Eligibility for Children’s Paradise State Preschool Program is established by one of the following as defined by California Department of Education and subject to change:

• Children with disabilities (exceptional needs)
• Age-eligible (3^rd or 4^th birthday is on or before December 1 of the program year enrolling; if the child’s third birthday is on or after December 1, then upon the child’s 3^rd birthday)
• Recipients of Child Welfare Services or who are at risk of neglect or exploitation (referral required)
• Homelessness
• Receiving benefits from the following Governmental Means-Tested Programs (CalWORKS, CalFresh/SNAP, Medi-Cal, California Food Assistance Program, Specials Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Early Head Start, Head Start, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation
• Income Eligible
• Reside within an approved Free and Reduced-Price Meal Neighborhood School Boundary

The parent must provide supporting documentation regarding the number of children and parents in the family. Proof of birth must include documentation indicating relationship between parent/guardian for all children under 18 being reported in the family size.

For full-day services, need shall be established by one of the eligibility factors below:

1. or exploitation
2. Employed or Is a recipient of, or referred by Child Welfare Services (CWS) or is at risk of neglect seeking employment.
3. Participating in vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, paraprofessional, or profession.
4. Seeking permanent housing for family stability
5. Incapacitated
6. Pursuing General Education Degree (GED), High School Diploma or English as a Second Language classes
7. Family experiencing homelessness

Full-day services shall only be available to the extent to which:

1. The parent meets a need criterion as specified above that precludes the provision of care and supervision of the family’s child for some of the day
2. There is no parent in the family capable of providing care for the family’s child during the time services are requested
3. Supervision of the family’s child is not otherwise being provided by school or another person or entity

Enrollment Priority – Full Day Program

After applications are received, families are chosen for enrollment in order based upon the following: as defined by California Department of Education and subject to change:

(Exception: Enrollment is reserved for Children with disabilities (Exceptional Needs))

• First Priority for enrollment is age eligible children who are recipients of Child Welfare Services and/or being at-risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (referral must be provided)
• Second priority is given to children with exceptional needs from income eligible families that also meet a need criterion.
• Third priority is given to eligible 4-year-old not enrolled in TK and meet a need criterion, children previously enrolled as a 3-year-old will also be considered in this priority, dual language learners and then earliest waiting list date.
• Fourth priority is given to eligible 3-year old’s who meet a need criterion, dual language learners and then earliest waiting list date.
• Fifth priority is given to families that are no more than 15% above the state income threshold and meet a need criterion: children with exceptional needs, 4-year old’s then 3-year old’s.
• Sixth priority is given to a family that meets eligibility criteria, but does not have a need: 4year old, then 3-year old’s.
• Seventh priority is given to a family that resides in an approved Free and Reduced-Price Meal Neighborhood School Boundary: 4-year old’s, then 3-year old’s.

After applications are received families are chosen for enrollment on order based upon the following: as defined by California Department of Education and subject to change:

(Exception: Enrollment is reserved for Children with disabilities (Exceptional Needs))

• First Priority for enrollment is age eligible children who are recipients of Child Welfare Services and/or being at-risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (referral must be provided)
• Second priority is given to children with exceptional needs from income eligible families.
• Third priority is given to eligible 4-year-old not enrolled in TK, children previously enrolled as a 3-year-old will also be considered in this priority: dual language learners and then earliest waiting list date.
• Fourth priority is given to eligible 3-year old’s: dual language learners and then earliest waiting list date.
• Fifth priority is given to families that are no more than 15% above the state income threshold: children with exceptional needs, 4-year old’s the then 3-year old’s.
• Sixth priority is given to a family that that resides in an approved Free and Reduced-Price Meal Neighborhood School Boundary
• Seventh priority is given to a child enrolled in TK or K (must still meet eligibility) to provide expanded learning and care.

Parents/Guardians must earn less than 100% of the state median income (SMI) guidelines (115% in certain circumstances) to qualify for the California State Preschool Program using the California Department of Education Schedule of Income Ceilings.

The full-day program operates for a minimum of 246 days per year and covers full-day hours as determined by the need of the family. State Preschool part-day funding covers 3 ½ hours of core curriculum each day. In the event the family also qualifies to participate in the Head Start Program, as funding is available, then Head Start funding covers the enhanced services required to meet the daily needs of the family as identified.

The part-day preschool program first admits those children whose families have the lowest adjusted monthly income. Once eligibility is established, the child/family remains eligible for two program years, up to 175 days per year.

Children’s Paradise reserves the right to contact employers to verify income and work eligibility.

Eligibility for Children’s Paradise General Child Care and Development Program is established by one of the following Department of Social Service and subject to change:

• Receiving benefits from the following Governmental Means-Tested Programs (CalWORKS, CalFresh/SNAP, Medi-Cal, California Food Assistance Program, Specials Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Early Head Start, Head Start, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation
• Age-eligible (birth through 12 years of age (excluding children mentioned in CSPP))
• Recipients of Child Welfare Services or who are at risk of neglect or exploitation (referral required)
• Homelessness
• Income Eligible (within or at 85% of the State Median Income)

Family Size Documentation

The parent must provide supporting documentation regarding the number of children and parents in the family. Proof of birth must include documentation indicating relationship between parent/guardian for all children under 18 being reported in the family size.   

For full-day services, need shall be established by one of the eligibility factors below:

1. Is a recipient of, or referred by Child Welfare Services (CWS) or is at risk of neglect or exploitation
2. Employed or seeking employment
3. Participating in vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, paraprofessional, or profession
4. Seeking permanent housing for family stability
5. Incapacitated
6. Pursuing General Education Degree (GED), High School Diploma or English as a Second Language classes
7. Family experiencing homelessness

Full-day services shall only be available to the extent to which:

1. The parent meets a need criterion as specified above that precludes the provision of care and supervision of the family’s child for some of the day
2. There is no parent in the family capable of providing care for the family’s child during the time services are requested
3. Supervision of the family’s child is not otherwise being provided by school or another person or entity

Family Selection Process
Enrollment Priority for Full-Day Programs

After applications are received families are chosen for enrollment in order based upon the following order:

• First priority for enrollment is age eligible children who are recipients of Child Welfare Services and/or being at-risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation (referral must be provided).
• Second priority is given to families that meet a need criterion within each income bracket: children with exceptional needs, dual language learners, and earliest wait list date.  

Parents/Guardians must earn less than 85% of the state median income (SMI) guidelines to qualify for the General Child Care and Development Program using the California Department of Education Schedule of Income Ceilings.

The full-day program operates for a minimum of 246 days per year and covers full-day hours as determined by the need of the family. In the event the family also qualifies to participate in the Head Start Program, as funding is available, then Head Start funding covers the enhanced services required to meet the daily needs of the family as identified.

Children’s Paradise reserves the right to contact employers to verify income and work eligibility.

Head Start/Early Head Start, the Quality Preschool Initiative and Alternative Payment and Smarty Patch Foundation programs have their own requirements. Please see the Center Director for additional program information and forms.

Notification Process

Upon enrollment into the State Preschool Program and General Child Care and Development program, families will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) document. This informative document will detail the days and hours of the approved enrollment as well as any family fees. The NOA will also detail the term of enrollment based upon the current documentation package provided by the parent throughout the eligibility determination process.

Enrollment Documentation

Prior to enrollment, the parents or guardians are required to provide all necessary documentation, including but not limited to the following, to determine eligibility for care:

• Proof of Income
• Employment and income verification such as paycheck stubs or employer verification on company letterhead
• Proof of child support, public assistance, or any other income documentation
• Statement of incapacitation by medical professional
• Seeking permanent housing documentation
• Proof of residency: utility bill, rental agreement, paycheck that includes your address on it, or any other evidence of your street address.
• Proof of birth for all children under the age of eighteen (18) declared in the family size and related by blood, marriage or adoption.

Completion of the Application for Service can only be signed once all required documentation has been provided. This document must be signed and dated by both parent and agency representative.

Notice of Action –

The Notice of Action form is used to communicate confirmation of the application for services with the date services begin or if services have been denied. The Notice of Action is also used to communicate any changes in service, recertification, termination of services, or if the family fee is delinquent.

This Notice of Action is a legal document and will contain information on a child’s participation in the State Preschool Program and General Child Care and Development program that indicates the hours you are authorized for care, notification of monthly fees and/or any additional information Children’s Paradise needs to convey about childcare services. This form also represents acceptance into the State Preschool Program or General Child Care and Development Program.

Once a parent receives the Notice of Action, the parent has the right to appeal the decision by submitting the second page of the notice completed within fourteen (14) days. If for any reason a parent disagrees with a Notice of Action (termination, change in service hours, delinquent fees, etc.) the parent has the right to appeal the decision. The agency has ten (10) calendar days within receipt of this appeal notice to set an appeal hearing. Within ten (10) days of the hearing, the agency shall mail or deliver a written decision to the parent.