New License Allows Care for School-Age Children During the Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new program will ensure students learning remotely will have a safe place to go during the normal school day while their parents are at work.

On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that starting Aug. 25, child care providers licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Education may care for school-age children who are learning remotely during the school day. These providers will receive funding to cover the cost of care for economically eligible children, according to a release.

ODE is also working to extend this same option to its licensed school-age child care providers and could be effective by early September, upon approval by the State Board of Education.

“With more than 30% of school districts opting for remote and hybrid models of learning for the start of the school year – including many of Ohio’s largest school districts – working families need safe options for their child’s care during the school day,” DeWine said.

ODJFS is launching a new Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care license to providers who can provide a safe place for students to go when they aren’t learning in school. Organizations such as churches, recreation centers and businesses can apply for this temporary license to provide care to children during the school day.

“The safety of children is our number one priority,” said ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall. “The new Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care license will ensure that our children are cared for in safe, clean facilities by qualified staff, while also reducing the regulations that organizations have to abide by to become licensed.”

In addition to eliminating many child care licensing requirements, ODJFS is also waiving the registration fee for Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care providers, according to the release.

Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.