OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma Department of Human Services hosted the first day of its two-day hearing discussing their proposed rule changes for daycares and child subsidies, requiring all 5-star daycares to go through an accreditation process with DHS.
In December, Oklahoma DHS made emergency rule changes to daycare programs that affect childcare subsidies in the state, primarily revolving around the childcare licensing program.
At the beginning of 2023, DHS changed its star-rating system from a 3-star to a 5-star scale. This grading system impacts how much money a daycare can receive from the state.
Under the current system, if a daycare is licensed and receives a 5-star rating, it isn’t required to go through the accreditation process.
DHS wants to change that and make accreditation mandatory for all daycares and child subsidies.
However, several childcare providers in the state aren’t happy about the potential change.
They say the accreditation process is too long and expensive and that adding more hurdles to an already heavily regulated and underfunded service is unfair.
Currently, it takes anywhere from 9 months to 2 years for a daycare to complete the accreditation process.
“The biggest hurdle is financial,” said Rachel Proper with the Oklahoma Childcare Association. “We are currently in a reduction since a lot of the extra supports that were given to us during the Covid-19 pandemic have started to wind down.”
According to Proper, it all comes back to funding. With pandemic funds dwindling, she said DHS is cutting back how much money they’re able to give to daycares.
She believes the state government needs to take action and fund childcare.
“I believe that the state of Oklahoma needs to start funding childcare. This is a nationwide issue...It’s time for DHS to increase the amount of funding that we are putting towards childcare and it’s time for the people of Oklahoma to start making this a priority and it’s time for us to start funding this industry.”
Still, many see the new proposed rules as a positive. For the people wanting the change, they believe too many programs are getting funded as a 5-star program when the state hasn’t accredited them to ensure the quality of their childcare.
FOX23 recently reported on allegations of abuse against a 5-star daycare that hadn’t gone through the accreditation process. Those who support the changes believe funding should go to daycares that have proven their quality through the accreditation process.
Oklahoma DHS released the following statement about the feedback they’ve received so far:
“Oklahoma Human Services is grateful for the extensive input and collaboration received to update rules and create a sustainable future for Oklahoma’s child care licensing and subsidy programs. As we stated when the updated rules were announced for feedback weeks ago, public comments for the proposed emergency rules will be accepted through close of business on Wednesday, Jan. 8. All public comments will be considered before the final rules are submitted to the Governor’s office.”
The second day of the hearing will continue tomorrow. DHS is expected to submit the proposed changes to the governor’s desk within the next few weeks.
To view the meeting details, click here.
To view the entirety of the proposed rule changes, you can click on the following links:
You can submit your public comments on the emergency Child Care Subsidy Rule here and the emergency Licensing Services - Child Care rule here.
All public comments are due by January 8, 2025.