Report 2017-116 Recommendation 4 Responses

Report 2017-116: Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County: Because It Disadvantaged Some Families and Misused State Funds, It Could Benefit From Increased Monitoring by the California Department of Education (Release Date: April 2018)

Recommendation #4 To: Education, Department of

To make its appeal process more accessible to families who may not receive a satisfactory resolution from its contractors, Education should, by October 2018, require that its contractors share key information in their communications with families about the process for appealing notices. The required information should include valid grounds for a family to file an appeal as well as information or documentation Education would need in order to review the family's appeal of adverse decisions regarding their child-care services. Education should also require contractors to incorporate this information into contractually mandated staff training and into publicly available policies and procedures.

1-Year Agency Response

Education's status on this recommendation is unchanged; no additional comments will be forthcoming.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education continues not to concur, we stand by our recommendation that Education require its contractors to share key information in their communications with families about the process for appealing notices. Education previously indicated that it will not implement this recommendation even though it requires contractors to communicate the appeal process information to families. Implementing our recommendation could make Education's appeal process more accessible to families who do not receive satisfactory resolution from their contractors pertaining to adverse decisions.

6-Month Agency Response

Education's status on this recommendation is unchanged; no additional comments will be forthcoming.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement

Although Education continues not to concur, we stand by our recommendation that Education require its contractors to share key information in their communications with families about the process for appealing notices. Education previously indicated that it will not implement this recommendation even though it requires contractors to communicate the appeal process information to families. Implementing our recommendation could make Education's appeal process more accessible to families who do not receive satisfactory resolution from their contractors pertaining to adverse decisions.

60-Day Agency Response

Education continues to not concur with the recommendation. Education maintains that contractors are required to communicate the appeal process information to families and provides a sample Notice of Action (NOA) to all contractors for their use. However, if contractors elect not to use the sample provided by Education, they must provide their own NOA, which must include sufficient information. During monitoring visits, Education reviews NOAs to verify contractors provide sufficient detail regarding the appeal process including contact information.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement

We continue to stand by our recommendation that Education require its contractors to share key information in their communications with families about the process for appealing notices. Education indicates that it will not implement this recommendation even though it requires contractors to communicate the appeal process information to families. Implementing our recommendation could make Education's appeal process more accessible to families who do not receive satisfactory resolution from their contractors pertaining to adverse decisions.

All Recommendations in 2017-116

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.