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Office of Early Childhood & Out-of-School Learning |
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Download the My SPARK Learning Lab App
Now you can enjoy all the great My SPARK Learning Lab resources from the convenience of your phone. Download the My SPARK Learning Lab mobile app to access provider supports.
Available for iPhone and Android, this app is free to download and available in English and Spanish. Just like the desktop version, the My SPARK Learning Lab mobile app offers early education and care programs the ability to:
- Complete the Program Growth Tool, a program-level assessment to help program leaders identify areas of growth
- Access SPARK's knowledge center, including tools, job aids, and resources
¡Accede a los mejores recursos en My SPARK Learning Lab y solo inicia sesión en tu cuenta de I-LEAD una vez con la aplicación móvil de My SPARK Learning Lab! Disponible para iPhone y Android, esta aplicación se puede descargar gratis y está disponible en Inglés y Español.
La aplicación My SPARK Learning Lab está aquí y lista para descargar. My SPARK Learning Lab ofrece a los programas de educación y cuidado temprano la capacidad de completar la Herramienta de Crecimiento del Programa, una evaluación a nivel del programa para ayudar a los líderes del programa a identificar áreas de crecimiento y acceso al centro de conocimiento de SPARK, que incluye herramientas, ayudas laborales y recursos.
Ahora puedes disfrutar de todos estos excelentes recursos directamente desde tu teléfono. Esta aplicación es gratuita y está disponible para IOS y Android. La aplicación también está disponible en inglés y español.
¿Tiene preguntas? Comunícate con el servicio de asistencia de SPARK al 1-800-299-1627, envíanos un correo electrónico a Help@IndianaSpark.com o visita la función "Chatear con un experto" en IndianaSpark.com.
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Review CCDF and OMWPK Waitlist Update
The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) has implemented a waitlist for all new applicants seeking Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK) vouchers. Applicants must ensure their address, phone number, and email remain current while on the waitlist. When funding becomes available, the eligibility office will invite applicants to Open Enrollment using the contact information provided.
If you submitted a voucher referral for a child care worker on or after November 20, 2024 using the expanded eligibility for child care workers process, the referral has been added to the CCDF waitlist. When funds become available, the employee will be notified via email to complete an application and submit their documents for enrollment. Children of child care workers are prioritized on the waitlist for voucher assistance.
If the child care worker's income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), they do not need a referral. They should instead apply for child care assistance at Early Ed Connect to be placed on the CCDF waitlist.
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Find Your Local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
Indiana's Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Network is a trusted and knowledgeable resource for programs, families, and communities. The network is divided into five service delivery areas. Each CCRR agency is invested in the success of their local child care programs.
One of the ways CCRR agencies support child care programs and families is through family referrals. It's important you keep your program's information up to date with your local agency. You can also highlight specific aspects of your program that are unique or important to you when you update your information. This helps CCRR specialists offer better support to families by providing accurate referrals tailored to their specific needs, instead of just listing programs near them.
If you have openings or changes to your program, contact your local CCRR agency. Watch for a Child Care Program Update email for a link to change your information.
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Stay Up to Date with Pay by Enrollment
If your child care program accepts Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) or On My Way Pre-K (OMWPK) vouchers, you will receive two 1099s for 2024 taxes if you worked the entire year. This is because Indiana transitioned payment vendors in 2024. One 1099 will be from Conduent (previous vendor), and one will be from Tyler Technologies (current vendor). You must file both 1099s with your taxes. These 1099s will be mailed to providers by the end of January.
Pay by Enrollment Attendance Reminder
You should keep a back-up attendance method in addition to what is submitted in the portal. This can be done through your Child Care Management System (CCMS), another electronic tracking system, or paper attendance sheets. Food program menus cannot be used as your back-up method.
These records must be recorded or signed by the parent and must match what is submitted in the portal. State auditors will start reaching out to providers soon to review your submissions and request your back-up attendance records. Make sure you are checking your submissions carefully and immediately reporting any errors or overpayments to the State.
Looking for Pay by Enrollment support?
Join upcoming webinars from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) and SPARK Learning Lab. These webinars will cover troubleshooting common attendance and CCMS issues, how to perform roster removals and corrections, checking payments, and auditing and fraud.
Register for upcoming webinars:
For more Pay by Enrollment provider support, call the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627. Families can get support by calling Indiana 211 or their local eligibility office.
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Get Assistance from the SPARK Help Desk
Discover the five things every provider should know about the SPARK Help Desk:
- The SPARK Help Desk can provide support or help you find the best resources for challenges you and your program are experiencing
- The SPARK Help Desk is operated by SPARK Coaches in real-time
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There are three ways to contact the Help Desk
- Call 1-800-299-1627
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Email Help@indianaspark.com
- 'Chat with an Expert' on IndianaSpark.com
- If the Help Desk team doesn't have an immediate answer, SPARK Coaches will get back to you as soon as possible with solutions or connect you with another ECE partner who can help
- If the wait times are longer than usual, you can leave a callback number for the Help Desk and a Coach will contact you as soon as possible
You give your best to Indiana's children. Let the SPARK Help Desk Coaches give their best to you. The Help Desk is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET and every Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
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Attend Upcoming SPARK Learning Lab Trainings
Explore upcoming training opportunities through SPARK Learning Lab. See a full list of upcoming face-to-face training, live webinars, and live resources, plus read training descriptions and find registration instructions at IndianaSpark.com/training.
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Get Professional Development Support from INAEYC
The Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (INAEYC) has several upcoming opportunities for child care providers:
Register for the Indiana Early Childhood Conference: Registration is open for the 2025 Indiana Early Childhood Conference, which will be held March 28-29 at the Indiana Convention Center. A limited number of conference scholarships are available to eligible providers. Register here.
Indiana AEYC Non-Formal CDA Project: INAEYC is pleased to announce the availability of the Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential courses through the Indiana Non-Formal CDA Project. These courses are being provided at no cost to recipients through funding by the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a resident of Indiana who is at least 18 years of age
- Work at least 25 hours per week in Indiana
- Have a current criminal history/background check on file with OECOSL
- Have a High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE)
- Be employed in a licensed childcare center, family childcare home, registered ministry, or certified as a LLEP CCDF provider by OECOSL
Interested in applying? Email pd@inaeyc.org for more information.
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