Apply for
Find
Report abuse
The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program was signed into law in May 2023, providing Minnesota with additional funds designed to support the child care industry and child care workers. Building off the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, which ends in June 2023, this program will issue monthly payments to eligible child care providers to fund increases in compensation and benefits for early educators.
If you need assistance in a language other than English, please use the resources below.
Child Care Aware of Minnesota can connect you to Language Line Services for languages other than English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish.
Child Care Aware can be reached by phone at 651-290-9704 or by email at supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org.
Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants muab nyiaj hli rau tus muab kev pab cuam saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus uas tab tom yuav pib thaum lub Xya Hlis Ntuj 2023 txhawm rau nce nyiaj hli rau tus saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus. Cov Nyiaj Pab Rau Kev Hloov Pauv yuav xam raws li cov neeg ua hauj lwm puv sij hawm kom sib npaug (FTE), puv sij hawm- thiab ib nrab sij hawm, Tus uas saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus hauv lub khoos kas saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus yam tsis tu ncua. Rau lub hom phiaj hauv kev pab nyiaj, FTE yog ib tus neeg saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus uas ua hauj lwm ntau tshaj 32 teev sij hawm hauv ib lub lim tiam. Cov Nyiaj Pab Rau Kev Hloov Pauv yuav xam los ntawm cov nyiaj khoom plig FTE muab faib los ntawm FTE uas ua hauj lwm hauv lub khoos kas. Tus maub kev pab cuam uas tau txais qhov nyiaj them rov qab rau lub khoos kas pab saib xyaus cov me nyuam yaus los sis kev them nyiaj rau kev kawm paub ua ntej tej zaum yuav muaj cai tau txais paj ntsig li 10%. Tus muab kev pab cuam yuav tsum tau siv li 70% ntawm pob peev nyiaj ntawm Cov Nyiaj Pab Rau Kev Hloov Pauv txhawm rau nce nyiaj hli thiab /los sis kev noj qab haus huv uas muab rau cov neeg ua hauj lwm uas saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus yam tsis tu ncua. 30% ntawm pob peev nyiaj ntawm Cov Nyiaj Pab Rau Kev Hloov Pauv tuaj yeem siv tau los them rau kev ua lag luam.
Yog tias koj xav tau kev pab nkag siab tsab ntawv no, thov hu rau Ka Youa Vang at kvang@thinksmall.org, 651-366-6792
Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants waa deeqo bille ah oo loogu talagalay bixiyayaasha xannaanada ilmaha oo bilaabmaya Luulyo 2023 iyadoo looga dan leeyahay kordhinta mushaharka shaqaalaha xannaanada ilmaha. Transition Grants waxa xisaabintooda lagu saleeya tirada shaqaalaha u dhigma inay waqti buuxa shaqeeyaan (FTE), oo ay ku jiraan shaqaalah waqtiga buuxa iyo kuwa bar ahaan shaqeeya, ee si joogto ah u xanaaneeya caruurta ku jirta barnaamijka xannaanada ilmaha. Marka deeqda la fiirinayo, hal shaqaale xannaano caruureed FTE ah waa qof shaqeeya 32 saacadood ama ka badan todobaadkii. Transition Grants waxa lagu soo saaraa in qaddarka loogu talagay FTE-gii kasta lagu dhufto wadarta FTE-yada ka hawlgala barnaamijka. Adeeg bixiyayaasha hela lacagcelinta Child Care Assistance Program ama lacagaha Early Learning Scholarship ayaa laga yaabaa inay xaq u yeeshaan 10% dheeraad ah. Adeeg bixiyayaasha waxa laga rabaa inay 70% Lacagaha Transition Grant a u adeegsadaan inay mushaharka iyo/dheefaha ugu kordhiyaan shaqaalaha xannaaneynta curuurta. 30% Lacagaha Transition Grant ayaa loo adeegsan karaa in lagu baxsho kharashaadka ganacsiga.
Hadaad ubaahantahay caawimaad fahanka warqadan, fadlan la xiriir Abdulkadir Warsame, awarsame@thinksmall.org, 651-641-6673
Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants son subsidios mensuales para proveedores de cuidado infantil a partir de julio de 2023 con el fin de aumentar la remuneración de los educadores de preescolar. Los Transition Grants se calculan en función de la cantidad de personal equivalente a tiempo completo (FTE, por sus siglas en inglés), tanto de tiempo completo como de medio tiempo, que con regularidad cuidan a los niños en un programa de cuidado infantil. A los efectos del subsidio, un FTE es un educador de preescolar que trabaja 32 horas o más por semana. Los Transition Grants se calculan tomando el monto de la retribución por FTE multiplicado por la suma de los FTE que trabajan en un programa. Los proveedores que reciben reembolsos del Programa de Asistencia con el Cuidado de Menores o pagos de becas de aprendizaje temprano pueden ser tener derecho a recibir una bonificación del 10 %. Los proveedores deben utilizar el 70 % de los fondos del Transition Grant para aumentar la remuneración y las prestaciones para los trabajadores que cuidan niños con regularidad. El 30 % de los fondos del Transition Grants se puede utilizar para pagar los gastos comerciales.
Si necesita ayuda para comprender esta carta, comuníquese con Rocio Sosa, rsosa@thinksmall.org, 651-641-6660
Compensation Support Transition Grant amounts are determined by the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff who regularly care for children in the program, including sole proprietors (i.e., family child care providers) and independent contractors.
"Regularly cares for children" is defined as paid staff whose job description or responsibilities include interacting with, caring for and supervising children enrolled in the program. Providers who work more than 32 hours per week can count up to two FTE staff.
Providers are eligible for a 10% increase to their Compensation Support Transition Grants if they have:
Please see the per FTE award amount for each Transition Grant round in the table below. The per FTE award amount for the August and September 2023 rounds are listed as a range of amounts. This is because the exact amounts for those months depends on how many providers participate in the program. The exact amounts will be determined at a later date to ensure that the Transition Grant funds are fully used. .
| Transition Grant Round | Application Period | Funding Period | Reported hours period | 10% bonus lookback period | Per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) award amount |
| July 2023 Transition Grant | Jul. 17, 2023 – Jul. 28, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. | Jun. 15, 2023 - Jul. 14, 2023 | Jun. 1, 2023 - Jun.30, 2023 | Mar. 20, 2023 – Apr. 16, 2023 Mar. 20, 2023 – Jul. 9, 2023 (certified centers only) | $375 |
| August 2023 Transition Grant | Aug. 15, 2023 – Aug. 22, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. | Jul. 15, 2023 - Aug. 14, 2023 | Jul. 1, 2023 - Jul. 31, 2023 | May 1, 2023 – May 28, 2023 May 1, 2023 – Aug. 6, 2023 (certified centers only) | $475 |
| September 2023 Transition Grant | Sep. 15, 2023 – Sep. 22, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. | Aug. 15, 2023 - Sept. 14, 2023 | Aug. 1, 2023 - Aug. 31, 2023 | May 29, 2023 – Jun. 25, 2023 May 29, 2023 – Sep. 3, 2023 (certified centers only) | TBD |
Application period: The time period when providers apply for a Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grant.
Funding period: The time period when providers must meet all state and federal eligibility requirements of the Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grant.
Reported hours period: The time period for which providers report total monthly hours spent caring for children for themselves and/or any staff.
10% bonus lookback period: If providers receive Child Care Assistance Program or Early Learning Scholarship payments during this period, then they are awarded a 10% bonus to their award amount for that Compensation Support Transition Grant.
Transition Grants are calculated based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, both full- and part-time, who regularly care for children in the program. One FTE is a staff member who works 32 hours per week. A staff member who works more than 32 hours per week can count for up to two FTEs; two FTEs would equal 64 hours worked per week. Compensation Support Transition Grants are calculated by taking the per FTE amount, listed in the table above, multiplied by the total number of FTEs working in a program.
Programs may be eligible for an increased Compensation Support Transition Grants award if they serve children of families with low incomes, as documented through payments they recently received from the Child Care Assistance Program or the Early Learning Scholarship program. These programs will receive a 10% bonus.
Example:
A 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) calculation is the the business days in month x 6.4 hours per day.
If a month has 23 business days: 1.0 FTE for the month = 23 business days x 6.4 hours per day = 147 hours
A worker full-time equivalent (FTE) calculation is the hours worked in the month divided by 1.0 FTE for that month.
| Hours for the month | FTE calculation | FTE | |
| Child Care Worker 1 | 220 | 220 divided by 147 | 1.5 |
| Child Care Worker 2 | 100 | 100 divided by 147 | 0.7 |
| Total | 2.2 |
Base award amount calculation: Total FTEs x $ per FTE
2.2 total FTEs x $375 per FTE = $825.00
10% bonus (If provider qualifies): total FTEs x $ per FTE x 0.1
2.2 total FTEs x $375 per FTE x 0.1 = $82.50
Total award amount: base award amount + bonus
$825.00 base award amount + $82.50 bonus = $907.50
Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants will use the same online application process that was used in the previous program (Child Care Stabilization Base Grants).
Eligible providers will receive a monthly email with application information and a link to a personalized application. Examples of Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grant applications are posted below.
Programs are required to use at least 70% of the Transition Grant funds to increase compensation, benefits or premium pay for all paid employees, sole proprietors (i.e. a family child care provider), or independent contractors who regularly care for children. This may include increased hourly wages, additional benefits (health, retirement, educational, etc.), or providing enhanced pay (staff bonus, hiring bonus etc.) to staff. Programs can choose how they use the 70% of Transition Grant funds as long as this portion goes toward increased compensation for staff who regularly care for children.
Transition Grant recipients may request a waiver from the requirement to use at least 70% of the Transition Grant funds to provide increased compensation, benefits or premium pay, if they cannot do so due to restrictions included in agreements with employee bargaining units, or if the program is experiencing unusual and significant financial hardship.
The Update Tool is available at Parent Aware, and allows programs to update their capacity. Programs that have never used the Update Tool before can refer to these instructions for using the Update Tool. For further assistance, email updatetool@parentaware.org. Plan to complete this survey, at a minimum, once every six weeks to ensure that the data remains current.
Data from the Update Tool is used to update the map and survey data that are shared publicly through Parent Aware. This information helps parents of young children get connected to programs when they are looking for child care.
When open and providing services, providers attest in writing to implement policies in line with guidance and orders from corresponding state, Tribal, and local authorities and, to the greatest extent possible, implement policies in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is required as part of the federal Child Care Stabilization Grant law.
This guidance may change and providers are encouraged to frequently review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19.
Per federal law, providers receiving grants agree to maintain wages (i.e. total weekly pay) for all staff during the funding period. This means that if an employee receives an hourly wage, then the total weekly wages earned must remain the same. Employers are also required to maintain the same level of staff benefits (such as health insurance and retirement, if applicable) over the duration of the funding period. All staff includes lead teachers, aides, and staff who are employed by the child care provider to work in transportation, food preparation, and any other staff that the provider employs.
Employees who voluntarily reduce their hours – for example requesting a reduced work schedule or requesting to take unpaid leave – may have their weekly wages reduced based on the voluntary request for reduced hours or leave.
Provide relief from co-payments and tuition payments for the families enrolled in the provider’s program, to the extent possible, and prioritize such relief for families struggling to make either type of payment.
Per federal requirements, providers are prohibited from using these funds to pay taxes, except for payroll taxes.
Providers accepting these funds must ensure the funds are not used to pay for any allowable use that has already been paid for with other federal, state, tribal or local public funds. Examples of other funding sources may include Peacetime Emergency Child Care grants, COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care grants, Tribal Child Care Stabilization Grant funds, forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans, Child Care Aware Regional Grants, and others. Transition Grant funds are intended to cover additional allowable costs that are not covered by other support programs. If you are uncertain whether the source of funding from other support programs is public, you should verify with the organization that provided that support.
Per federal law, providers must attest in writing not to require an employee to involuntarily take time off without pay (i.e. lay off staff). In the event of a temporary closure due to public health guidance issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services and/or the provider’s local public health agency, employers would need to continue to pay their employees at the same rate of pay.
Programs are allowed to pay for the following expenses:
Personnel costs, benefits, premium pay, staff recruitment and retention
Rent or mortgage payments, utilities or insurance
Facilities maintenance an improvements such as minor renovations and minor improvements
Please note that Transition Grant money CANNOT be used for construction or major renovations/ remodeling (structural changes to foundations and loadbearing walls, extensive alterations of a facility, etc.).
Health and safety equipment, supplies and training
Goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services
Mental health supports for children and employees
If you have questions not answered on the Compensation Support Payments program webpage or FAQ, please contact Child Care Aware at 651-290-9704 or supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org.
