Section 17-798.2-44 - Quality incentive payments for preschools(a) This incentive is available only to preschools as defined in section 798.2-2.(b)Preschools shall qualify for a quality incentive payment if they satisfy standards of quality as determined by the department, including: (1) Hawaii Preschool Content Standards (HPCS), 2004;(2) Professional Development Standards Level I or II, in Exhibit II, effective January 1, 2006, set forth at the end of this chapter; or(3) Accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA), in which case they shall be deemed to satisfy both HPCS and Professional Development Standards Level I.(c) The preschool shall agree to participate in direct deposit of their quality incentive payment into a designated bank account.(d) The preschool shall submit a completed application form and supporting documentation as prescribed by the department. (1) The application shall be signed and dated by the licensed provider or, if the preschool is a corporation, by an authorized representative.(2) When applying for a quality incentive payment based on the Professional Development Standards, a preschool can only apply for either Level I or Level II, but not for both.(e) The department shall review the completed application and supporting documentation to determine eligibility.(1) If a preschool that is not accredited through NAEYC or NECPA applies for the quality incentive payment for implementing a curriculum based on the HPCS, the department shall make a preliminary determination whether the HPCS have been incorporated into the preschool's curriculum.(2) If the department makes a preliminary determination that the HPCS are satisfied, the department shall conduct a site visit to the preschool to observe activities at the site and verify that the HPCS have been incorporated into the preschool's curriculum.(f) Upon completion of the review process, the department shall issue a notice that indicates whether the preschool is eligible for a quality incentive payment. (1) If found eligible, the notice shall indicate the effective and expiration dates of eligibility for the specific standard met and the amount the preschool is eligible to receive for the quality incentive payment.(2) If found ineligible, the notice shall indicate the reason for the ineligibility.(g) A preschool that has been deemed ineligible may reapply for the quality incentive payment after a sixty-day waiting period, effective from the date of the notice of ineligibility.(h) A preschool that has been deemed ineligible for a quality incentive payment may request a review of the decision with the department's Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division. Requests for review must be submitted in writing within thirty days of the date of the notice of ineligibility. A decision under this subsection shall be final and conclusive.(i) Eligibility for the quality incentive payment shall be for a twelve-month period beginning from the date of the notice of eligibility, provided that eligibility shall be for less than a twelve-month period if: (1) Eligibility is based on accreditation by NAEYC or NECPA, in which case the period of eligibility indicated on the notice shall expire on the date that the NAEYC or NECPA accreditation period ends;(2) The preschool child care license expires prior to the twelve-month period, in which case the period of eligibility indicated on the notice shall expire on the date the license expires; or(3) The department suspends or revokes the preschool license, in which case eligibility shall be terminated effective the date the department suspends or revokes the license.(j) The quality incentive payments shall be made per month for each child in the preschool's care who receives a child care subsidy payment from the department. A child shall be deemed in the preschool's care if the child is enrolled and present on the first work day of the month. The payment amounts for each standard shall be as follows: (1) HPCS standard - $50 per month;(2) Professional Development Standards Level I -$50 per month; and(3) Professional Development Standards Level II -$25 per month.(k) Re-determinations for eligibility for quality incentive payments shall be done annually. (1) The preschool shall submit an application and supporting documentation to the department at least two months prior to the expiration date of the authorized period.(2) Re-determinations for eligibility shall follow the same process as initial applications as stated above.Haw. Code R. § 17-798.2-44
[Eff 03/08/08] (Auth: HRS § 346-14) (Imp: HRS § 346-14, 45 C.F.R. §§98.1 to 98.93 )