Protective Gear and Cleaning Supplies

Dear Early Learning and Care Programs:

The California Department of Education (CDE), Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) is working in conjunction with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to acquire essential protective gear and select supplies to childcare programs open, or preparing to open, to serve children in California.

Supplies will be available to: (1) early learning and care (ELC) programs serving children birth through preschool and family child care homes serving children birth to 12 years; and (2) local educational agencies (LEAs) providing services to children in Transitional Kindergarten through grade 12. All ELC programs, whether in school districts or not, may access supplies at the local Resource and Referral (R&R) agency.

When the specific ELC supplies provided by CalOES and CDSS are received by the R&R agency, the local childcare community will be informed by the R&R. Unless the County Office of Education (COE) is also the R&R, ELC Programs should not contact the COE because their supplies have been earmarked for Transitional Kindergarten through grade 12 schools and will not be available for ELC programs.

The following supplies will be made available to R&Rs for this round of supply distribution:

• Hand sanitizer
• Non-latex gloves

The CDE, ELCD appreciates the efforts of CalOES and CDSS for their help in getting essential protective gear and supplies into local childcare communities throughout California. The supply order available will help to meet the critical needs of our childcare programs, particularly for items that are difficult to access. For this reason, the R&Rs may limit the amount of supplies given to any one provider or center so that adequate supplies will be available to help the entire childcare community.

For questions regarding supply distribution, please contact your local R&R agency.