Do you need financial assistance during this time?

The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has implemented a program to provide financial assistance through scholarships to working families with children ages 5-12 (kindergarten – 7th grade). SOLVE (Supporting Onsite Learning for Virtual Education) program works with current DCSD families. The SOLVE scholarships are awarded for three months and can be extended if a school district continues to offer a virtual-only learning model. This program can support families currently struggling to balance work, school, and family commitments.

SOLVE is administered by the CAPS program, but the income requirements are a little different, so families MIGHT qualify for a SOLVE scholarship even if they do not qualify for a CAPS scholarship. Some of your staff may also qualify.

Families apply for SOLVE scholarships using Georgia Gateway www.gateway.ga.gov. They choose their child care provider from all CAPS eligible providers at the time they apply. Families approved for a SOLVE scholarship receive an email providing basic scholarship information as soon as they are approved. SOLVE scholarships are viewable for providers in the CAPS billing portal two days after approval. The scholarships are billed in the same manner as CAPS scholarships in the CAPS billing portal. SOLVE payments are included in a child care provider’s typical CAPS payment.

Below are links to documents that provide more information about SOLVE:

1. A letter to families from Commissioner Amy Jacobs that provides more detail about the program https://decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/SOLVE_LETTER_TO_PARENTS_August 31.pdf

2. An informational flyer that you can email or print for families http://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/SOLVEFLYER_3.pdf

3. A family eligibility document that can be used to help families determine if they may qualify http://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/SOLVE_EligibilityRequirements.pdf

On the SOLVE page http://www.decal.ga.gov/CAPS/Solve.aspx, is a FAQ document that explains more and a current list of approved school districts. DECAL will update this information regularly, so refer families to this location often.