Early Learning and Care COVID 19 Guidance

Overview

The Early Learning and Care Division (ELCD) has compiled the following guidance and resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ELCD has established a dedicated email address to receive public inquiries related to ELCD programs and emergency concerns: ELCDEmergency@cde.ca.gov.

Management Bulletins

Number	Title and Related Materials	Release Date	Expiration Date or Final Filing Date
21-09	Revised State Median Income (SMI) Ceilings and Income Ranking Table for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021–22	June 17, 2021	Until Rescinded
21-08	Guidance Regarding the Extension of Temporary Emergency Childcare Services, Enrolling New Families in Temporary Emergency Childcare, Transition into Ongoing Childcare Services, and Assessment of Family Fees for Essential Workers and At-risk Populations	April 29, 2021	June 30, 2022, unless rescinded sooner
21-07	Updated Reopening and Reimbursement Requirements for Direct Service Contractors	April 16, 2021	June 30, 2021
21-06	Updated Reimbursement Requirements for Alternative Payment Programs and Providers	April 16, 2021	June 30, 2021
21-05	Program Self Evaluation	March 2021	Until Rescinded
21-04	California State Preschool Program Free or Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility Criteria to Enroll Four-Year-Old Children - REVISED	February 2021	Until Rescinded or Superseded by the Adoption of Regulations
21-03	Revised Guidance on 12-Month Eligibility - RESCINDED	February 2021	Rescinded February 12, 2021
21-02	Guidance on Implementation of Program Quality Requirements during the COVID-19 Pandemic	January 2021	June 30, 2021
21-01	Updated Guidance Regarding Coordination of California Resource and Referral Programs and Local Planning Councils in Support of Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic	January 2021	June 30, 2021, or until rescinded
20-19(a)	Updated Guidance on Family Fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21	December 9, 2020	June 30, 2021
20-19	Guidance on Family Fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21	October 9, 2020	June 30, 2021
20-18	Reopening and Reimbursement Requirements for Direct Service Contractors	September 24, 2020	June 30, 2021
20-17	Requirements for Distance Learning Plans, Program Quality, and Distance Learning Services for Direct Service Contractors	September 2020	June 30, 2021
20-16	Continued Funding Application Fiscal 2021-22	September 2020	November 2020
20-15(a)	Reimbursement and Data Collection Requirements for Alternative Payment Programs and Providers	September 2020	June 30, 2021
20-14	COVID-19 Guidance regarding Emergency Childcare Services for Essential Workers and At-Risk Populations Associated Documents: COVID-19 Self-Certification Form (PDF), COVID-19 2020 Confidential Application for Emergency Childcare Services (PDF), COVID-19 Temporary Waiver Request (PDF)	July 2020	Until Rescinded
20-13	Family Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2020-21	June 2020	Until Rescinded
20-12	Revised State Median Income Ceilings and Income Ranking Table for Fiscal Year 2020-21	June 2020	Until Rescinded
20-11	COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Closures	April 2020	June 30, 2020 or until rescinded
20-10	COVID-19 Guidance regarding Family Child Care Home Education Networks	April 2020	June 30, 2020
20-09	COVID-19 Guidance on Program Self Evaluation, Contract Monitoring, and Program Quality Requirements Associated Documents and Pages: Early Learning and Care Resources for Family Engagement and Professional Development (DOCX), Early Learning and Care Resources for Family Engagement	April 2020	June 30, 2020 or until the State of Emergency has ended, whichever occurs first
20-08(a)	COVID-19 Guidance on Procurement and Audits (Updated 22-May-2020)	April 2020	June 30, 2020 or unless rescinded sooner
20-07	COVID-19 Guidance on California Resource and Referral Programs and Local Planning Councils	April 2020	June 30, 2020 or until rescinded
PIN 20-06-CCP (PDF)	Social and Physical Distancing Guidance and Healthy Practices for Child Care Facilities in Response to the Global Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic written in collaboration with the Department of Education	April 2020	N/A
20-05	COVID-19 Guidance on Temporary Waiver of Family Fees	March 2020	June 30, 2020 or unless rescinded sooner
20-04(a)	COVID-19 Guidance on Apportionment, Attendance, and Reporting Requirements (Updated 5-Jun-2020)	June 2020	June 30, 2020 or unless rescinded sooner

Webinars

Date	Title	Materials
June 18, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	June 18 Webinar Slides (PPTX) June 18 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:04:22)
June 4, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	June 4 Webinar Slides (PPTX) June 4 Webinar Recording (Video; 57:22)
May 21, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	May 21 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
April 30, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	April 30 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
April 16, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	April 16 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
Apirl 5, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	April 5 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
March 19, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	March 19 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
March 5, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	March 5 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
February 19, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	February 19 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
February 5, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	February 5 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
January 19, 2021	COVID-19 Webinar	January 19 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
December 11, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	December 11 Webinar Slides (PPTX) December 11 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:05:35)
December 4, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	December 4 Webinar Slides (PPTX) December 4 Webinar Recording (Video; 58:16)
November 20, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	November 20 Webinar Slides (PPTX) November 20 Webinar Recording (Video; 59:49)
November 6, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	November 6 Webinar Slides (PPTX) November 6 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:00:14)
October 26, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	October 26 Webinar Slides (PPTX) October 26 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:02:08)
October 16, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	October 16 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
October 9, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	October 9 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
September 25, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	September 25 Webinar Slides(PPTX) September 25 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:00:59)
September 18, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	September 18 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
September 11, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	September 11 Webinar Slides (PPTX) September 11 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:00:35)
September 4, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	September 4 Webinar Slides (PPTX) September 4 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:01:37)
August 28, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	August 28 Webinar Slides (PPTX) August 28 Webinar Recording (Video; 1:01:25)
August 21, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	August 21 Webinar Slides (PPTX) August 21 Webinar Recording (Video; 56:56)
August 14, 2020	COVID-19 Webinar	August 14 Webinar Slides (PPTX) August 14 Webinar Recording (Video; 58:38)
May 1, 2020	MB 20-11	MB 20-11 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
April 24, 2020	MB 20-09 and MB 20-10	MB 20-09 and MB 20-10 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
April 23, 2020	MB 20-07	MB 20-07 Webinar Slides (PPTX)
April 15, 2020	MB 20-06	MB 20-06 Webinar Recording (Video; 42:22)
April 1, 2020	MB 20-04 and MB 20-05	MB 20-04 and MB 20-05 Webinar Slides (PPTX)

Resources

Other Resources

Environment Self-Certification During a Pandemic (PDF)
Updated Apportionment Guidance to Resource and Referral (R&R Program Contractors (Dated 07-May-2020)
Note: The purpose of this guidance is to revise certain content from the original guidance letter dated April 29, 2020
Apportionment Letter to Resource and Referall (R&R) Program Contractors (Dated 29-Apr-2020)
- Cleaning and Supplies for Child Care Providers (CSPP) Self-Certification Form (PDF)
- Resource and Referral (R&R) Supply Tracking Log (XLSX) Please submit the Supply Tracking Log to ELCDEmergency@cde.ca.gov.
- Common FAQs for the CSCP Funding - Expired 31-Dec-2020

Guidance for State of Emergency Situations (March 2020)

In addition to Management Bulletins, the ELCD will continue to release guidance and answers to frequently asked questions below.

The California Department of Education (CDE) is following the guidance of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and directives from the Administration. For the latest information, please go to the CDPH News Releases 2020 Page and the CDPH COVID-19 Updates Page .

The ELCD continues to recommend programs consult with local county public health authorities when making decisions that impact families. In addition, the ELCD recommends programs consult closure guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(PDF).

Helpful Links

California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Office of Tribal Affairs COVID-19 Information

California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Provider Information Notices (PINs)

California Department of Education (CDE) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Guidance for schools regarding the Coronavirus (PDF)

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

California Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCCRRN)

Local Planning Council (LPC) Contact Page

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness (PDF)

Email Guidance

April 2021

Date Sent	Title
5/24/2021	Program Self-Evaluation Surveys Due June 1, 2021

Date Sent	Title
4/13/21	Assembly Bill 82 Stipend Update
4/9/21	Survey to Assess the Number of Variable Schedule Families Enrolled in California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Stage 2 (C2AP), CalWORKs Stage 3 (C3AP), California Alternative Payment Program (CAPP), and the California Migrant Alternative Payment Program (CMAP)

March 2021

Date Sent	Title
3/25/21	Assembly Bill 82 — Stipend Guidance
3/2/21	Assembly Bill 82 Implementation and Paying Providers with Variable Schedule Enrollments Based on Certified Need
3/1/21	Announcement: Availability of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Program for Family- and Center-based Child Care businesses with Fewer than 20 Employees

February 2021

Date Sent	Title
2/17/21	Stipend Allocations for Direct Service and Alternative Payment Contractors
2/16/21	Hazardous Pay and Stipends for Employees funded with Early Learning and Care Contracts

December 2020

Date Sent	Title
12/7/20	Advanced Apportionments to California Alternative Payment Programs Contractors

November 2020

Date Sent	Title
11/23/20	Interim Guidance on the Distribution of New Federal Funds to Support State-Subsidized Childcare and Updates on Pending Allocations

October 2020

Date Sent	Title
10/5/20	Information on Revised Cohort Guidance Released by the California Department of Public Health

September 2020

Date Sent	Title
9/25/20	Guidance for Completing the Desired Results Developmental Profile for Fiscal Year 2020–21
9/21/20	Fiscal Year 2020-21 California Alternative Payment Program Projected Over-Earnings
9/15/20	Interim Guidance for Collecting Family Fees in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020–21
9/4/20	Connecting During COVID-19: Supporting You Supporting Others-Building Resilience Through Relationships

August 2020

Date Sent	Title
8/25/20	Information on Revised August Budget Trailer Bill (Senate Bill 820)
8/21/20	Guidance Regarding Requirements for Reopening Reimbursement, and Distance Learning for Direct Service
8/7/20	Guidance on Parent Signatures on Monthly Attendance Records
8/7/20	Guidance for Serving School-Age Children During Distance Learning

July 2020

Date Sent	Title
7/29/20	Additional Information Regarding Essential Protective Gear and Supplies
7/29/20	Advisory for 12-Month Eligibility
7/28/20	Upcoming Guidance and Family Fees
7/19/20	Reopening for Direct Contract Programs
7/14/20	COVID-19 Alternative Payment Program Guidance on Attendance
7/10/20	Extending Services for Children in Emergency Childcare
7/9/20	Distribution of Essential Protective Gear and Cleaning Supplies

FAQs

FY 2020-21 FAQs for Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programs (Updated 25-May-2021)

FY 2019-20 FAQs for ELC Programs (Updated 16-Jun-2020)

Questions: Early Learning & Care Division | ELCDEmergency@cde.ca.gov

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, July 6, 2021

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