Section 17-799-12.1 - Accreditation requirements(a) A preschool that accepts enrollment of an eligible child approved to receive a subsidy under this chapter shall be accredited, or shall obtain accreditation within seven years of first accepting enrollment of an eligible child approved to receive child care payments under this chapter; provided that a preschool that existed prior to July 1, 2022, and is unaccredited as of July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2029, and shall obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034;(b) Accreditation shall be obtained from one of the following national early learning accrediting organizations:(1) National Association for the Education of Young Children;(2) National Early Childhood Program Accreditation;(3) National Association for Family Child Care; or(4) An accrediting organization approved by the director of the department; provided that the accrediting organization has standards comparable to the organizations specified in paragraphs (1) through (3).(c) An accrediting organization seeking approval for accreditation under paragraph (b)(4) shall: (1) Submit a request for approval to the department on a form prescribed by the department, along with documentation that shows the accrediting organization has standards that are comparable to the accrediting organizations listed in paragraphs (b) (1) through (3);(2) The department shall review the request, utilizing standards established by accrediting organizations in paragraphs (b) (1) through (3) for comparison and provide a written determination granting or denying the request; and(3) A decision denying a request for approval of an accrediting organization may be appealed by the accrediting organization requesting a review by the director. The review shall consider only the documentation provided with the request for approval and the department's written determination; provided that the director may request further information from the accrediting organization and the department at the director's sole discretion. A decision by the director under this subsection is final.(d) The director may grant to any preschool one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis; provided that the preschool has applied for accreditation and made good faith efforts to become accredited before the applicable deadline. (1) A preschool requesting an extension shall submit to the department a request for an extension on a form prescribed by the department along with documentation that shows that the preschool has applied for accreditation and made good faith efforts to become accredited before the applicable deadline. If the request is received after the applicable deadline for the preschool to obtain accreditation specified in subsection (a), child care payments to the family shall not be authorized for that preschool;(2) The department shall review the request and provide a written determination granting or denying the request; and(3) A determination denying a request for extension under this subsection may be appealed by the preschool requesting a review by the director. The review shall consider only the documentation provided with the request for extension and the department's written determination; provided that the director may request further information from the preschool and the department at the director's sole discretion. A decision by the director under this subsection is final.(e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), child care payments may continue to be paid to a family utilizing an unaccredited preschool after the applicable deadline if the preschool maintains a satisfactory performance rating under the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) developed by the University of Virginia and the rating was evaluated in conformance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines; provided that: (1) A preschool shall provide to the department written verification of the satisfactory performance rating; and(2) Failure by the preschool to provide the written verification of the satisfactory performance rating shall result in a suspension of the child care payments to eligible families for services provided by the unaccredited preschool pursuant to sections 17-799-18 and 17-799-19.Haw. Code R. § 17-799-12.1
[Eff 1/12/2024] (Auth: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-181, 346-184) (Imp: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-181, 346-184)