Eligibility Requirements

Are you Eligible to Become an On My Way Pre-K Provider?

If you are interested in joining the On My Way Pre-K pilot, please review the criteria in the table below to determine if your program is eligible. If you need more information about the criteria, please refer to the sections below the table for an explanation of the Child Care and Development Fund and Paths to QUALITY™.

Note: If you are a Licensed Child Care Center, a Licensed Class I Child Care Home or a Licensed Class II Child Care Home then you already meet the requirements for CCDF eligibility.

Program Type Description
All Programs All programs must meet criteria detailed in the Provider Eligibility Standards law.

Note: Providers do not need to accept CCDF vouchers to participate in the On My Way Pre-K pilot. You just need to meet the CCDF eligibility standards.
Community-Based Programs Community-based programs including Head Start, licensed centers, licensed family homes, and registered ministries must be rated at Level 3 or Level 4 of Paths to QUALITY™.
Public and Charter Schools Public schools, including charter schools must be rated at Level 3 or Level 4 of Paths to QUALITY™.
Private Schools Private or non-public schools must be accredited by an approved OECOSL accrediting body.
 

If you are not sure if your program is eligible, contact the Project Manager or the assigned Pre-K Consultant for your county and they can help you figure it out.

Child Care and Development Fund

The Child Care and Development Fund is a federal program that was authorized by Congress through the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The purpose of the CCDF program is to have one single, integrated child care funding system to assist low-income families through subsidized child care and increase the availability and quality of child care services.

In the state of Indiana, the CCDF program is administered by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning under the direction of the Family and Social Services Administration. The CCDF program provides child care subsidies for low income families who are working or attending an accredited/certified school or training program. These subsidies are provided in the form of a voucher to attend a CCDF eligible school or a CCDF eligible community-based early learning program.

Remember: As a provider, you do not need to accept CCDF vouchers to participate in the On My Way Pre-K. You just need to meet the CCDF eligibility standards.
CCDF Eligibility by Provider Type


Click the tabs above to reveal more information about your specific provider type.

Public School-Based Providers

Public school-based providers that do not wish to become licensed can complete the CCDF eligibility application process in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ and meet the requirements for the On My Way Pre-K pilot. This involves the completion of the I-LEAD website and participation in an on-site inspection.

A copy of the CCDF provider eligibility standards is available online for review.

To find more information and a copy of the Legally Licensed Exempt Providers Facility packet, go to the application process section of this website.

Private or Non-Public School-Based Programs

Private or non-public school-based programs that do not choose to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ can become an eligible On My Way Pre-K provider if they are accredited by an approved OECOSL accrediting body. If you are an accredited school, please review the list of approved accrediting bodies to see if you qualify for the On My Way Pre-K pilot.

Accredited schools are not required to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ but you may qualify for higher levels of reimbursement and cash incentives if you choose to do so.

Private or non-public school-based programs must be licensed in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ and meet the requirements for the On My Way Pre-K pilot.

Private or non-public school-based programs that do not wish to become licensed can complete the CCDF eligibility application process in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ and meet the requirements for the On My Way Pre-K pilot. This involves the completion of the I-LEAD website and participation in an on-site inspection.

A copy of the CCDF provider eligibility standards is available online for review.

Licensed Child Care Providers

Providers that are licensed by the state of Indiana are automatically considered CCDF eligible providers. School-based programs may choose to become licensed or complete the process for Legally Licensed Exempt Providers. Community-based programs must be licensed in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ and meet the requirements for the On My Way Pre-K pilot.

If you are one of the following provider types, then you are already CCDF eligible:

  • Licensed Child Care Center
  • Licensed Class I Child Care Home
  • Licensed Class II Child Care Home

Licensed providers that are under enforcement action are not eligible to receive public funds through the CCDF subsidy program or participate in the On My Way Pre-K pilot.

Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries

Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries must complete two steps in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™ and eventually become an approved On My Way Pre-K provider:

Step 1: Successfully complete the CCDF eligibility standards and an on-site inspection.

Step 2: Complete the Voluntary Certification Program.



Paths to Quality
Paths to Quality

Paths to QUALITY™ is a rating system to help parents select a child care program. It provides a standardized way to compare quality across various programs. It also creates a structure for providers to measure and improve quality on an ongoing basis. Families can look for the Paths to QUALITY™ logo to determine what level the provider has achieved.

There are four levels in the Paths to QUALITY™ rating system. Each level builds upon the foundation of the previous level, resulting in significant quality improvements at each stage. The four levels are:

  • Level One: The health and safety needs of children are met.
  • Level Two: The environment supports children’s learning.
  • Level Three: A planned curriculum guides child development and school readiness.
  • Level Four: National accreditation is achieved. This is considered the highest level of quality.

A more detailed explanation of each of the levels is available on the Paths to QUALITY™ website.

There are different Paths to QUALITY™ standards for different types of providers.

Community-based child care centers and homes must be licensed, registered ministries must complete the Voluntary Certification Program and schools must be licensed or complete the CCDF eligibility application process in order to participate in Paths to QUALITY™. If you are ready to begin the process, visit the Paths to QUALITY™ website. From there, you can download a copy of the Paths to QUALITY™ standards for your program type.

If you have questions about the Paths to QUALITY™ program or would like to enroll, please contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency.