Memos from OEC’s Commissioner
OEC’s Commissioner, Beth Bye, is issuing regular memos that provide essential guidance for child care providers. They cover updates to program policies, funding, resources, and more.
Important updates to Memos #37 and #45
| Date | Title | Topic | Updates |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 15, 2021 | Memo #48 – Waivers of Specific Policies for School Readiness and Child Day Care Programs | Extends waivers of certain OEC General Policies for School Readiness and Child Day Care programs for the SFY 22 funding period. | |
| December 2, 2021 (revised December 20, 2021) | OEC COVID-19 Memo #47 – FY22 Waivers of Operating Hours, and Alternative Care Plan | Waivers for operating hours and days of closure for School Readiness and Child Day Care programs. Waivers for requirements related to alternative care plan for School Readiness, Child Day Care, and Smart Start programs. | Revision of 12/20/21 adds Smart Start to the section on waivers of operating hours. |
| September 30, 2021 | OEC COVID-19 Memo #46: Updates to Background Checks | Changes to the background check process and using BCIS to check your roster | |
| August 20, 2021 (revised January 24, 2022) | OEC COVID-19 Memo #45 Vaccination Requirement (English) | Vaccination Requirement | Updated allowable COVID-19 tests to include self-administered home tests. Replaces EO 13D with EC 13G; added link to IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER 13G; Added requirement for program policy; Updated testing requirements; Provided detail on documents needed in licensing inspections; Confirmed that all OEC staff must be compliant to conduct inspections; Added requirement for signed declaration; Added exemptions information |
| July 22, 2021 | Memo #44: Three Month Waiver of Tuberculin Test Requirement (English) (Spanish) | Three Month Waiver of Tuberculin Test Requirement | |
| July 26, 2021 (revised September 1, 2021) | Memo #43: FY 22 Funding for School Readiness and Child Day Care | Details about new supports for families & programs and changes to funding structures for Child Day Care, School Readiness, and Smart Start during the COVID-19 recovery phase | Edit opening paragraph to remove references to summer 2021; removes reference to remote and hybrid learning; provide funding eligibility criteria for OEC funded SR, CDC and SS programs; add section on Operational Expense Supplement; CDC enrollment eligibility changes SFY22. |
| June 1, 2021 | Memo #42: FY 22 Funding for School Readiness, Child Day Care and Smart Start | Guidance about changes in funding structures for programs as the state recovers from COVID-19 | |
| May 21, 2021 (revised December 13, 2021) | Memo #41 – Update to Requirements and Guidance (English) (Spanish) | Change in mask requirement for staff; expiration of memos 21 and 27 | |
| May 7, 2021 (revised December 13, 2021) | Memo #40: Reduced Requirements and Expiration of Previous Memos (Spanish) | Guidance about the sunsetting of requirements related to COVID-19 and expiration of memos 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, and 20 | |
| May 7, 2021 | Memo #39 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| April 30, 2021 | Memo #38 – Residential Camp Guidance and Removal of Group Size | Guidance for residential youth camps for the summer 2021 season | |
| March 26, 2021 (revised January 24, 2022) | Memo #37: Quarantine and Isolation Guidance for Individuals who work in Child Care, Youth Camp, Birth To Three And Home Visiting Programs Serving Children (English) (Spanish) | Quarantine and Isolation Guidance for Individuals who work in Child Care, Youth Camp, Birth To Three And Home Visiting Programs Serving Children | Updated to confirm isolation and quarantine information is recommended guidance, not mandated requirements; extended option to quarantine and isolate for 5 days vs. 10 to children as young as two years old Added reference to Choosing Safer Activities Updated adult masks required for indoors only |
| December 22, 2020 (revised March 15, 2021) | Memo #36: Child Care and Youth Camp Resource for Local Directors of Health | Joint memo from OEC and the State Department of Public Health to help local directors of health keep children, child care providers, and families safe and allow child care programs and camps to remain open | |
| December 10, 2020 (revised June 24, 2021) | Memo #35: FY 21 Funding for School Readiness, Child Day Care and Smart Start | Addition of new item in 2 regarding funding beginning March 2021; item 6, Priority district family fee replacement payment; and section ‘Additional Information for School Readiness Program’ | Updates regarding Supplemental Administrative Funds for Priority and Competitive School Readiness Districts |
| November 24, 2020 | Memo #34: Requirements for State-Funded Programs Providing Remote Learning Related document: OEC Remote Learning Guidance | Requirements for programs that receive School Readiness, Child Day Care, and/or Smart Start funding to provide remote learning | |
| November 23, 2020 | Memo #33: COVID-19 Response Funds for Smart Start Funded Programs | Details about waiver of the limitation on funding for Smart Start child care programs related to COVID-19 | |
| November 23, 2020 | Memo #32: Children Who Attend Child Care Programs and Receive Support Services (English) (Spanish) | Joint memo from OEC and the State Department of Education about coordinating services for children who attend child care programs and receive support services | |
| October 7, 2020 | Memo #31 | This memo has been sunsetted. Memo #48 replaces this memo. | |
| September 14, 2020 (revised May 27, 2021) | Memo #30 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| September 14, 2020 (revised December 13, 2021) | Memo #29: Group Size, Mask Requirements, and Ventilation (English) (Spanish) Related documents: OEC Sample Mask Wearing Policy #1 (English) (Spanish) OEC Sample Mask Wearing Policy #2 (English) (Spanish) | Covers new requirements related to children wearing masks while in care and changes to group size | Updated Executive Order date, added link to new SDE statement on mask wearing in schools, added reference to CDC guidance not superseding state or tribal guidance Removed phase-in plan reference in mask policy Added content regarding guides and resources. |
| August 6, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #28 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #39 and Memo #41 for up to date information. | |
| July 27, 2020 | Memo #27 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #41 for up to date information. | |
| July 7, 2020 (revised March 26, 2021) | Memo #26 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| July 6, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #25 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| July 6, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #24 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| May 22, 2020 (revised January 7, 2021) | Memo #23 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| May 8, 2020 (revised May 26, 2021) | Memo #22 | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| April 27, 2020 | Memo #21 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #41 for up to date information. | |
| April 27, 2020 | Memo #20 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| April 24, 2020 | Memo #19 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| April 23, 2020 (revised March 16, 2021) | Memo #18 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #38, Memo #40 and Memo #41 for up to date information. | |
| April 6, 2020 (revised February 23, 2021) | Memo #17: School Readiness Request for Proposal Modification | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| April 1, 2020 | Memo #16 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 31, 2020 (Revised March 15, 2021) | Memo #15 | Note: Memo #15 has been sunsetted. Please see OEC memos: Memo #29: Group Size, Mask Requirements, and Ventilation (English) Memo #6 (Spanish) | |
| March 29, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #14: Parent Fee Waiver and Extended GAP | Guidance for Birth to Three Early Intervention Service (EIS) Providers Waiving family cost participation fees Extension of General Administration Payments (GAP) | |
| March 26, 2020 | Memo #13 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
March 25, 2020 (revised June 5, 2020) | Memo #12 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 23, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #11 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 23, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #10: Home Visiting: Virtual and Telehealth | Guidance for home visiting staff about shifting to virtual home visits and using video platforms | |
| March 20, 2020 | Memo #9 | Memo #9 has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #27: Updates Concerning Background Checks Memo #27 (English) Memo #27 (Spanish) | |
| March 20, 2020 | Memo #8 | Memo #8 has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #48. | |
| March 16, 2020 (revised May 26, 2021) | Memo #7: | This memo has been sunsetted. | |
| March 16, 2020 (revised March 15, 2021) | Memo #6 | This memo has been sunsetted. | This memo has been sunsetted. |
| March 16, 2020 (revised November 3, 2020) | Memo #5 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 13, 2020 | Memo #4 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #41 for up to date information. | |
| March 13, 2020 | Memo #3 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 11, 2020 | Memo #2 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| March 9, 2020 (Revised July 27, 2020) | Memo for Licensed Providers about COVID-19 | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. | |
| February 28, 2020 (Revised June 3, 2020) | Novel Coronavirus Memo | This memo has been sunsetted. Please see Memo #40 for up to date information. |
Last updated January 25, 2022