California Department of Education
May 2010
Eligibility & Requirements Webinar Questions and Answers
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
1. Where do I get the Budget Total (line 11)?
It is on page 1 of 3 of the Budget Information page, line 11, within the
presentation.
2. Where would I apply the scoring rubric? When we turn in our Continued
Funding application I do not have to enter in any of the information you went
over in your Scoring Rubric. Is this for new applicants only?
Yes, the Scoring Rubric is only applicable for new contractors because it is in the
initial Request for Application. There is no Scoring Rubric in a Continued Funding
Application.
3. When using this link http//www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/af/joinlist.asp, to be added to the
funding Mailing List, I am informed I need to “Please choose at least one list to
subscribe to.” There are no options available to select.
When you click on the link, it will bring you to a page requesting your e-mail
address and name. Once you enter this information, you will be added to the
mailing list and notified by e-mail of any new funding.
4. Can you please clarify the role of the Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) versus
the role of “marketing”?
If you are not a current contractor, there is no requirement that you have to use
the CEL. But it is a resource, and you are required to access it to recruit families.
Marketing is for families to be aware you are there. You should use both
systems, let families know you’re in the community, and use the CEL to enroll
families.
5. We operate a state preschool program and have always been told we need to
enroll children off the CEL only. Please clarify.
It is true you are supposed to look and enroll families off the CEL, but if you have
a child that was in your program as a three-year-old the prior year, that child has
priority over any child on the CEL. Also, if a family walks in the door with all of
their documentation as far as enrollment is concerned, and that family qualifies
for eligibility, you can enroll that child as long as there is no other child on the
CEL with priority.
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California Department of Education
May 2010
6. Can the California State Preschool Program (CSPP) serve children for more
than 180 days?
Yes, Part-Day is 175-180 days as a minimum. The earning is based on total days
of operation. You tell us what the days of operation are based on what you think
you will need to earn the contract. What we are interested in mainly is meeting
the needs of the community. The more days of operation you say you will
contract for does not mean you will receive more money.
7. What considers a family to be “automatically eligible” regardless of income?
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)? Homelessness? Child
Protective Services (CPS)?
CPS is one and TANF is another. Homelessness is not an automatic eligibility
waiver.
8. What are the eligibility requirements for new contractors?
The eligibility requirements are for previous contractors to be in “clear” status or
any new contractor. To start services you have to have secured a license.
9. Is it possible to operate a state preschool focusing on children with particular
special needs?
We have many programs that focus on including children with specific needs, but
they still have to meet eligibility requirements in order of priority.
10. I just sent an email to the list sign up - there is no scroll down available from
the link provided on the slide.
This is not a live link. Copy and paste the link into your browser.
11. When a family or child is under CPS or TANF, do these families qualify for our
full-day program or only the half-day state preschool?
CPS children qualify for both full-day and part-day programs, they have first
priority. For TANF families they too are eligible for a full-day program.
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California Department of Education
May 2010
12. For clarification concerning CEL; you mentioned that children can be
enrolled as they walk in. So does this mean that we can enroll walk-in
children without placing them in the CEL and not selecting from the CEL?
Yes, there is no requirement. Once a family walks in the door and provides
documentation that proves they are eligible for services (for example, pay stubs),
you can enroll them without placing them on the CEL. You need to look on the
list and make sure there is not a family ahead of them in priority.
13. What is a Local Education Agency (LEA)?
An LEA or Local Education Agency is a school district or county office of
education.
14. Can a contractor change their California State Preschool half-day program to
a full-day program?
Yes, if you have families that have a need for full-day care. Agencies can do this
by changing the intent to not only serve half-day but full-day as well, as long as
the families meet the need criteria to change from half-day to full-day. If you are
an existing contractor you will need to notify us how you will transfer money to
enroll full-day families because you will not receive additional funding. Funds will
just be adjusted and if you change from part-day to full-day you will be serving
fewer children. There is a process to this change, so please speak to your
consultant.
15. Is documentation needed for a single parent who wants to enroll for part-day
CSPP?
Yes, documentation is needed that states the individual is enrolling the child as a
single parent, and documentation will be to prove the other parent is not
available.
16. What impact will furlough days in our school district have on our contract?
You will be losing services, and to make that up more children need to be served
on the days you are operating. Any change of Minimum Days of Operation
(MDO) needs to be changed in your contract so you need to contact your Child
Development consultant. Once the approval goes through we can make the
correct adjustment.
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California Department of Education
May 2010
17. If a CalWorks family wants to enroll in a California State Preschool program,
do we have to collect a letter stating that they are declining payments for
child care?
No, you do not have to decline. CALWORKS families are almost always eligible
for our programs because of the income level. Call your Child Development
consultant and discuss the matter with them.
18. Can families that are part-day still be fee-paying families?
There are no fees for state preschool.
19. I have a school-age program and I want to increase my license capacity, but I
will need a larger facility. What are the steps to do this? Do I first check with
the owner of the land for approval? Is an additional facility reimbursable?
You need to check with the owner(s) of the building as to whether they are willing
to expand the facility to serve more children, but also connect with Community
Care Licensing. As far as it being reimbursable, we are not sure how we would
address that right now. It is a question that cannot be clarified through this
presentation.
20. For contracts that used to be General Child Care and Development (CCTR)
and are now CSPP but are serving children full time, what is the process to
transfer funds from CSPP to CCTR, and is there a deadline for this?
We initially had an emergency transfer when we first did this, and it was
processed through your fiscal analyst. The analyst was informed of the
adjustments that needed to be made, and then in the continued funding
applications, you had to tell us how you would like to transfer funds between the
contracts. There will be an opportunity next year to do this again.
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