Child Care Subsidy Program Manual

• The Virginia Child Care Subsidy Guidance Manual (revised; effective October 1, 2024) provides detailed information about policies and procedures for parents and child care providers in the Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP).

• VDOE has implemented two key changes to CCSP policy that will 1) fund child care programs to meet quality expectations and 2) make public child care more accessible and affordable for parents.

VENDORS: MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT RATES (MRR)

• Alternative Methodology: In partnership with national experts, VDOE used a new alternative methodology to set Maximum Reimbursement Rates (MRR) in the CCSP. 
  • The alternative methodology is called a cost estimation model (PDF). These models support state policymakers to estimate the cost of delivering quality care and education based on program characteristics, cost drivers, and licensing standards. 
  • On May 25, 2022, VDOE received federal approval to use the alternative methodology. 
• Based on the cost estimation model results, VDOE set new MRR for Child Care Subsidy program vendors, effective October 1, 2022.
• The current vendors page includes more information about the cost estimation model and the payment rates, by locality.

FAMILIES: COPAYMENT SCALE

• A new copayment scale took effect January 1, 2023
  • Families in the Child Care Subsidy Program are responsible for a share of costs paid to providers, known as the family copayment. To make public child care more accessible and affordable for parents, VDOE implemented a simpler, more streamlined copayment scale based on a flat monthly per-child rate. 
• The copayment scale is on the current vendors page.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS

• Information about attendance policies, vendor payment rates, and family copayments for the Child Care Subsidy Program can be found here.