Dear Early Care and Education Provider,

Every three years the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is required under federal law to conduct a survey to collect and analyze the rates for early care and education services paid across the state. In addition to the federal requirement, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) requires that a market rate survey (MRS) be completed every two years. DCY uses this data to establish reimbursement rates for their publicly funded child care (PFCC) program which offers financial assistance to eligible families to help them with early care and education costs while they engage in work, education, or job training. DCY has contracted with Strategic Research Group (SRG), an independent research firm, to assist with conducting this year's survey in order to gather and compile the rate information and analyze the results. The survey results may impact the reimbursement rates of over 5,500 programs which include centers, family child care home providers, preschools, school age child care, approved day camps and in-home aides that currently serve children eligible for PFCC.

What information do we need from you?

DCY needs to collect information on rates, enrollment, other fees charged to families, and barriers to participation in the PFCC program. To reimburse providers with rates that are based on the current market rates within the early care and education industry, DCY needs this information from early care and education providers who serve families who pay for this care without any financial assistance as well as providers who participate in the PFCC program.

Why do I need to complete this survey if DCY licensing rules already require me to enter my rates in the OCLQS Provider Portal?

In addition to the rate collection, federal law requires states to collect information on fees charged, barriers to participation in the Publicly Funded Child Care program, and other relevant information needed to assist in determining reimbursement rates. This is completed via the survey.

Will my information be kept confidential?

Yes. To ensure confidentiality, responses will be associated only with a randomly assigned passcode and not linked directly with identifying provider information. Any reports created or published will only summarize the responses across all providers and will not contain any individual provider information.

How long will the survey take?

The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete once you have gathered the necessary information, which includes:

• Your program's current tuition rates for privately paying families,
• Additional fees charged to families, and
• Enrollment by age group, enrollment type (hourly, part-time, full-time), and funding source.

How is the information that I provide used?

The goal of the market rate survey is to compile a snapshot of the early care and education landscape and the cost of these services in Ohio. The information collected through this survey is used to inform DCY agency leadership and state leadership. In addition, the survey results are used to establish the base reimbursement rates for Ohio's publicly funded child care program, helping to ensure rates reflect current market conditions and provider costs.

What if I own multiple locations? Do I have to complete a survey for each site I own, or can I complete one survey?

Providers with multiple locations are asked to submit a separate survey with information about each location. You will be sent a separate link for each location. If you have more than one location with the same enrollment and rate information, please complete a survey for one location and send an email to 2026mrs@websrg.com with the provider ID(s)/license number(s) of the other location(s).

If my program does not charge families directly and does not have a rate sheet, what should I do?

Please complete the survey and select that you do not have rates to enter.

Are surveys going to all school-age and preschool programs?

All programs which include centers, family child care home providers, preschools, school age child care, approved day camps and in-home aides are being invited to complete the survey, including before and after school programs.

Should summer camps fill out the survey?

Yes, all approved day camps regulated by DCY are being invited to complete the survey.

Should DCY licensed before and after school care programs fill out the survey?

Yes, as the PFCC rates traditionally have a separate rate for the school year versus summer school-age care.

When is the survey due?

Please complete the survey by July 10, 2026.

Once you have completed the survey, you may be requested to submit your advertised tuition fees (rate sheet) for quality assurance purposes. If selected to submit your rate sheet, you will receive an email one to three days after the completion of your MRS. You may also be asked to participate in an interview to provide additional information to assist in determining the cost of high-quality care.

If you have questions about this project, please contact Cynthia Ricketts at Cynthia.Ricketts@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov OR Nicole Goudy at Nicole.Goudy@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov

Please direct specific questions about the survey to SRG at 2026mrs@websrg.com or call Dr. Tina Kassebaum at 1-800-341-3660.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Ricketts
Bureau Chief, Program, Policy, and Regulatory Standards
Ohio Department of Children and Youth

Tina Kassebaum, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Strategic Research Group