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Latest Connector Call Questions

Intro

On a quarterly basis, the state hosts Connector Calls with child care providers and early educators to answer questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more. The purpose of the call is to answer clarifying questions that early educators may have. The latest questions and answers are below. 

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January 2026 Connector Call questions and answers 

Are there resources to support child care centers in planning for staffing to cover rest and meal breaks to maintain ratio?  

As of Jan. 1, 2026, employers must generally allow employees to take:   

  • A paid rest break that is at least 15 minutes for every four consecutive hours worked. 
  • An unpaid meal break that is at least 30 minutes when working six or more consecutive hours. 

New FAQs are available to help employers and workers understand the updated requirements. Visit dli.mn.gov/breaks. 

Department of Labor and Industry staff are also available by phone or email at 651-283-5075 or dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us. Questions related to maintaining compliance with licensing requirements should be directed to your licensor.  

The department offers several supports to help child care programs operate their business:  

  • Child Care Wayfinder is a one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs in Minnesota. A Wayfinder Navigator can connect you with free or low-cost supports for your child care business and provide personalized support and encouragement for navigating the child care licensing process. Wayfinder offers resources to help expand and sustain currently licensed child care programs. Child care programs can  request a consultation here. 
  • First Children’s Finance can make the business side of child care easier with personalized coaching, Develop-approved trainings, and a Business Leadership Credential that builds knowledge. Access to Technology grants and low-interest loans are also available.  

If I am in the only one working in my licensed family child care program, am I required to participate in the Paid Family Medical Leave program?  

If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you are not automatically covered by Paid Leave — but you can choose to opt in to the program. For more information and to see if you may be eligible, visit Opt in to Paid Leave | Minnesota Paid Leave. As a reminder, Paid Family Medical Leave covers more than maternity leave.  

Qualifying events for Paid Leave include: 

  • Medical Leave 
    • To care for your own serious health condition. 
    • This can include pregnancy or childbirth, surgery, a chronic condition, injury, or other health needs your provider certifies. 
  • Family Leave 
    • To bond with a child through birth, adoption, or foster placement 
    • To care for a family member with a serious health condition 
    • To support a military family member called to active duty 
    • To respond to certain personal safety issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, for you or a family member. 

Related to child care regulation modernization, how will child care providers receive the final draft of proposed regulations?  

DCYF sent out communications to all licensed providers on Thursday, January 8th. The legislatively mandated Child Care Regulation Modernization Legislative Report is now available on DCYF’s website.  

The report contains the proposed child care licensing standards, and highlights notable differences between the proposed licensing standards and the current requirements in rule and statute. The report also provides an overview of the project, recent developments, stakeholder engagement efforts, and anticipated implementation considerations.  

The legislative report fulfills the Legislature’s requirement that DCYF submit a report and proposed language. The proposed standards included in the report are intended for the Legislature’s consideration. New standards will not go into effect until they are passed into law by the legislature.   

If you have questions, please email ccregmodernization.DCYF@state.mn.us.  

How will recent allegations of fraud in the Child Care Assistance Program affect licensing or other monitoring visits for all licensed or certified programs?  

As part of an ongoing commitment to oversight and to instill the necessary public trust in the integrity of Minnesota’s child care assistance program (CCAP), DCYF has added additional on-site compliance checks in child care programs. These checks are being by DCYF Office of Inspector General investigators with assistance from agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). These visits are separate from the licensing visits conducted by state or county child care licensors, and you can expect licensing inspections to continue as usual.   

Will the on-site compliance checks include the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program and the Early Learning Scholarship Program?  

The visits are not limited to child care centers, and any program that receives CCAP funding may be subject to a compliance check. In addition to the compliance checks for CCAP, DCYF will continue its program integrity work in all payment programs, including GSCSPP and Early Learning Scholarships. 

I’ve heard that the federal government is freezing child care funding for Minnesota?  Will I still get reimbursed for CCAP? And will the federal actions impact early learning scholarships and Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program? 

We're sure many of you are tracking the news on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and the federal government’s actions to freeze Minnesota’s child care payments. We recognize the alarm and questions this has raised.   

  • Federal actions are not currently disrupting payment for child care services in Minnesota. The Child Care Assistance Program is continuing to operate as usual. Providers should continue following all CCAP licensing and certification requirements and practices, including billing, as usual. 
  • State funding for the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program and Early Learning Scholarships is not impacted by the federal government’s action. 

On Jan. 9, the Minnesota Attorney General Office and attorneys general in four other states won a temporary restraining order to prevent the federal Administration of Children and Families (ACF) from freezing funds or restricting draw downs in the: 

  • Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which includes child care funding;  
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which supports the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP);  
  • and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), which includes payments to counties to support for child and adult protection.  

The temporary restraining order will last for two weeks, and during that time the states will have the opportunity to seek a preliminary injunction to block the freeze for the duration of the lawsuit. 

DCYF will monitor the lawsuit and update partners as we can. In the meantime, DCYF teams continue to work through the multiple communications and analyze fiscal and other practical aspects of the federal action. Our partners should continue to serve families and children and access DCYF programs through normal practices and procedures until more information is available.