DCYF introduces first phase of electronic attendance system for child care providers
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families is now requiring some child care providers who receive payment from the Child Care Assistance Program to submit electronic attendance records.
The rollout, which started on June 22, starts with licensed child care centers and will gradually expand to include all child care providers receiving CCAP. A centralized electronic attendance reporting system is an effective oversight tool Minnesota will use to ensure integrity and accountability in child care programs.
“We take program integrity and continuous improvement seriously,” said DCYF Commissioner Tikki Brown. "This new electronic attendance system ensures accurate recordkeeping, supports the public's expectation that every dollar goes to help families afford child care, and enables DCYF to enhance service delivery though system modernization."
The electronic attendance system aligns with the Walz-Flanagan Administration’s commitment to modernizing state services, strengthening program integrity, and ensuring CCAP resources reach the families who need them most.
Over the past six months, the department partnered with IT vendors and providers to develop this phased approach. Providers use a range of attendance-tracking tools and methods, DCYF is providing the information and technical assistance they need to meet the new requirement. The department will continue to engage with providers throughout the implementation process, in order to learn from their feedback and improve processes to support a smooth transition.
As a condition of CCAP payment, longstanding state law requires providers to keep accurate daily records and make them immediately available upon request to the county, Tribe, or state, and centralizing the process of attendance tracking better supports program integrity by providing a clear view of program attendance.
Keeping data safe and confidential is a top priority. DCYF and its partners work hard to keep the private information shared with the government safe and secure by preventing unauthorized access. DCYF is also required to follow data privacy laws, which prohibit access to private data unless expressly authorized by state or federal law, or required by a court order. Minnesota has a strong track record of actively working to protect data from disclosures where there is no clear lawful authority.
For more information and updates on attendance record requirements and electronic attendance recordkeeping, visit New Electronic Attendance Record Requirement | EngagementHQ.