Certification | Recertification
Timelines

Guidance

Contractors enroll children when openings become available throughout the year.

Once a family establishes eligibility & need, they will remain eligible & receive services for not less than 24 months.

Exception: Children who are 12 years old when certified will remain eligible & receive services for not less than 12 months. Services may not extend beyond a child’s 14th birthday, unless the child has exceptional needs.

Families receiving both CSPP & CDSS services from a single contractor whose 24-month eligibility will expire before the end of the CSPP program year must be certified for the remainder of the program year, as long as child is age-eligible.

Regulations/Reference

WIC: 10271(h)
Title 5: 18106
Child Care Bulletin: 22-37E

Certification

Once a family establishes eligibility & need, they will remain eligible & receive services for not less than 24 months.

Exception: Children who are 12 years old when certified will remain eligible & receive services for not less than 12 months. Services may not extend beyond a child’s 14th birthday, unless the child has exceptional needs.

Families receiving both CSPP & CDSS services from a single contractor whose 24-month eligibility will expire before the end of the CSPP program year must be certified for the remainder of the program year, as long as child is age-eligible.

Formula to Determine Certification Period:

Child(ren) Under 12: Certification date + 24 months & 1 day = Certification period end date

12-Year-Old: Certification date + 12 months & 1 day or up to 14th birthday = Certification period end date

Dually Enrolled in State Preschool AND CDSS program: Certification date + 24 months + upcoming June 30 = June 30, 20XX

Recertification

If a child is age-eligible to continue receiving services at the conclusion of the family’s current certification period, for ongoing services the family must complete the recertification process. 

1. Notification to Recertify: Notification to recertify is sent to family 30 days prior to the conclusion of the family’s certification period

2. Recertification Appointment: Family brings in documentation AFTER the certification end date, not to exceed 50 days

3. Denial | Termination: Recertification must be completed within 50 calendar days. If family does not complete the recertification process within 50 days:

• Issue NOA on Day 51

• Services continue up to the appeal date

Sibling Enrollment

FAMILY that has a child enrolled in a CDSS program shall be allowed to enroll additional children if there exists an appropriate program opening such as infant care or services to school age care children in which to enroll the child.

What this looks like in practice (if opening):

STEP 1: Parent requests sibling enrollment, and submits additional child specific forms

STEP 2: If an opening is available, issue Notice of Action to enroll the sibling.

NOTE: If family has less than 12 months left of their current eligibility period, extend their certification period out 12 months from the siblings start date.

Returning Family

Family voluntarily dis-enrolls from services AND later requests to return

• Reinstate family AND extend eligibility period to ensure minimum of 24-month total services

• If no opening, place family on the waitlist, connect family with Resource & Referral, or another contractor that may have a space

Program Transfers (CSPP to CDSS)

ONLY APPLICABLE if a contractor serves families in both CDSS Programs and State Preschool:

A family may request to transfer their child from a CSPP program, into your CDSS program. Typically, this would be due to a child aging-out, or simply wanting to transfer into your CDSS program classroom. For continuity of services, if eligible, the family may transfer during their certification period into your CDSS program.

What this looks like in practice:

STEP 1: Determine if Eligible for CDSS program. Review CURRENT State Preschool application:

• YES | NO: Application approval date falls within certification period of transfer date

• YES | NO: Family meets both an eligibility AND need criteria according to CDSS program child is being transferred to

STEP 2: Take Action

If Answered YES to Both

• Issue Notice of Action to approve transfer

• Certification end date will not change

If Answered NO to Either

• Family will need to submit current documentation to verify eligibility AND need for the CDSS program.

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