§ 7–2021.02. Access to Quality Child Care Fund.

(a) There is established as a special fund the Access to Quality Child Care Fund ("Fund"), which shall be administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in accordance with § 7-2021.03 and subsection (c) of this section.

(b) There shall be deposited into the Fund:

(1) In Fiscal Year 2018, $11 million from local appropriations; and

(2) Private donations, gifts, and grants.

(c) Money in the Fund shall be used to provide grants or contracts to fund the following activities that expand access to child care:

(1) Improving the supply of child care services for infants and toddlers, which may include establishing new or expanding existing child development facilities serving infants and toddlers; provided, that at least 50% of amounts expended pursuant to this paragraph are used to improve the supply of child care services for infants and toddlers eligible for subsidized child care;

(2) Supporting the costs of certification, higher education, and credentialing of child development facility staff;

(3) Providing technical assistance and training to child development facility operators to support compliance with the licensure process or efficient and effective operations;

(4) Evaluating and assessing the availability, quality, and willingness of child development facility operators to expand services for infants and toddlers in the District and conducting studies authorized pursuant to subchapter I-A of this chapter; and

(5) Carrying out other activities as determined by OSSE related to expanding access to infant and toddler child care and improving the quality of child care services provided in the District.

(d)(1) The money deposited into the Fund shall not revert to the unrestricted fund balance of the General Fund of the District of Columbia at the end of a fiscal year, or at any other time.

(2) Subject to authorization in an approved budget and financial plan, any funds appropriated in the Fund shall be continually available without regard to fiscal year limitation.