In Case You Missed It

Stay connected with up-to-date information

The focus of this page is to provide you with a “one stop shop” for recent updates from DIEEC and our state partners. Additionally, this site is where you’ll find health and safety information, including all relevant COVID-19 guidance information for early childhood education programs in Delaware.

Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) State-Funded Early Care and Education

The Delaware Department of Education’s (DDOE) Office of Early Learning (OEL) would like you to consider applying for Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP) and/or Redding “seats” for your program. If you’re unsure at this time, attending the voluntary pre-bid meeting (took place on January 25, 2023) could help you better understand the process and the expectations, and inform your decision to apply. Please see the flyer here.

In partnership with the DDOE and the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood (DIEEC), we’ve created a bidder’s companion guide to the Redding and ECAP Request for Proposal (RFP) which will help guide you through the process, highlighting some important aspects throughout the RFP. This includes a checklist of what you’ll need to submit, should you decide to apply.

Guiding questions, developed in partnership with the DDOE, are available to support potential partners in thinking through what comprehensive services look like in their program.

DIEEC associate director (leadership & administration), Jen Potts, recently sat down to get some general information on state-funded early care and education programs as well as some answers to commonly-asked questions. Check it out below:

COVID Support

The following resources will provide you with the most updated information to operate your program safely during COVID-19.

There are no additional requirements from the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) or the Delaware Department of Health (DPH) due to COVID-19 at this time.

All licensed programs must follow DELACARE regulations set out from the Office of Child Care Licensing. These regulations are found at https://education.delaware.gov/families/birth-age-5/occl/regulations_and_exemptions/.

It is recommended that programs follow the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for early childhood education settings.  Check back frequently, as this guidance continues to be updated. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html 

Information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 vaccines is located here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

Information regarding where to get vaccinated in Delaware and vaccine resources can be found here: https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/.

Have questions? Give us a call at (302) 831-3239 or send us an email at ecinsitute@udel.edu.