Guidance for Tribal Lead Agencies on the 2024 CCDF Final Rule Provisions and Waiver Requests

1. Log No: CCDF-ACF-PI-2024-05
2. Issuance Date: July 30, 2024
3. Originating Office:  Office of Child Care  
4. Key Words:  Child Care and Development Fund, CCDF, waiver

To

Tribal Lead Agencies administering child care programs under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program, as amended, including those that have consolidated their CCDF program into an approved P.L. 102-477 Plan, and other interested parties. 

Subject

Guidance for Tribal Lead Agencies on the 2024 CCDF Final Rule Provisions and Waiver Requests

References

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (42 U.S.C. § 9857 et seq.); section 418 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 618); 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99, as amended by 2024 CCDF Final Rule published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2024 (89 FR 15366).

Purpose

This Program Instruction (PI) transmits guidance to Tribal Lead Agencies related to the 2024 CCDF Final Rule provisions specific to Tribal CCDF programs, waiver flexibilities related to this Rule, extraordinary circumstances fiscal waiver requests to extend obligation and liquidation dates of various federal funds, and instructions for how to submit waiver requests and how to submit amendments applicable to the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023-2025 CCDF Plan and approved P.L. 102-477 Plans.

The purpose of this guidance is to provide instructions to Tribal Lead Agencies on certain flexibilities available to them to facilitate their ongoing efforts to use CCDF to meet the needs of their communities. Specifically, this gives direction on temporary transitional waiver flexibilities related to the 2024 CCDF Final Rule and on extraordinary circumstances fiscal waiver flexibilities offered to Tribal Lead Agencies. Tribal Lead Agencies may request a temporary transitional waiver for the provision in the 2024 CCDF Final Rule limiting family co-payments to no more than seven percent of family income. In addition, Tribal Lead Agencies may request fiscal waivers to extend obligation and liquidation dates for various federal funding streams for extraordinary circumstances that have prevented Tribal Lead Agencies from fully expending CCDF funding.