Monday Must Know — July 8

Pay by Enrollment begins on July 15 for all Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK) vouchers. Providers will need to log in to I-LEAD to register with the new payment vendor and record child absences. This update will replace the POS machines and swipe cards families currently use to track their child's attendance.

Please review the provider checklist to ensure you are ready for the transition. You can also register for upcoming webinars from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) to learn more about the Pay by Enrollment launch and access support.  

Visit the Pay by Enrollment page to read provider-specific and family-facing FAQs. If you need additional assistance, please contact the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627. 

Successfully opening, running, and advancing a child care program can be a rewarding and sometimes challenging process. Get help with your program by attending a Child Care Provider Fair near you.

Child Care Provider Fairs allow you to interact with various partner organizations that support child care providers in multiple ways, from regulatory needs to professional development for educators. We encourage all provider types to attend.

Upcoming provider fairs include: 

• July 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET | Huntington, IN
• July 20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET | Martinsville, IN
• August 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET | Carmel, IN
• August 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET | Valparaiso, IN
• September 20 from noon to 6:30 p.m. ET | New Albany, IN

Registration for virtual SPARK Provider Support Groups is open. Anyone can participate in Provider Support Groups, regardless of past participation. 

Provider Support Groups are a great opportunity to share ideas in a safe and confidential online setting. Starting the week of August 5, these weekly, one-hour sessions will cover topics such as: 

• Finding and retaining staff
• Supporting staff during challenging times
• Supporting families who are struggling with life experiences
• Building resiliency and coping skills in ourselves, our staff, and our families 

Register for SPARK Group Coaching to connect with a SPARK Learning Lab Group Learning Coach to discuss topics like Accreditation, Paths to QUALITY™, Infant Toddler, and Active Supervision.  

Upcoming Group Coaching registration deadlines include:  

• July 8: Active supervision for Facilities 
• July 9: PTQ Level 2 Advancement for Facilities 
• July 10: NECPA Accreditation 
• July 11: Infant Toddler for Facilities 
• July 15: PTQ Level 2 Advancement for Homes  
• July 16: PTQ Avance al nivel 2 (en Español); NAEYC Accreditation; Active Supervision for Homes 
• July 17: NAFCC Accreditation; Español bebés y niños pequeños 
• July 18: Infant Toddler for Homes 

With SPARK's Group Coaching, you can connect with Coach Claire, Coach Jennifer, or Coach Izzy to receive quality support and professional development for your program.

Additional Group Coaching Opportunities are coming soon. Follow SPARK Learning Lab on Facebook and Instagram for future updates. Have questions about SPARK Group Coaching? Call the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627. 

In-Person Training 

Virtual Training