services provided part-day, full-day, and during nonstandard hours including weekend care, night and shift care, before and after school care, and care during holidays and vacation.
(3) Child care services provided for infants, preschool, and schoolage children.
(i) The Superintendent of Public Instruction be responsible for the establishment of a public hearing process or other public input process that ensures the participation of those agencies directly affected by a particular section or sections of this chapter.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall develop
standards for the implementation of quality programs. Indicators of
quality shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) A physical environment that is safe and appropriate to the ages of the children and that meets applicable licensing standards.
(b) Program activities and services that are age appropriate and meet the developmental needs of each child.
(c) Program activities and services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of children and families.
(d) Family and community involvement.
(e) Parent education.
(f) Efficient and effective local program administration.
(g) Staff that possesses the appropriate and required qualifications or experience, or both. The appropriate staff qualifications shall reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural makeup of the children and families in the child care and development program. The use of intergenerational staff shall be encouraged.
(h) Program activities and services that meet the needs of children with exceptional needs and their families.
(i) Support services for children, families, and providers of care.
(j) Resource and referral services.
(k) Alternative payment services.
(l) Provision for nutritional needs of children.
(m) Social services that include, but are not limited to, identification of child and family needs and referral to appropriate agencies.
(n) Health services that include referral of children to appropriate agencies for services.
(a) A physical environment that is safe and appropriate to the ages of the children and that meets applicable licensing standards.
(b) Program activities and services that are age appropriate and meet the developmental needs of each child.
(c) Program activities and services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of children and families.
(d) Family and community involvement.
(e) Parent education.
(f) Efficient and effective local program administration.
(g) Staff that possesses the appropriate and required qualifications or experience, or both. The appropriate staff qualifications shall reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural makeup of the children and families in the child care and development program. The use of intergenerational staff shall be encouraged.
(h) Program activities and services that meet the needs of children with exceptional needs and their families.
(i) Support services for children, families, and providers of care.
(j) Resource and referral services.
(k) Alternative payment services.
(l) Provision for nutritional needs of children.
(m) Social services that include, but are not limited to, identification of child and family needs and referral to appropriate agencies.
(n) Health services that include referral of children to appropriate agencies for services.
(a) The Superintendent shall administer a QRIS block grant,
pursuant to an appropriation made for that purpose in the annual
Budget Act, to be allocated to local consortia for support of local
early learning quality rating and improvement systems that increase
the number of low-income children in high-quality preschool programs
that prepare those children for success in school and life.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "early learning quality rating and improvement system" or "QRIS" is defined as a locally determined system for continuous quality improvement based on a tiered rating structure with progressively higher quality standards for each tier that provides supports and incentives for programs, teachers, and administrators to reach higher levels of quality, monitors and evaluates the impacts on child outcomes, and disseminates information to parents and the public about program quality.
(2) For purposes of this section, "local consortium" is defined as a local or regional entity, administered by a lead agency, that convenes a planning body that designs and implements a QRIS. A local consortium shall include representatives from organizations including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Local educational agencies.
(B) First 5 county commissions.
(C) Local postsecondary educational institutions.
(D) Local child care planning councils.
(E) Local resource and referral agencies.
(F) Other local agencies, including nonprofit organizations, that provide services to children from birth to five years of age, inclusive.
(3) For purposes of this section, "quality continuum framework" means the tiered rating matrix created and adopted by a local consortium for purposes of implementing a QRIS. The tiered rating matrix shall include three common tiers shared by all participating local consortia. Changes to the common tiers shall be approved and adopted by all participating local consortia.
(c) The QRIS block grant shall build on local consortia and other local QRIS work in existence on or before the operative date of this section.
(d) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, if a county or region has an established local consortium that has adopted a quality continuum framework, the local consortium's lead administering agency shall be provided the first opportunity to apply for a QRIS block grant.
(e) Local consortia shall do all of the following to be eligible for a QRIS block grant:
(1) Implement a QRIS that incorporates evidence-based elements and tools in the quality continuum framework that are tailored to the local conditions and enhanced with local resources.
(2) Set ambitious yet achievable targets for California state preschool program contracting agencies' participation in the QRIS with the goal of achieving the highest common tier, as the tier existed on June 1, 2014, or a higher level of quality.
(3) Develop an action plan that includes a continuous quality improvement process that is tied to improving child outcomes.
(4) Describe how QRIS block grant funds will be used to increase the number of sites achieving the highest common local tier and to directly support classrooms that have achieved the highest common tier, as that tier existed on June 1, 2014, or a higher level of quality.
(f) The Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, shall allocate QRIS block grant funds to local consortia that satisfy the requirements of subdivision (e) based on the number of California state preschool program slots within the county or region.
(g) (1) Local consortia receiving QRIS block grant funds shall allocate those funds to contracting agencies of the California state preschool program, as established by Article 7 (commencing with Section 8235), or local educational agencies, for activities that support and improve quality, and assess quality and access. In allocating the QRIS block grant funds, priority shall be given to directly supporting the classrooms of the California state preschool program sites that have achieved the highest common local tier of quality.
(2) No more than 20 percent of a local consortium's QRIS block grant funds may be used for assessment and access projects.
(h) A family child care home education network established pursuant to Section 8245 that provides California state preschool program services shall be eligible for an allocation from a local consortium of QRIS block grant funds for activities that support, improve, and assess quality.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "early learning quality rating and improvement system" or "QRIS" is defined as a locally determined system for continuous quality improvement based on a tiered rating structure with progressively higher quality standards for each tier that provides supports and incentives for programs, teachers, and administrators to reach higher levels of quality, monitors and evaluates the impacts on child outcomes, and disseminates information to parents and the public about program quality.
(2) For purposes of this section, "local consortium" is defined as a local or regional entity, administered by a lead agency, that convenes a planning body that designs and implements a QRIS. A local consortium shall include representatives from organizations including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) Local educational agencies.
(B) First 5 county commissions.
(C) Local postsecondary educational institutions.
(D) Local child care planning councils.
(E) Local resource and referral agencies.
(F) Other local agencies, including nonprofit organizations, that provide services to children from birth to five years of age, inclusive.
(3) For purposes of this section, "quality continuum framework" means the tiered rating matrix created and adopted by a local consortium for purposes of implementing a QRIS. The tiered rating matrix shall include three common tiers shared by all participating local consortia. Changes to the common tiers shall be approved and adopted by all participating local consortia.
(c) The QRIS block grant shall build on local consortia and other local QRIS work in existence on or before the operative date of this section.
(d) For the 2014-15 fiscal year, if a county or region has an established local consortium that has adopted a quality continuum framework, the local consortium's lead administering agency shall be provided the first opportunity to apply for a QRIS block grant.
(e) Local consortia shall do all of the following to be eligible for a QRIS block grant:
(1) Implement a QRIS that incorporates evidence-based elements and tools in the quality continuum framework that are tailored to the local conditions and enhanced with local resources.
(2) Set ambitious yet achievable targets for California state preschool program contracting agencies' participation in the QRIS with the goal of achieving the highest common tier, as the tier existed on June 1, 2014, or a higher level of quality.
(3) Develop an action plan that includes a continuous quality improvement process that is tied to improving child outcomes.
(4) Describe how QRIS block grant funds will be used to increase the number of sites achieving the highest common local tier and to directly support classrooms that have achieved the highest common tier, as that tier existed on June 1, 2014, or a higher level of quality.
(f) The Superintendent, in consultation with the executive director of the state board, shall allocate QRIS block grant funds to local consortia that satisfy the requirements of subdivision (e) based on the number of California state preschool program slots within the county or region.
(g) (1) Local consortia receiving QRIS block grant funds shall allocate those funds to contracting agencies of the California state preschool program, as established by Article 7 (commencing with Section 8235), or local educational agencies, for activities that support and improve quality, and assess quality and access. In allocating the QRIS block grant funds, priority shall be given to directly supporting the classrooms of the California state preschool program sites that have achieved the highest common local tier of quality.
(2) No more than 20 percent of a local consortium's QRIS block grant funds may be used for assessment and access projects.
(h) A family child care home education network established pursuant to Section 8245 that provides California state preschool program services shall be eligible for an allocation from a local consortium of QRIS block grant funds for activities that support, improve, and assess quality.
(a) On or before June 30, 1999, the State Department of
Education shall develop prekindergarten learning development
guidelines. The development of these guidelines shall be funded from
funds appropriated for this purpose in the Budget Act of 1998. The
guidelines shall focus on preparing four- and five-year-old children
for kindergarten. The guidelines shall identify appropriate
developmental milestones for each age, how to assess where children
are in relation to the milestones, and suggested methods for
achieving the milestones. In addition, the guidelines shall identify
any basic beginning skills needed to prepare children for
kindergarten or first grade, and methods for teaching these basic
skills. The guidelines shall be articulated with the academic content
and performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education
for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The State Department
of Education may contract with an appropriate public or private
agency to develop the guidelines.
(b) In future expenditure plans for quality improvement activities, the State Department of Education shall include funding for periodically updating the guidelines consistent with academic and performance standards and relevant research, broadly distributing the guidelines, and providing education, outreach, and training services to implement the guidelines.
(c) Programs funded by the State Department of Education under Article 6 (commencing with Section 8230), Article 7 (commencing with Section 8235), and Article 8 (commencing with Section 8240) shall use the prekindergarten learning development guidelines developed pursuant to this section.
(b) In future expenditure plans for quality improvement activities, the State Department of Education shall include funding for periodically updating the guidelines consistent with academic and performance standards and relevant research, broadly distributing the guidelines, and providing education, outreach, and training services to implement the guidelines.
(c) Programs funded by the State Department of Education under Article 6 (commencing with Section 8230), Article 7 (commencing with Section 8235), and Article 8 (commencing with Section 8240) shall use the prekindergarten learning development guidelines developed pursuant to this section.
(a) The Superintendent shall ensure that each contract
entered into under this chapter to provide child care and development
services, or to facilitate the provision of those services, provides
support to the public school system of this state through the
delivery of appropriate educational services to the children served
pursuant to the contract.
(b) The Superintendent shall ensure that all contracts for child care and development programs include a requirement that each public or private provider maintain a developmental profile to appropriately identify the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive growth of each child served in order to promote the child's success in the public schools. To the extent possible, the department shall provide a developmental profile to all public and private providers using existing profile instruments that are most cost efficient. The provider of any program operated pursuant to a contract under Section 8262 shall be responsible for maintaining developmental profiles upon entry through exit from a child development program.
(c) This section is not subject to Part 34 (commencing with Section 62000) of Division 4 of Title 2.
(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.
(b) The Superintendent shall ensure that all contracts for child care and development programs include a requirement that each public or private provider maintain a developmental profile to appropriately identify the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive growth of each child served in order to promote the child's success in the public schools. To the extent possible, the department shall provide a developmental profile to all public and private providers using existing profile instruments that are most cost efficient. The provider of any program operated pursuant to a contract under Section 8262 shall be responsible for maintaining developmental profiles upon entry through exit from a child development program.
(c) This section is not subject to Part 34 (commencing with Section 62000) of Division 4 of Title 2.
(d) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2011.
In recognition of the demonstrated relationship between food
and good nutrition and the capacity of children to develop and learn,
it is the policy of this state that no child shall be hungry while
in attendance in child care and development facilities as defined in
Section 8208 and that child development facilities have an obligation
to provide for the nutritional needs of children in attendance.
It is the intent of the Legislature that in providing child
development programs the Superintendent of Public Instruction give
priority to children of families that qualify under applicable
federal statutes or regulations as recipients of public assistance
and other low-income and disadvantaged families. Federal
reimbursement shall be claimed for any child receiving services under
this chapter for whom federal funds are available.
(a) The State Department of Education is hereby designated as
the single state agency responsible for the promotion, development,
and provision of care of children in the absence of their parents
during the workday or while engaged in other activities which require
assistance of a third party or parties. The department shall
administer the federal Child Care and Development Fund.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Child Care and Development Fund" has the same meaning as in Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Child Care and Development Fund" has the same meaning as in Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(a) The Superintendent shall collaborate with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, with the advice and assistance of the
Child Development Programs Advisory Committee, in the development of
the state plan required pursuant to the federal Child Care and
Development Fund, before submitting or reporting on that plan to the
federal Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "Child Care and Development Fund" has the same meaning as in Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) For purposes of this section, "collaborate" means to cooperate with and to consult with.
(c) (1) As required by federal law, the department shall develop an expenditure plan that sets forth the final priorities for child care. The department shall coordinate with the State Department of Social Services, the California Children and Families Commission, and other stakeholders, including the Department of Finance, to develop the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan. On or before February 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due to the federal government, the department shall release a draft of the plan. The department shall then commence a 30-day comment period that shall include at least one hearing and the opportunity for written comments. By April 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due, the department shall provide the revised plan and a description of any changes to the earlier draft to the Director of Finance and the chairs of the fiscal committees of the Legislature.
(2) After the CCDF Plan is approved by the United States Department of Education, the department shall provide to the Department of Finance and the fiscal committees of the Legislature a copy of the final plan and a description of any changes made since submitting the draft plan for review.
(3) If the annual Budget Act requires changes to the approved CCDF Plan, the department shall submit an amended plan to the United States Department of Education.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "Child Care and Development Fund" has the same meaning as in Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) For purposes of this section, "collaborate" means to cooperate with and to consult with.
(c) (1) As required by federal law, the department shall develop an expenditure plan that sets forth the final priorities for child care. The department shall coordinate with the State Department of Social Services, the California Children and Families Commission, and other stakeholders, including the Department of Finance, to develop the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan. On or before February 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due to the federal government, the department shall release a draft of the plan. The department shall then commence a 30-day comment period that shall include at least one hearing and the opportunity for written comments. By April 1 of the year that the CCDF Plan is due, the department shall provide the revised plan and a description of any changes to the earlier draft to the Director of Finance and the chairs of the fiscal committees of the Legislature.
(2) After the CCDF Plan is approved by the United States Department of Education, the department shall provide to the Department of Finance and the fiscal committees of the Legislature a copy of the final plan and a description of any changes made since submitting the draft plan for review.
(3) If the annual Budget Act requires changes to the approved CCDF Plan, the department shall submit an amended plan to the United States Department of Education.
The superintendent shall consult with the Commission on
Teacher Credentialing, and the office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges in development of the state plan, where
appropriate.
It is the intent of the Legislature that federal funds
received pursuant to the federal Child Care and Development Fund be
allocated according to federal regulations. For purposes of this
section, "Child Care and Development Fund" has the same meaning as in
Section 98.2 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
As used in this chapter:
(a) "Alternative payments" includes payments that are made by one child care agency to another agency or child care provider for the provision of child care and development services, and payments that are made by an agency to a parent for the parent's purchase of child care and development services.
(b) "Alternative payment program" means a local government agency or nonprofit organization that has contracted with the department pursuant to Section 8220.1 to provide alternative payments and to provide support services to parents and providers.
(c) "Applicant or contracting agency" means a school district, community college district, college or university, county superintendent of schools, county, city, public agency, private nontax-exempt agency, private tax-exempt agency, or other entity that is authorized to establish, maintain, or operate services pursuant to this chapter. Private agencies and parent cooperatives, duly licensed by law, shall receive the same consideration as any other authorized entity with no loss of parental decisionmaking prerogatives as consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(d) "Assigned reimbursement rate" is that rate established by the contract with the agency and is derived by dividing the total dollar amount of the contract by the minimum child day of average daily enrollment level of service required.
(e) "Attendance" means the number of children present at a child care and development facility. "Attendance," for purposes of reimbursement, includes excused absences by children because of illness, quarantine, illness or quarantine of their parent, family emergency, or to spend time with a parent or other relative as required by a court of law or that is clearly in the best interest of the child.
(f) "Capital outlay" means the amount paid for the renovation and repair of child care and development facilities to comply with state and local health and safety standards, and the amount paid for the state purchase of relocatable child care and development facilities for lease to qualifying contracting agencies.
(g) "Caregiver" means a person who provides direct care, supervision, and guidance to children in a child care and development facility.
(h) "Child care and development facility" means a residence or building or part thereof in which child care and development services are provided.
(i) "Child care and development programs" means those programs that offer a full range of services for children from infancy to 13 years of age, for any part of a day, by a public or private agency, in centers and family child care homes. These programs include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) General child care and development.
(2) Migrant child care and development.
(3) Child care provided by the California School Age Families Education Program (Article 7.1 (commencing with Section 54740) of Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2).
(4) California state preschool program.
(5) Resource and referral.
(6) Child care and development services for children with exceptional needs.
(7) Family child care home education network.
(8) Alternative payment.
(9) Schoolage community child care.
(j) "Child care and development services" means those services designed to meet a wide variety of needs of children and their families, while their parents or guardians are working, in training, seeking employment, incapacitated, or in need of respite. These services may include direct care and supervision, instructional activities, resource and referral programs, and alternative payment arrangements.
(k) "Children at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation" means children who are so identified in a written referral from a legal, medical, or social service agency, or emergency shelter.
(l) "Children with exceptional needs" means either of the following:
(1) Infants and toddlers under three years of age who have been determined to be eligible for early intervention services pursuant to the California Early Intervention Services Act (Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code) and its implementing regulations. These children include an infant or toddler with a developmental delay or established risk condition, or who is at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 95014 of the Government Code. These children shall have active individualized family service plans, shall be receiving early intervention services, and shall be children who require the special attention of adults in a child care setting.
(2) Children 3 to 21 years of age, inclusive, who have been determined to be eligible for special education and related services by an individualized education program team according to the special education requirements contained in Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000) of Division 4 of Title 2, and who meet eligibility criteria described in Section 56026 and, Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 56333) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2, and Sections 3030 and 3031 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. These children shall have an active individualized education program, shall be receiving early intervention services or appropriate special education and related services, and shall be children who require the special attention of adults in a child care setting. These children include children with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance (also referred to as emotional disturbance), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities, who need special education and related services consistent with Section 1401(3)(A) of Title 20 of the United States Code.
(m) "Closedown costs" means reimbursements for all approved activities associated with the closing of operations at the end of each growing season for migrant child development programs only.
(n) "Cost" includes, but is not limited to, expenditures that are related to the operation of child care and development programs. "Cost" may include a reasonable amount for state and local contributions to employee benefits, including approved retirement programs, agency administration, and any other reasonable program operational costs. "Cost" may also include amounts for licensable facilities in the community served by the program, including lease payments or depreciation, downpayments, and payments of principal and interest on loans incurred to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct licensable facilities, but these costs shall not exceed fair market rents existing in the community in which the facility is located. "Reasonable and necessary costs" are costs that, in nature and amount, do not exceed what an ordinary prudent person would incur in the conduct of a competitive business.
(o) "Elementary school," as contained in former Section 425 of Title 20 of the United States Code (the National Defense Education Act of 1958, Public Law 85-864, as amended), includes early childhood education programs and all child development programs, for the purpose of the cancellation provisions of loans to students in institutions of higher learning.
(p) "Family child care home education network" means an entity organized under law that contracts with the department pursuant to Section 8245 to make payments to licensed family child care home providers and to provide educational and support services to those providers and to children and families eligible for state-subsidized child care and development services. A family child care home education network may also be referred to as a family child care home system.
(q) "Health services" include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Referral, whenever possible, to appropriate health care providers able to provide continuity of medical care.
(2) Health screening and health treatment, including a full range of immunization recorded on the appropriate state immunization form to the extent provided by the Medi-Cal Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (Article 6 (commencing with Section 124025) of Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code), but only to the extent that ongoing care cannot be obtained utilizing community resources.
(3) Health education and training for children, parents, staff, and providers.
(4) Followup treatment through referral to appropriate health care agencies or individual health care professionals.
(r) "Higher educational institutions" means the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and the governing bodies of any accredited private nonprofit institution of postsecondary education.
(s) "Intergenerational staff" means persons of various generations.
(t) "Limited-English-speaking-proficient and non-English-speaking-proficient children" means children who are unable to benefit fully from an English-only child care and development program as a result of either of the following:
(1) Having used a language other than English when they first began to speak.
(2) Having a language other than English predominantly or exclusively spoken at home.
(u) "Parent" means a biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, foster parent, caretaker relative, or any other adult living with a child who has responsibility for the care and welfare of the child.
(v) "Program director" means a person who, pursuant to Sections 8244 and 8360.1, is qualified to serve as a program director.
(w) "Proprietary child care agency" means an organization or facility providing child care, which is operated for profit.
(x) "Resource and referral programs" means programs that provide information to parents, including referrals and coordination of community resources for parents and public or private providers of care. Services frequently include, but are not limited to: technical assistance for providers, toy-lending libraries, equipment-lending libraries, toy- and equipment-lending libraries, staff development programs, health and nutrition education, and referrals to social services.
(y) "Severely disabled children" are children with exceptional needs from birth to 21 years of age, inclusive, who require intensive instruction and training in programs serving pupils with the following profound disabilities: autism, blindness, deafness, severe orthopedic impairments, serious emotional disturbances, or severe intellectual disabilities. "Severely disabled children" also include those individuals who would have been eligible for enrollment in a developmental center for handicapped pupils under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 56800) of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 as it read on January 1, 1980.
(z) "Short-term respite child care" means child care service to assist families whose children have been identified through written referral from a legal, medical, or social service agency, or emergency shelter as being neglected, abused, exploited, or homeless, or at risk of being neglected, abused, exploited, or homeless. Child care is provided for less than 24 hours per day in child care centers, treatment centers for abusive parents, family child care homes, or in the child's own home.
(aa) (1) "Site supervisor" means a person who, regardless of his or her title, has operational program responsibility for a child care and development program at a single site. A site supervisor shall hold a permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing that authorizes supervision of a child care and development program operating in a single site. The Superintendent may waive the requirements of this subdivision if the Superintendent determines that the existence of compelling need is appropriately documented.
(2) For California state preschool programs, a site supervisor may qualify under any of the provisions in this subdivision, or may qualify by holding an administrative credential or an administrative services credential. A person who meets the qualifications of a program director under both Sections 8244 and 8360.1 is also qualified under this subdivision.
(ab) "Standard reimbursement rate" means that rate established by the Superintendent pursuant to Section 8265.
(ac) "Startup costs" means those expenses an agency incurs in the process of opening a new or additional facility before the full enrollment of children.
(ad) "California state preschool program" means part-day and full-day educational programs for low-income or otherwise disadvantaged three- and four-year-old children.
(ae) "Support services" means those services that, when combined with child care and development services, help promote the healthy physical, mental, social, and emotional growth of children. Support services include, but are not limited to: protective services, parent training, provider and staff training, transportation, parent and child counseling, child development resource and referral services, and child placement counseling.
(af) "Teacher" means a person with the appropriate permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing who provides program supervision and instruction that includes supervision of a number of aides, volunteers, and groups of children.
(ag) "Underserved area" means a county or subcounty area, including, but not limited to, school districts, census tracts, or ZIP Code areas, where the ratio of publicly subsidized child care and development program services to the need for these services is low, as determined by the Superintendent.
(ah) "Workday" means the time that the parent requires temporary care for a child for any of the following reasons:
(1) To undertake training in preparation for a job.
(2) To undertake or retain a job.
(3) To undertake other activities that are essential to maintaining or improving the social and economic function of the family, are beneficial to the community, or are required because of health problems in the family.
(ai) "Three-year-old children" means children who will have their third birthday on or before the date specified of the fiscal year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program, as follows:
(1) November 1 of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
(2) October 1 of the 2013-14 fiscal year.
(3) September 1 of the 2014-15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
(aj) "Four-year-old children" means children who will have their fourth birthday on or before the date specified of the fiscal year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program, as follows:
(1) November 1 of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
(2) October 1 of the 2013-14 fiscal year.
(3) September 1 of the 2014-15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
(ak) "Local educational agency" means a school district, a county office of education, a community college district, or a school district on behalf of one or more schools within the school district.
(a) "Alternative payments" includes payments that are made by one child care agency to another agency or child care provider for the provision of child care and development services, and payments that are made by an agency to a parent for the parent's purchase of child care and development services.
(b) "Alternative payment program" means a local government agency or nonprofit organization that has contracted with the department pursuant to Section 8220.1 to provide alternative payments and to provide support services to parents and providers.
(c) "Applicant or contracting agency" means a school district, community college district, college or university, county superintendent of schools, county, city, public agency, private nontax-exempt agency, private tax-exempt agency, or other entity that is authorized to establish, maintain, or operate services pursuant to this chapter. Private agencies and parent cooperatives, duly licensed by law, shall receive the same consideration as any other authorized entity with no loss of parental decisionmaking prerogatives as consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(d) "Assigned reimbursement rate" is that rate established by the contract with the agency and is derived by dividing the total dollar amount of the contract by the minimum child day of average daily enrollment level of service required.
(e) "Attendance" means the number of children present at a child care and development facility. "Attendance," for purposes of reimbursement, includes excused absences by children because of illness, quarantine, illness or quarantine of their parent, family emergency, or to spend time with a parent or other relative as required by a court of law or that is clearly in the best interest of the child.
(f) "Capital outlay" means the amount paid for the renovation and repair of child care and development facilities to comply with state and local health and safety standards, and the amount paid for the state purchase of relocatable child care and development facilities for lease to qualifying contracting agencies.
(g) "Caregiver" means a person who provides direct care, supervision, and guidance to children in a child care and development facility.
(h) "Child care and development facility" means a residence or building or part thereof in which child care and development services are provided.
(i) "Child care and development programs" means those programs that offer a full range of services for children from infancy to 13 years of age, for any part of a day, by a public or private agency, in centers and family child care homes. These programs include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) General child care and development.
(2) Migrant child care and development.
(3) Child care provided by the California School Age Families Education Program (Article 7.1 (commencing with Section 54740) of Chapter 9 of Part 29 of Division 4 of Title 2).
(4) California state preschool program.
(5) Resource and referral.
(6) Child care and development services for children with exceptional needs.
(7) Family child care home education network.
(8) Alternative payment.
(9) Schoolage community child care.
(j) "Child care and development services" means those services designed to meet a wide variety of needs of children and their families, while their parents or guardians are working, in training, seeking employment, incapacitated, or in need of respite. These services may include direct care and supervision, instructional activities, resource and referral programs, and alternative payment arrangements.
(k) "Children at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation" means children who are so identified in a written referral from a legal, medical, or social service agency, or emergency shelter.
(l) "Children with exceptional needs" means either of the following:
(1) Infants and toddlers under three years of age who have been determined to be eligible for early intervention services pursuant to the California Early Intervention Services Act (Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code) and its implementing regulations. These children include an infant or toddler with a developmental delay or established risk condition, or who is at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 95014 of the Government Code. These children shall have active individualized family service plans, shall be receiving early intervention services, and shall be children who require the special attention of adults in a child care setting.
(2) Children 3 to 21 years of age, inclusive, who have been determined to be eligible for special education and related services by an individualized education program team according to the special education requirements contained in Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000) of Division 4 of Title 2, and who meet eligibility criteria described in Section 56026 and, Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 56333) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2, and Sections 3030 and 3031 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. These children shall have an active individualized education program, shall be receiving early intervention services or appropriate special education and related services, and shall be children who require the special attention of adults in a child care setting. These children include children with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance (also referred to as emotional disturbance), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities, who need special education and related services consistent with Section 1401(3)(A) of Title 20 of the United States Code.
(m) "Closedown costs" means reimbursements for all approved activities associated with the closing of operations at the end of each growing season for migrant child development programs only.
(n) "Cost" includes, but is not limited to, expenditures that are related to the operation of child care and development programs. "Cost" may include a reasonable amount for state and local contributions to employee benefits, including approved retirement programs, agency administration, and any other reasonable program operational costs. "Cost" may also include amounts for licensable facilities in the community served by the program, including lease payments or depreciation, downpayments, and payments of principal and interest on loans incurred to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct licensable facilities, but these costs shall not exceed fair market rents existing in the community in which the facility is located. "Reasonable and necessary costs" are costs that, in nature and amount, do not exceed what an ordinary prudent person would incur in the conduct of a competitive business.
(o) "Elementary school," as contained in former Section 425 of Title 20 of the United States Code (the National Defense Education Act of 1958, Public Law 85-864, as amended), includes early childhood education programs and all child development programs, for the purpose of the cancellation provisions of loans to students in institutions of higher learning.
(p) "Family child care home education network" means an entity organized under law that contracts with the department pursuant to Section 8245 to make payments to licensed family child care home providers and to provide educational and support services to those providers and to children and families eligible for state-subsidized child care and development services. A family child care home education network may also be referred to as a family child care home system.
(q) "Health services" include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Referral, whenever possible, to appropriate health care providers able to provide continuity of medical care.
(2) Health screening and health treatment, including a full range of immunization recorded on the appropriate state immunization form to the extent provided by the Medi-Cal Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (Article 6 (commencing with Section 124025) of Chapter 3 of Part 2 of Division 106 of the Health and Safety Code), but only to the extent that ongoing care cannot be obtained utilizing community resources.
(3) Health education and training for children, parents, staff, and providers.
(4) Followup treatment through referral to appropriate health care agencies or individual health care professionals.
(r) "Higher educational institutions" means the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and the governing bodies of any accredited private nonprofit institution of postsecondary education.
(s) "Intergenerational staff" means persons of various generations.
(t) "Limited-English-speaking-proficient and non-English-speaking-proficient children" means children who are unable to benefit fully from an English-only child care and development program as a result of either of the following:
(1) Having used a language other than English when they first began to speak.
(2) Having a language other than English predominantly or exclusively spoken at home.
(u) "Parent" means a biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, foster parent, caretaker relative, or any other adult living with a child who has responsibility for the care and welfare of the child.
(v) "Program director" means a person who, pursuant to Sections 8244 and 8360.1, is qualified to serve as a program director.
(w) "Proprietary child care agency" means an organization or facility providing child care, which is operated for profit.
(x) "Resource and referral programs" means programs that provide information to parents, including referrals and coordination of community resources for parents and public or private providers of care. Services frequently include, but are not limited to: technical assistance for providers, toy-lending libraries, equipment-lending libraries, toy- and equipment-lending libraries, staff development programs, health and nutrition education, and referrals to social services.
(y) "Severely disabled children" are children with exceptional needs from birth to 21 years of age, inclusive, who require intensive instruction and training in programs serving pupils with the following profound disabilities: autism, blindness, deafness, severe orthopedic impairments, serious emotional disturbances, or severe intellectual disabilities. "Severely disabled children" also include those individuals who would have been eligible for enrollment in a developmental center for handicapped pupils under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 56800) of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 as it read on January 1, 1980.
(z) "Short-term respite child care" means child care service to assist families whose children have been identified through written referral from a legal, medical, or social service agency, or emergency shelter as being neglected, abused, exploited, or homeless, or at risk of being neglected, abused, exploited, or homeless. Child care is provided for less than 24 hours per day in child care centers, treatment centers for abusive parents, family child care homes, or in the child's own home.
(aa) (1) "Site supervisor" means a person who, regardless of his or her title, has operational program responsibility for a child care and development program at a single site. A site supervisor shall hold a permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing that authorizes supervision of a child care and development program operating in a single site. The Superintendent may waive the requirements of this subdivision if the Superintendent determines that the existence of compelling need is appropriately documented.
(2) For California state preschool programs, a site supervisor may qualify under any of the provisions in this subdivision, or may qualify by holding an administrative credential or an administrative services credential. A person who meets the qualifications of a program director under both Sections 8244 and 8360.1 is also qualified under this subdivision.
(ab) "Standard reimbursement rate" means that rate established by the Superintendent pursuant to Section 8265.
(ac) "Startup costs" means those expenses an agency incurs in the process of opening a new or additional facility before the full enrollment of children.
(ad) "California state preschool program" means part-day and full-day educational programs for low-income or otherwise disadvantaged three- and four-year-old children.
(ae) "Support services" means those services that, when combined with child care and development services, help promote the healthy physical, mental, social, and emotional growth of children. Support services include, but are not limited to: protective services, parent training, provider and staff training, transportation, parent and child counseling, child development resource and referral services, and child placement counseling.
(af) "Teacher" means a person with the appropriate permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing who provides program supervision and instruction that includes supervision of a number of aides, volunteers, and groups of children.
(ag) "Underserved area" means a county or subcounty area, including, but not limited to, school districts, census tracts, or ZIP Code areas, where the ratio of publicly subsidized child care and development program services to the need for these services is low, as determined by the Superintendent.
(ah) "Workday" means the time that the parent requires temporary care for a child for any of the following reasons:
(1) To undertake training in preparation for a job.
(2) To undertake or retain a job.
(3) To undertake other activities that are essential to maintaining or improving the social and economic function of the family, are beneficial to the community, or are required because of health problems in the family.
(ai) "Three-year-old children" means children who will have their third birthday on or before the date specified of the fiscal year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program, as follows:
(1) November 1 of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
(2) October 1 of the 2013-14 fiscal year.
(3) September 1 of the 2014-15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
(aj) "Four-year-old children" means children who will have their fourth birthday on or before the date specified of the fiscal year in which they are enrolled in a California state preschool program, as follows:
(1) November 1 of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
(2) October 1 of the 2013-14 fiscal year.
(3) September 1 of the 2014-15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
(ak) "Local educational agency" means a school district, a county office of education, a community college district, or a school district on behalf of one or more schools within the school district.
Child care exempt from licensure is a valid parental choice
of care for all programs provided for under this part, and no
provision of this part shall be construed to exclude or discourage
the exercise of that choice.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, child care and
development programs, as defined in Section 8208, shall include, but
not be limited to, respite child care and development.
(a) If a state of emergency is declared by the Governor, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction may waive any requirements of
this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code relating to
child care and development programs operated pursuant to this chapter
only to the extent that enforcement of the regulations or
requirements would directly impede disaster relief and recovery
efforts or would disrupt the current level of service in child care
and development programs.
(b) If a state of emergency is declared by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may waive, any requirements of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code relating to child nutrition programs in child care and development programs operated pursuant to this chapter only to the extent that enforcement of the regulations or requirements would directly impede disaster relief and recovery efforts or would disrupt the current level of service in child care and development programs.
(c) A waiver granted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) shall not exceed 45 calendar days.
(d) For purposes of this section, "state of emergency" includes fire, flood, earthquake, or a period of civil unrest.
(e) If a request for a waiver pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) is for a child care and development program or child nutrition program that receives federal funds and the waiver may be inconsistent with the state plan or any federal law or regulations governing the program, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall seek and obtain approval of the waiver from the appropriate federal agency prior to granting the waiver.
(b) If a state of emergency is declared by the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may waive, any requirements of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code relating to child nutrition programs in child care and development programs operated pursuant to this chapter only to the extent that enforcement of the regulations or requirements would directly impede disaster relief and recovery efforts or would disrupt the current level of service in child care and development programs.
(c) A waiver granted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) shall not exceed 45 calendar days.
(d) For purposes of this section, "state of emergency" includes fire, flood, earthquake, or a period of civil unrest.
(e) If a request for a waiver pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) is for a child care and development program or child nutrition program that receives federal funds and the waiver may be inconsistent with the state plan or any federal law or regulations governing the program, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall seek and obtain approval of the waiver from the appropriate federal agency prior to granting the waiver.
