Dear Parents / Guardians,
Governor Cuomo announced that New York State has allocated funding for childcare for income-eligible essential workers using the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act Scholarship).
Essential workers who must work outside of the home and are using a regulated childcare provider for children ages four and under can receive the scholarship. Children ages five and above are eligible to attend the childcare program APCSD is hosting in partnership with Greenbush Child Caring at West Sand Lake Elementary.
All licensed and regulated childcare providers who are caring for children of essential workers can participate in the CARES Act Scholarship program, including Brightside Up, which is our local childcare resource and referral agency.
To qualify for the scholarship, families must have an adjusted gross income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this equates to an annual income of $78,600.
Parents are being asked to complete an application for the CARES Child Care Scholarship, which can be found here. For parents that currently receive subsidy from their local Department of Social Services to pay for childcare, this scholarship can cover the parent co-pay. Parents should apply for the CARES Act Scholarship and then contact their local DSS office to get a letter stating their current co-pay.
Please submit any questions you may have to Tricia Howland at thowland@brightsideup.org.