Maintain Your Backup Attendance Record

FSSA's audit team is working with the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) to ensure compliance in reporting attendance. In addition to submitting absences in the provider portal, all providers must keep a backup attendance method for up to three years. 

Auditors will request your backup attendance method and compare it to what is submitted in the provider portal or your Child Care Management System (CCMS). The audit team is finding that many programs are not keeping backup attendance. Currently, they are working with OECOSL on Corrective Action Plans for providers to improve this practice. If attendance reporting is not correct, provider repayments may be required.

Please note that food program menus do not meet the requirement for backup attendance. Backup attendance options may include:

• Child Care Management System (CCMS)
• Paper sign-in sheets including daily time in and out with parent's signature confirming
• Other electronic tracking methods (if parents are the ones using the system to log their children in and out)

For more Pay by Enrollment provider support, call the SPARK Help Desk at 1-800-299-1627 or visit indianaspark.com. You can also view these frequently asked questions.