Providers

Latest Updates for Virginia Child Care

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -

Check this section regularly for notices of major changes and important information affecting child care in Virginia.

New: Background Checks; Provisional Employment

Effective July 1, 2024, new applicants for employment and volunteering may be provisionally hired if the applicant has received qualifying results from a fingerprint-based background check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Current employees must continue to meet the requirements set out in § 22.1-289.035 of the Code of Virginia.  Previous background check requirements apply to all applicants and volunteers hired prior to July 1, 2024.  In addition, effective July 1, 2024, all child day programs must comply with the requirements of § 22.1-289.035 of the Code.  There will no longer be a 30-day grace period for Virginia Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Search results or out-of-state child abuse and neglect registry search requests.

Refer to the background check webpage for more information. 

New: 2025-2027 CCDF State Plan Public Hearing

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will host a public hearing on the 2025-2027 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan on Wednesday, June 5 from 12:00—1:30 PM in the James Monroe Building. The purpose of the public hearing is to review the draft plan and accept public comment on VDOE’s proposals for the upcoming plan cycle beginning October 1, 2024. 

The CCDF State Plan serves as Virginia’s application for a three-year cycle of federal funding, outlining how VDOE will complete activities funded by CCDF and implement policies in compliance with the law.  

The public hearing will be held on the 22nd floor of the James Monroe Building and will also be livestreamed for public viewing via the VDOE YouTube Channel. If you are interested in providing an oral public comment in-person during the hearing, please notify us at earlychildhoodaccess@doe.virginia.gov.   

Written comments may be submitted using the CCDF State Plan Public Comment Form or by emailing a formal letter to earlychildhoodaccess@doe.virginia.gov (Microsoft Word or PDF files only, please). Comments will be accepted through midnight on Sunday, June 16, but must be received by midnight on Wednesday, May 29 in order to be addressed during the public hearing. 

New: Testing Potable Water for Lead

Effective January 1, 2025, the VDOE will begin determining compliance with § 22.1-289.057 of the Code of Virginia, which is legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2020.  The law requires all licensed child day programs, religious exempt child day centers that serve preschool age children, and certified preschools to test potable drinking water. The law requires that programs submit their plans and test results to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water (VDH ODW) and the Superintendent. If the results of the testing indicate elevated lead levels, the program shall remediate, retest, and resubmit results to VDH ODW and the Superintendent.

New: MAT Seizure Rescue Nasal Spray Online Course

The Medication Administration Training (MAT) Program recently announced the new MAT Seizure Rescue Nasal Spray (SRNS) online course.  The training is available for free on the MAT Online Learning Center and will enable MAT-Certified providers to administer this emergency medication quickly and correctly in the event of an emergency seizure situation.

 Effective November 15, 2023, to be authorized to give seizure rescue nasal spray to a child in their care, a provider must meet ONE of the following criteria:

1. Holds a current MAT Certificate AND a current MAT Seizure Rescue Nasal Spray Online Course Completion Certificate;

2. Holds a current MAT Certificate AND a current MAT Epilepsy for Certified Providers Certificate; or

3. Holds a current MAT Epilepsy for Uncertified Providers Certificate.

Please review the memo related to this new course and refer to the Medical Home Plus website for more information. 

New: Changes to The Child Care Subsidy Program Manual

To prepare more children for kindergarten, the VDOE seeks to fund child care programs to meet quality expectations and to make child care more accessible and affordable for parents by:

  1. Using a cost estimation model to determine the “true cost” to deliver quality care and education with competitive compensation, and setting payment rates based on a percentage of these costs.

  2. Restructuring parent payments in the Child Care Subsidy Program to reduce financial burdens for families and promote consistency with other publicly-funded programs.

Click here for more information.

Videos and Recordings

Memos Sent to Providers from the Office of Child Care Health and Safety

Readiness Connections

Readiness Connections is a newsletter distributed weekly by VDOE that contains program updates for child care centers and family day homes. Visit Readiness Connection newsletters to register and catch up on previously sent newsletters.

Archive of Notices Sent to Providers