Common use of Enrollment and Eligibility Clause in Contracts

Enrollment and Eligibility. Overview The goal of ECEAP eligibility and enrollment standards is to ensure that the children most in need of ECEAP are enrolled, within the state’s allotted funding. The Early Learning Management System (ELMS) is designed to guide contractors through this process. Steps to enrolling a family include recruitment, application, verification of eligibility, prioritization and then enrollment. Not all eligible children will receive ECEAP services. Enrollment depends on the number of available slots for the children on the eligible, prioritized waiting list. To ensure fair access to ECEAP, Contractors:  Develop and implement a recruitment process designed to actively inform all families with ECEAP eligible children within the contractor’s service area of the availability of ECEAP services.  Consider linguistic diversity and community needs when developing recruitment strategies.  Work with neighboring ECEAP and Head Start programs to ensure enrollment of as many eligible, high priority children as possible. This includes joint outreach efforts and referrals.  Encourage and assist families to apply for admission to the program.  Verify eligibility of each applicant.  Prioritize eligible children for enrollment in available slots.  Maintain prioritized waiting lists so it is possible to quickly refill vacant slots and demonstrate statewide need for ECEAP.  Ensure that ECEAP funds are only used for services for ECEAP-eligible children. DEL encourages, but does not require contractors to maintain copies of the documents viewed to determine child eligibility and prioritization.

Enrollment and Eligibility. Overview The goal of ECEAP eligibility and enrollment standards is to ensure that the children most in need of ECEAP are enrolled, within the state’s allotted funding. The Early Learning Management System (ELMS) is designed to guide contractors through this process. Steps to enrolling a family include recruitment, application, verification of eligibility, prioritization and then enrollment. Not all eligible children will receive ECEAP services. Enrollment depends on the number of available slots for the children on the eligible, prioritized waiting list. To ensure fair access to ECEAP, Contractors:  • Develop and implement a recruitment process designed to actively inform all families with ECEAP eligible children within the contractor’s service area of the availability of ECEAP services.  • Consider linguistic diversity and community needs when developing recruitment strategies.  • Work with neighboring ECEAP and Head Start programs to ensure enrollment of as many eligible, high priority children as possible. This includes joint outreach efforts and referrals.  • Encourage and assist families to apply for admission to the program.  • Verify eligibility of each applicant.  • Prioritize eligible children for enrollment in available slots.  • Maintain prioritized waiting lists so it is possible to quickly refill vacant slots and demonstrate statewide need for ECEAP.  • Ensure that ECEAP funds are only used for services for ECEAP-eligible children. DEL encourages, but does not require contractors to maintain copies of the documents viewed to determine child eligibility and prioritization.