We make this decision based on family income, family size, the child’s age, the amount of care requested in the application (part time vs. full time vs. extended) and the type of child care provider selected (School Age Program, Child Care Center, or Family Child Care)

For Families: If you think there was an error in the review, eligibility determination, or your subsidy amount calculation, you can submit a claim for review by  us at support@BSKchildcare.org or (206) 208-6865

Best Starts Subsidy will pay the maximum subsidy rate authorized for the child, even if it exceeds the tuition charged by the Provider.  Best Starts Subsidy bases its subsidy rates on a market survey conducted by the State of Washington every other year.  Therefore, if a provider charges less than that, they are charging below the market rate established by the State.

Best Starts Subsidy may cover additional fees only if the monthly subsidy payment is higher than the provider’s tuition charge for that child. If there is extra subsidy money after covering tuition, the provider must apply it to unpaid fees or balances from that same month. Any extra funds must be used for that child within the same month of care. If the subsidy payment is equal to or less than tuition, this policy does not apply. The subsidy will not increase to cover additional fees or charges.

If the subsidy does not fully cover tuition, the provider can bill the family for the remaining balance. Families must pay any costs not covered by the subsidy unless they make other arrangements with the provider.

Providers are not required to refund extra subsidy funds to families. However, they must ensure the family’s balance is $0 before using extra funds for other purposes.

​Best Starts Subsidy will help pay for the approved child’s care during the time between the Start Date and End Date on page 1 of the Subsidy Payment Authorization.

For Families: We will email you at least six weeks before the End Date to share instructions on how to reapply and continue receiving Best Starts Subsidy. The instructions will include a due date. Please be sure to complete the reauthorization  application by the due date so that there is no interruption in child care or payment. When you reapply, you will need to provide new documents to show how your income, family size, and other details may have changed since the Authorization Period began.

Best Starts Subsidy will only pay subsidies to child care programs licensed by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Licensed-exempt programs and Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are not eligible.   

Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy does not license, endorse, or recommend any particular provider. We cannot assure that a provider gives quality child care. 

In an effort to meet the child care needs of families, we may refer families to licensed child care centers or homes; however, the ultimate choice of child care providers is the sole responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s).

Parent(s)/guardian(s) are urged to carefully interview and check references before leaving a child in care. To review DCYF licensing history of a child care provider including any complaints, you can complete a provider  search at: https://www.findchildcarewa.org/ 

Best Starts Subsidy may not cover the full costs of child care. There may be a “parent/guardian portion” and/or additional fees that the family must pay directly to the child care  provider.

Families are responsible for negotiating and paying all fees not covered by the Best Starts for Kids Subsidy. Due dates for fees are agreed upon between parent(s)/guardian(s) and their child care provider. If fees are not paid, the family’s subsidy might be ended.

For school-age children authorized for part-time care, we will automatically pre-approve full-time child care during school breaks, according to the Best Starts Subsidy  school-age payment calendar. Families wishing for full-time summer care for school-age children must specifically request this adjustment by contacting us at support@BSKchildcare.org or (206) 208-6865.

For Providers: If you provide care to multiple children with a Best Starts Subsidy, your payments will typically include combined payments for all children enrolled in the Best Starts for Kids Subsidy Program.

Every month, providers will be required to submit a Payment Request Form through their provider portal that includes a short attendance and enrollment report for each child with a Best Starts for Kids Subsidy. 

Best Starts for Kids Subsidy payments are issued through direct deposit, directly to the provider on behalf of the child named above. 

Important Notes for Providers:

• Providers must report any major changes to the child’s attendance or un-enrollment in the monthly Payment Request Form. 
• Best Starts Subsidy reserves the right to request attendance records from the provider.
• We cannot issue payment to a provider until we receive a copy of the program’s W-9, DCYF child care license, and banking information. We will notify providers if copies of these items are not yet on file.
• If a provider must receive a paper check, the provider must notify us at support@bskchildare.org or call (206) 208-6865. BrightSpark, the Best Starts for Kids Subsidy Administrator, is not responsible for payments lost in the mail, mail theft, or other issues occurring after payment has been placed in the outgoing mail. Please contact us if your mailed payment is not received. We reserve the right to request your banking information and send all future payments via direct deposit.

Families set their child’s schedule with the child care provider and must follow the attendance policy agreed upon with the provider when the child enrolls.  In most cases, if a child is enrolled in a provider’s program when the provider submits the Payment Request Form, Best Starts Subsidy will pay the provider the authorized amount of subsidy for that child for that month. 

Here are a few scenarios where the authorized rate might be reduced:

• If the child is enrolled for LESS time than is authorized in the SPA, Best Starts Subsidy will pay the subsidy rate associated with the lower level of enrollment.  For example, if the child has a full-time subsidy rate but is only enrolled in your program part-time, Best Starts Subsidy will pay the part-time rate.
• If the child un-enrolls from the program during the month of service, the Best Starts Subsidy will pay the provider for 14 days of care after their last day of enrollment.  
• If the child is repeatedly or excessively absent or attends for less time than they are authorized for two months in a row, Best Starts Subsidy may reduce the approved amount of care or end the subsidy.
• If a child does not attend for two consecutive months, the subsidy will be ended, and the provider will not receive payment for the second month.

A family’s Best Starts for Kids Subsidy may be closed for any of the following reasons:

• Repeated or excessive absences without notice to the Best Starts Subsidy.
• Falsification of information, including not providing all required information to determine a family’s eligibility, providing false information, or falsifying documents.
• Change in income, family size or address resulting in family eligibility for another subsidy program (i.e., Working Connections Child Care).
• Failure to follow program procedures, including notifying staff of changes, returning recertification paperwork, etc.
• Non-payment of fees to the child care provider, failure to set up a payment plan for fees owed, or that the payment plan is not in good standing.

Best Starts Subsidy may stop sending payments after notifying the providers of the change, with an explanation. Reasons include but are not limited to: 

• provider ineligibility, such as program loss of license
• family residency outside of King County
• family authorization for another subsidy, such as WCCC
• lack of attendance for an  extended period of time
• when the Authorization Period ends, if the family has not reauthorized

There may be instances where the wrong provider is paid, the wrong amount is paid, or a provider is paid on  behalf of a family or provider that no longer qualifies. 

Please see below to understand scenarios when the provider might be responsible for repayment:

• If we underpay the provider: 

A note will be applied to the  particular case and payment month, and a corrected payment will be issued.

• If we overpay the provider:

A note will be applied to the particular case and payment month. If  the child is continuing care, the overage will be subtracted from the next month’s subsidy. If the child is not  continuing care, the child care provider will be asked to repay the difference. 

• If we pay the wrong provider:

A note will be applied to the particular case and payment month.  If the provider has children with continuing care, the overage will be applied to the next month’s subsidy for a  different child. If no children are continuing care with that provider, the child care provider will be asked to  repay the improper payment. 

• If the provider or family is no longer eligible for Best Starts Subsidy:

A  request for repayment will be issued to the child care provider. 

• If the child receives another subsidy, such as WCCC:

Providers (and families) are required to notify us if the child is using or is authorized for any other subsidy programs, such as Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) or regional subsidies.

 In most cases, families using WCCC are not eligible for a Best Starts Subsidy, and we will send a request for repayment to the provider. 

• If we suspect a family or provider has tried to defraud the program by intentionally giving us false information:

A review board will evaluate the facts and circumstances of the situation and recommend  the next steps. The review board will include at least one representative from King County, BrightSpark leadership and BrightSpark frontline staff.

You may or may not be required to tell us about changes in your circumstances if they happen during your Authorization Period. See the scenarios below to learn what you need to do.

• If you move to new address

REQUIRED: You must report any address change as soon as possible.

• If you need more or less hours of child care

REQUIRED: You must report any change in the needed amount of care as soon as possible. Advance notice will help ensure there is no delay in payment to your provider.

• If you change providers

REQUIRED: You must tell us about a provider change at least two weeks before the change so that we can set up payments correctly. Please see “How do I change providers?” below for more information.

• If you leave the program

REQUIRED: If you take your child out of a program permanently, you must let us know as soon as possible. You are also responsible for telling the provider.

• If your child will not receive care for one month or more

REQUIRED: You must report any pause in care if it will last 30 days or more. Please let us know as soon as possible so that we can save your subsidy money for when your child returns to the program.

• If your income changes

OPTIONAL: If you have a decrease in income, please let us know because we might be able to increase your subsidy amount. However, it is not required.

• If your family size changes

OPTIONAL: If you have a new family member to add, please let us know because we might be able to increase your subsidy amount. However, it is not required.

Please note that if you do tell us about a change in your family size or income, we will consider whether that change makes you eligible for Working Connections (WCCC). If you seem eligible for WCCC, we will ask you to apply to WCCC. Families and providers are required to notify us if WCCC subsidy is approved. In most cases, Best Starts for Kids Subsidy Program enrollment will end upon use of WCCC subsidy.

The family must report the change to us at least two (2) weeks before the change takes place. This helps us ensure a smooth transition of subsidy. The family is also responsible for letting their provider know. 

For Families: Your provider might have their own rules about giving notice that your child is leaving the program. For example, they might require at least 30 days’ notice. You must follow their rules even if they are different from ours. 

When we are given at least two weeks’ notice of a provider change, we will pay the old provider for the duration of the two week notice period (starting from the date notification was submitted to Best Starts for Kids Subsidy Team). If the family does not give two weeks’ notice, the family might be responsible for any fees incurred according to the provider’s policies.

When there is a provider change, all fees with the old provider must be paid in full, or a payment plan must be in place and in good standing before a subsidy transfer will be authorized. Outstanding balances with a provider may affect the family’s  eligibility to switch to a new provider.

If the family is staying with the same provider but will be using a different site/location (short or long term), the family must report this change to the Best Starts for Kids Subsidy Team at least two (2) weeks in advance. These changes impact how payment is made. For example: changing from Childcare ABC at Tree location to Childcare ABC at Ocean location requires notifying us.

Residents of King County voted to approve a special tax that pays for the Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy program. Working Connections is a separate program funded by the state of Washington. For more information about Best Starts for Kids, click here.