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Division of Child Care and Early
Childhood Education Updates

2012 Archives

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Latest News

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) State Plan Draft and Public Hearing Announcement (05.17.13)

As we continue to work together, please find the link below to the draft CCDF State Plan. Many of you have participated in discussions about the plan which describes Louisiana's plan for use of these federal dollars during the period from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2015.

• CCDF State Plan

Also note below the date, location and time of the public hearing. Please allow time to process through building Security.

• June 10, 2013 -- A public hearing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m, concerning the renewal of the Louisiana Child Care and Development Fund State Plan for the period of October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2015. The public hearing will be held at the Department of Children and Family Services, Iberville Building, 627 North 4th Street, Room 1-127, Baton Rouge, LA. A copy of the draft of the state plan may be accessed here.

April

Emergency Preparedness - Disaster Notice (04.23.13)
Due to the spring rain, snow melting and flooding in the Midwest, Louisiana may be impacted by flooding. Please refer to the disaster notice as a reminder in order for you to be prepared in the event of a disaster in your parish. Above all, be safe.

March

DEADLINE REMINDER: Request for Applications to Participate in Act 3 Early Childhood Care and Education Community Pilots (03.18.13)

The deadline to submit applications for the Act 3 Early Childhood Care and Education Community Network Pilots is March 22, 2013. Completed applications must be submitted to kaye.eichler@la.gov and received no later than 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact Kaye Eichler at (225) 342-3647 or via e-mail at kaye.eichler@la.gov.

Quality Start Child Care Providers SRTC Tax Notice (03.08.13)
All Quality Start Child Care Providers 2012 SRTC tax notices are being reprinted at this time and will be mailed out with the first available outgoing mail process.

This notice is for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC, the average number of children served in CCAP and Foster Care, and the tax credit amount based on the average number of children the center is potentially eligible for. In order to benefit from the SRTC, you should wait to file your state taxes until you receive this verification letter. Reminder - if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.


Quality Start Child Care Providers SRTC Tax Notice (03.06.13)
All Quality Start Child Care Providers 2012 SRTC tax notices were processed on 2/28/13. We have been notified that providers have not received their notices. We are asking you to please allow additional days to receive your notice. This notice is for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC, the average number of children served in CCAP and Foster Care, and the tax credit amount based on the average number of children the center is potentially eligible for. In order to benefit from the SRTC, you should wait to file your state taxes until you receive this verification letter. Reminder - if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.


Providers Wishing to Participate in LA4, 8(g) and NSECD Prekindergarten (03.05.13)
The Louisiana Department of Education has released the application and requirements for providers wishing to participate in LA4, 8(g) and NSECD Prekindergarten. Child care programs may participate in LA 4 through agreement with local schools, but may apply (using this application) for NSECD.
Please note that this is not the application for the Community Network Pilots.

Look for the application for 2013-2014 Provider Application for Funding for LA 4, 8(g) and Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development (NSECD) Prekindergarten Programs and Requirements/Guidelines documents online. Pass this on to all you know who are interested or may wish to apply.

February

School Readiness Tax Credit (SRTC) Update (02.25.13)
Effective January 1, 2013, DCFS began requiring Quality Start providers who are attempting to meet a SRTC deadline to meet a twelve (12) week processing time deadline to enable Quality Start to timely process the applications. Therefore, deadlines to receive an application for higher stars are no later than September 1 (if it is the center's initial year), or no later than April 1 for any year thereafter. If the application is not received by the appropriate deadline, DCFS makes no guarantee a decision will be made in order to meet the SRTC deadline. Even if the application is received timely; all required components must be completed and approved before a star can be awarded. In summary, if you are seeking a star award for the SRTC July 1, 2013 deadline, we must receive your application no later than April 1, 2013.

School Readiness Tax Credit (SRTC) Update (02.07.13)

If your center was Quality Start rated in 2012, below are important dates all child care centers participating in QRS need to be aware of if you qualify and will be filing for the 2012 SRTC:

JANUARY, 2013 -

• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive a notice informing the center of their star rating for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC. This star rating may or may not be your center's current star rating.
  • If this is the center's first year of participation in QRS, the rating as of 12/1/12 will be the star rating for the 2012 tax year.
  • Any subsequent year of QRS participation, the rating as of 7/1/12 will be the star rating for the 2012 tax year.
• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit forms to complete the Child Care Provider's Portion and to submit to all parents or guardians who had a child under the age of six (6) in your center during 2012, even if that child no longer attends your center. These forms must be provided to the child's parents or guardians by law before January 31, 2013.
  
  • NOTE: You also received the Parent/Guardian/Taxpayer List SRTC Form that must be completed with the name of every child and parent/guardian a form is given to, and then the completed form must be sent to Louisiana Department of Revenue at the address listed on the form. Keep a copy of the completed form for your records.
• In order for Child Care Directors and Teachers to be properly leveled, all updated information should have been received by LA Pathways by December 31, 2012, from all child care directors and staff members to ensure they are on the correct level for the Director I-IV or Child Care Teacher I-IV SRTC. Copies of your most current transcripts, CDA credentials, and proof of membership or service to the profession needs to be sent. If your information was not sent by the above date, you should send to LA Pathways as soon as possible to ensure you are properly leveled for the tax credit.
• By January 31, 2013, all potentially eligible Child Care Directors and Teachers will receive Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit for Child Care Director and Staff Member forms from LA Pathways, if your information was submitted by the above deadline. You may still submit to LA Pathways, but your eligibility form may be delayed.
  • This form must be taken to the child care center you worked at for at least six (6) months in 2012 to have the Child Care Center's Portion completed.
  • As the tax credit is adjusted annually; please go to www.qrslouisiana.org under School Readiness Tax Credit for the current amount of the tax credit to enter on your Louisiana individual income tax return.
  • NOTE: please wait to file your individual income tax return until you receive this letter to ensure you are claiming the correct tax credit.
  • By January 31, 2013, the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit forms must be completed and submitted to all parent's or guardians by law by the Child Care Center to all parents or guardians who had a child under the age of six (6) in your center during 2012, even if that child no longer attends your center.
  • NOTE: Provider tax credit - please wait to file your business income tax return until you receive the verification letter that will be mailed by March 1, 2013. Be aware that if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.

MARCH 1, 2013 -

• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive a second notice informing the center of their star rating for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC, the average number of children served in CCAP and Foster Care, and the tax credit amount based on the average number of children the center is potentially eligible for.
  • In order to benefit from the SRTC, you should wait to file your state taxes until you receive this verification letter. Reminder - if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.

OWNERS, DIRECTORS AND STAFF - PLEASE NOTE: All information reported on the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit and Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit for Child Care Director and Staff Member forms, including the Quality Start Rating, must be reported accurately. This is official information that will be reported to the Louisiana Department of Revenue and must match the information provided by the Department of Children and Family Services or you will be filing a fraudulent Louisiana state income tax return.

SCHOOL READINESS TAX CREDIT (SRTC) DEADLINE CHANGES
Effective January 1, 2013, DCFS is now requiring Quality Start providers who are attempting to meet a SRTC deadline to meet a twelve (12) week processing time deadline to enable Quality Start to timely process the applications. Therefore, deadlines to receive an application for higher stars are no later than September 1 (if it is the center's initial year), or no later than April 1 for any year thereafter. If the application is not received by the appropriate deadline, DCFS makes no guarantee a decision will be made in order to meet the SRTC deadline. Even if the application is received timely; all required components must be completed and approved before a star can be awarded.

Early Childhood Care and Education Community Network Pilots Request for Applications (02.07.13)

Today the LDE, DCFS, and DHH released a Request for Applications to participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education Community Network Pilots. Community Network Pilots will bring together school, non-profit and private partners across early childhood programs - Head Start, LA 4, Child Care, and private pre kindergarten - to unify our system for early learners. Pilot partners will identify children in need in their areas, expand parent access to information and options, assess children's progress, and develop educator capacity across programs. This represents an opportunity for early childhood care and education professionals to lead a profound change for our state.

We encourage all interested communities to apply. There will be a webinar for potential participants on February 14 at noon. Please note that registration is limited to 300 attendees so please register soon. More information may be found on the LDE website. Also, please share this with others who might consider applying. To visit the Louisiana Believes website click here. Please check the DCFS website at www.dcfs.la.gov under Child Care Updates often as updates on various topics are posted frequently.

January

School Readiness Tax Credit (STRC) Deadline Changes (01.10.13)

If your center was Quality Start rated in 2012, below are important dates all child care centers participating in QRS need to be aware of if you qualify and will be filing for the 2012 SRTC:

JANUARY, 2013 -

• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive a notice informing the center of their star rating for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC. This star rating may or may not be your center's current star rating.
  • If this is the center's first year of participation in QRS, the rating as of 12/1/12 will be the star rating for the 2012 tax year.
  • Any subsequent year of QRS participation, the rating as of 7/1/12 will be the star rating for the 2012 tax year.
  • NOTE: This notice is usually mailed in December; however due to some technical issues the notice will go out in January. Please check this notice for accuracy and notify the Quality Improvement Unit immediately of any discrepancies.
• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit forms to complete the Child Care Provider's Portion and to submit to all parents or guardians who had a child under the age of six (6) in your center during 2012, even if that child no longer attends your center. These forms must be provided to the child's parents or guardians by law before January 31, 2013.
  
  • NOTE: These forms will be mailed to your center shortly. You will also receive the Parent/Guardian/Taxpayer List SRTC Form that must be completed with the name of every child and parent/guardian a form is given to, and then the completed from must be sent to Louisiana Department of Revenue at the address listed on the form. Keep a copy of the completed form for your records.
• In order for Child Care Directors and Teachers to be properly leveled, all updated information should have been received by LA Pathways by December 31, 2012, from all child care directors and staff members to ensure they are on the correct level for the Director I-IV or Child Care Teacher I-IV SRTC. Copies of your most current transcripts, CDA credentials, and proof of membership or service to the profession needs to be sent. If your information was not sent by the above date, you should send to LA Pathways as soon as possible to ensure you are properly leveled for the tax credit.
• On or before January 31, 2013, all potentially eligible Child Care Directors and Teachers will receive Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit for Child Care Director and Staff Member forms from LA Pathways, if your information was submitted by the above deadline. You may still submit to LA Pathways, but your eligibility form may be delayed.
  • This form must be taken to the child care center you worked at for at least six (6) months in 2012 to have the Child Care Center's Portion completed.
  • As the tax credit is adjusted annually; please go to www.qrslouisiana.org under School Readiness Tax Credit for the current amount of the tax credit to enter on your Louisiana individual income tax return.
  • NOTE: please wait to file your individual income tax return until you receive this letter to ensure you are claiming the correct tax credit.
  • By January 31, 2013, the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit forms must be completed and submitted to all parent's or guardians by law by the Child Care Center to all parents or guardians who had a child under the age of six (6) in your center during 2012, even if that child no longer attends your center.
  • NOTE: Provider tax credit - please wait to file your business income tax return until you receive the verification letter that will be mailed by March 1, 2013. Be aware that if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.

MARCH 1, 2013 -

• All Quality Start Child Care Providers will receive a second notice informing the center of their star rating for the 2012 tax year for the SRTC, the average number of children served in CCAP and Foster Care, and the tax credit amount based on the average number of children the center is potentially eligible for.
  • In order to benefit from the SRTC, you should wait to file your state taxes until you receive this verification letter. Reminder - if you file prior to receiving this notice, you will need to do an amended return in order to claim the SRTC.

OWNERS, DIRECTORS AND STAFF - PLEASE NOTE: All information reported on the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit Child Care Expense Credit and Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credit for Child Care Director and Staff Member forms, including the Quality Start Rating, must be reported accurately. This is official information that will be reported to the Louisiana Department of Revenue and must match the information provided by the Department of Children and Family Services or you will be filing a fraudulent Louisiana state income tax return.

SCHOOL READINESS TAX CREDIT (SRTC) DEADLINE CHANGES
Effective January 1, 2013, DCFS is now requiring Quality Start providers who are attempting to meet a SRTC deadline to meet a twelve (12) week processing time deadline to enable Quality Start to timely process the applications. Therefore, deadlines to receive an application for higher stars are no later than September 1 (if it is the center's initial year), or no later than April 1 for any year thereafter. If the application is not received by the appropriate deadline, DCFS makes no guarantee a decision will be made in order to meet the SRTC deadline. Even if the application is received timely; all required components must be completed and approved before a star can be awarded.