Great Start Compensation Program (Minnesota)

Great Start Compensation Program (Minnesota) is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The Great Start Compensation Program supports early educators in Minnesota by increasing compensation and benefits through monthly payments to eligible child care and early education programs.

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3. Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program # Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program supports the child care and early education workforce by increasing compensation and benefits for this vital workforce. This program issues monthly payments to eligible child care and early education programs to fund increases in compensation for educators.

Great Start Compensation was signed into law in May 2023 and is a permanent, noncompetitive program for eligible providers. Search for Child Care and Early Learning programs supportfunds@childcareawaremn. org Eligible licensed family child care providers, licensed child care centers, and certified child care centers are welcome to apply.

Family child care providers and child care centers licensed by a Tribal Nation are also eligible to apply for Great Start Compensation funding. See the eligibility section for more information. These payments are meant to increase early childhood educator compensation and benefits.

Payment amounts are based on the sum total of provider and/or staff full-time equivalents (FTEs) with a set amount paid per FTE. One person can account for up to two FTEs. [](http://www.

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Learn more about the changes and the Provider Hub. News, updates and engagements 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 of Minnesota can be reached by phone at 651-273-2644 or by email atsupportfunds@childcareawaremn. org. The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program wuxu baxshaa lacago bille ah oo loogu talagalay bixiyayaasha xannaanada ilmaha oo bilaabmaya Aktoobar 2023 iyadoo looga dan leeyahay kordhinta magdhowga shaqaalaha xannaanada ilmaha.

Deeqaha Taageerada Mushaharka 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 Compensation Support Payments la fiirinayo, hal shaqaale xannaano caruureed FTE ah waa qof shaqeeya 32 saacadood ama ka badan todobaadkii.

Compensation Support Payments Mushaharka waxa sidoo kale lagu soo saaraa in qaddarka loogu talagay FTE-gii kasta lagu dhufto wadarta FTE-yada ka hawlgala barnaamijka. Adeegbixiyayaasha (1) hela lacagcelinta Child Care Assistance Program, (2) hela lacagaha Early Learning Scholarship, iyo/ama (3) ku sugan Child Care Access Equity Area ayaa laga yaabaa inay xaq u yeeshaan 10% dheeraad ah.

Adeeg bixiyayaasha waxa laga rabaa inay 100% Compensation Support Payments u adeegsadaan inay mushaharka iyo/dheefaha ugu kordhiyaan shaqaalaha xannaaneynta curuurta. Si aad u hesho turjumaan Soomaali ah, fadlan wac 1-888-291-9811 oo dooro doorashada 5. Ha dooran doorashada 3.

El Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program proporciona pagos mensuales para los proveedores de cuidado infantil a partir de octubre de 2023 con el fin de aumentar la remuneración de los educadores de preescolar.

Los Compensation Support Payments se calculan en función de la cantidad de personal equivalente a tiempo completo (FTE), tanto de tiempo completo como de tiempo parcial, que cuidan niños con regularidad en un programa de cuidado infantil. A los efectos del Compensation Support Payment, un FTE es un educador de preescolar que trabaja 32 horas o más por semana.

Los Compensation Support Payments 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 (1) reciben reembolsos del Programa de Asistencia con el Cuidado de Menores, (2) reciben pagos de becas de aprendizaje temprano o (3) están ubicados en un Área de Equidad para el Acceso a los servicios de Cuidado Infantil pueden reunir los requisitos para recibir una bonificación del 10 %.

Los proveedores están obligados a utilizar el 100 % de los fondos del Compensation Support Payment para aumentar la remuneración y las prestaciones para los trabajadores que cuidan niños con regularidad. Si gustaría asistencia de lenguaje en español, por favor contáctennos al 1-888-291-9811, presione la opción 1.

The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program muab nyiaj hli rau tus muab kev pab cuam saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus uas tab tom yuav pib thaum lub Kaum Hlis Ntuj 2023 txhawm rau nce nyiaj hli rau tus saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus.

Cov Nyiaj Pab Txhawb 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 yuas yam tsis tu ncua. Txhawm rau lub hom phiaj Cov Nyiaj Pab Txhawb, 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 Txhawb yuav xam los ntawm cov nyiaj khoom plig FTE muab faib los ntawm FTE uas ua hauj lwm hauv lub khoos kas.

Tus muab kev pab cuam (1) tau txais cov nyiaj them rov qab rau lub khoos kas pab saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus, (2) tau txais nyiaj pab rau kev kawm ntawv, thiab/los sis (3) nyob rau hauv Ib Cheeb Tsam Kev Nkag Txog Kev Saib Xyuas Me Nyuam Yaus Kom Muaj Vaj Huam Sib Luag tuaj yeem muaj cai tau txais paj ntsig li 10%.

Tus muab kev pab cuam yuav tsum tau siv li 100% ntawm Cov Nyiaj Pab them txhawm rau nce nyiaj hli thiab/los sis cov txiaj ntsig rau cov neeg ua hauj lwm uas saib xyuas cov me nyuam yaus yam tsis tu ncua. Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais lus Hmoob, thov hu rau peb ntawm 1-888-291-9811, nias tus lej 2.

**State licensed family child care providers and providers licensed by a Tribal Nation** Each month, DCYF automatically sends eligible licensed family child care providers and providers licensed by a Tribal Nation an email with application information and a link to a personalized Great Start Compensation application.

If you cannot find the email with your personalized application link, you can request an individualized Great Start Compensation application link on theGreat Start Compensation lookup webpage. This webpage is only available during application periods, which are the 10th - 23rd of each month.

**State licensed and certified child care centers** Great Start Compensation application * Sample Great Start Compensation application for: Family Child Care provider (PDF) * Sample Great Start Compensation application for: Certified Center (PDF) * Sample Great Start Compensation application for: Licensed Center (PDF) This program is open to eligible licensed family child care providers, licensed child care centers, certified child care centers and providers licensed by a Tribal Nation.

Providers registered as legal nonlicensed providers with the Child Care Assistance Program are eligible to apply for a Legal Nonlicensed One-Time Payment.

To be eligible for Great Start Compensation Payments, providers must be: * Licensed or certified by the state of Minnesota or licensed by a Tribal Nation * Be in good standing with the state of Minnesota or a Tribal Nation for at least one calendar day during the funding period * Be open, operating and serving children for at least one calendar day during the funding period * Serve a minimum number of children on at least one calendar day during the funding period Please refer to theFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for full details.

## Requirements and allowable uses of funds By accepting Great Start Compensation funding, my program agrees to: * Use the Great Start Compensation Support Payment funds within six months of the date your program receives them. * Use the funds only for expenses your program incurred on or after the start date of the first Great Start Compensation funding round you were awarded funds. This is called the**expenses backstop date**.

* Spend Great Start Compensation funds only on allowable uses. See FAQ 4. 9 for more details.

* Serve a minimum number of children on at least one day during the funding period.

* Keep accurate and legible records of the following: * Early educator employment, compensation, and benefits, which must include time sheets or other records of daily hours worked; documentation of compensation and benefits; documentation of written changes to employees' rate or rates of pay and basis thereof as a result of payments received under this section, as required under section 181.

032, paragraphs (d) to (f); and any other records required to be maintained under section 177. 30. This applies to licensed child care centers, certified child care centers, and Tribally licensed child care centers.

It also applies to family and group family child care homes only if the funds are used for employee compensation or benefits. * Enrollment and attendance. Daily child attendance records must be completed every day and must include the date, the first and last name of each child in attendance, and the time each child is dropped off at and picked up from the program.

To the extent possible, the person dropping off or picking up the child must enter the times. * Share information with the state of Minnesota about how the funds awarded were used, including for the required Use of Funds report due annually, regardless of whether my program has closed since it received funds. * Follow all applicable labor and wage laws.

My program agrees **NOT** to: * Use these funds for items that have already been paid for by other federal, state, Tribal Nation and/or local public funding. Programs may use the Great Start Compensation funds for one or more of the following options based on provider type.

**Licensed and certified centers** Child care centers licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, certified license-exempt child care centers under chapter 245H, and child care centers licensed by Tribal Nation must use Great Start Compensation money for the following purpose: * To pay for increases in compensation, benefits, premium pay, or additional federal taxes assessed on the compensation of employees as a result of paying increased compensation or premium pay to all paid employees or independent contractors regularly caring for children.

**Licensed family child care** Family and group family child care programs licensed under Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502, and family child care providers licensed by a Tribal Nation must use Great Start Compensation money for one or more of the following purposes: * Paying personnel costs, such as payroll, salaries, or similar compensation; employee benefits; premium pay; or financial incentives for recruitment and retention for an employee, a sole proprietor, or an independent contractor; * Paying rent, including rent under a lease agreement, or making payments on any mortgage obligation, utilities, facility maintenance or improvements, property taxes, or insurance; * Purchasing or updating equipment, supplies, goods, or services; * Providing mental health supports for children; or * Purchasing training or other professional development.

Non-allowable uses of funds If you take Great Start Compensation Support Payment funds, you cannot use them to pay: * Taxes, except for the **extra federal**payroll taxes tied to Great Start Compensation‑funded pay increases. * Any goods or services that have already been paid for by other public funding.

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 the Child Care Assistance Program, Early Learning Scholarships, the Child and Adult Care Food Programs, and others.

Great Start Compensation funds are intended to cover additional allowable costs that are not covered by other public benefit programs. If you are uncertain whether the source of funding from other benefit programs is public, you should verify with the organization that provided that support.

By accepting Great Start Compensation payments, providers agree to document how they used Great Start Compensation funds and share this information with the state. DCYF created the Use of Funds Report to collect information on how recipients spent Great Start Compensation funds and the impact of those funds. Completion of this report is required once each year.

Each year providers are given access to their Use of Funds Report three months before it is due. Providers who fail to submit their Use of Funds Report by their deadline will be ineligible to apply for Great Start Compensation funds until their report is submitted. Providers can prepare for the report by reviewing the report examples below and using the free and optional Use of Funds tools shown inFAQ 4.

21. * Sample Use of Funds Report:State or Tribally Licensed Family Child Care Providers (PDF) * Sample Use of Funds Report:State or Tribally Licensed Centers and State Certified Centers (PDF) Great Start Compensation payments are determined by the sum full-time equivalent of the provider and/or staff who regularly and directly care for children, including sole owner/operator 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. Individual providers and/or staff can count for zero (0) to two (2. 0) full-time equivalents, depending on their total hours worked.

10% increase for eligible programs Providers are eligible for a 10% increase to their Great Start Compensation payment if they meet one or more of the following criteria: * Have provided care during**AND** were paid out during the Great Start Compensation 10% increase lookback period for service provided during the lookback period through the Child Care Assistance Program, * Have provided care during**AND** were paid out during the Great Start Compensation 10% increase lookback period for service provided during the lookback period through the Early Learning Scholarship Program * Are located in a Child Care Access Equity Area (for more information, see section 7 on the Frequently Asked Questions FAQ page.)

Payment amount and application timeframe The per full-time equivalent payment amount will remain at $375 through June 2027. **Great Start Compensation round****Application period****Funding Period****Reported hours period****10% increase lookback period** **Application period**:The period of time when providers apply for a monthly round of Great Start Compensation funding.

**Funding period**:For each monthly Great Start Compensation round, the period when providers must meet all eligibility requirements of the Great Start Compensation program. **Reported hours period**:For each monthly Great Start Compensation round, the period for which providers are asked to report the total hours they and/or their staff spent directly caring for children. This period is always a full calendar month.

**10% increase lookback period**: If providers received payment AND billed for hours during this period under the Child Care Assistance or Early Learning Scholarship programs, OR if providers are located in a Child Care Access Equity Area, they are awarded a 10% increase to their Great Start Compensation payment.

#### Full-time equivalent staff (FTE) Great Start Compensation payments 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. Working 32 hours per week is considered full-time in this program. A staff member who works more than 32 hours per week can count for more than one FTE; two FTEs would equal 64 hours worked per week.

Great Start Compensation payments are calculated by multiplying the applicable per FTE award amount by the sum total of FTEs working in a program during the applicable month. A 1. 0 full-time equivalent (FTE) is calculated by multiplying the business days in month by 6.

4 hours per day * 32 hours per week (considered full-time) equals 6. 4 hours per day, as the standard work week is five business days. If a month has 23 business days: 1.

0 FTE for the month = 23 business days x 6. 4 hours per day = 147 hours. The number of business days in a month varies month to month.

Example Hours worked in month FTE calculation FTE Child care professional 1 220 220 divided by 147 1. 5 Child care professional 2 100 100 divided by 147 0. 7 A **worker full-time equivalent (FTE) calculation**: hours worked in the month divided by 1.

0 FTE for the month. **Base award amount calculation:** total FTEs x $ per FTE * 2. 2 total FTEs x $375 per FTE = $825.

00 **10% increase calculation**: total FTEs x $ per FTE x 0. 1 * 2. 2 total FTEs x $375 per FTE x 0.

1 = $82. 50 * **To qualify for the 10% increase, providers must have received payment AND billed for hours during the lookback period through the Child Care Assistance Program or Early Learning Scholarship programs, or be located in a Child Care Access Equity Area. ** **Total award amount calculation**: base award amount + 10% increase * $825 base award amount + $82.

50 10% increase = $907. 50 ## Resources and upcoming changes Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Visit the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program FAQ webpage. Visit the News, Updates and Engagements webpage.

The department’s recorded Great Start Compensation informational webinars are posted below. Recordings are categorized by provider type. **Family child care providers licensed by a the state of Minnesota or a Tribal Nation** **Child care centers licensed by the state of Minnesota or a Tribal Nation** **Child care centers certified by the state of Minnesota** **Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families** * [](https://www.

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