WSR 26-14-115 (26-14)

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

[Filed July 1, 2026, 10:57 a.m., effective July 1, 2026]

Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2026.

Purpose: The early learning division's working connections child care (WCCC) program is amending WAC 110-15-0200 Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and DCYF contracted seasonal day camps, and 110-15-0225 Special needs rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and seasonal day camps.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 110-15-0200 and 110-15-0225.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.216.828; HB [SHB] 2689 and ESSB 5167.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: These rule amendments are needed to comply with HB [SHB] 2689 and ESSB 5167. These amendments are to:

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: July 1, 2026.


•	Implement HB [SHB] 2689 regarding the region realignment for center providers. Per HB [SHB] 2689, "Beginning July 1, 2026, licensed or certified child care providers may not receive a child care subsidy base rate that is different than the rate for the child care subsidy rate region in which the provider is located."
•	Modify WAC 110-15-0200 to align with the 2025 approved budget increasing licensed center provider rates to the 85th percentile of the current market effective July 1, 2026.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-084, filed 11/13/23, effective 12/14/23)

WAC 110-15-0200Daily child care rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and DCYF contracted seasonal day camps.

(1) Base rate. Effective July 1, ((2023))2026, the child care subsidy rates paid to licensed or certified child care centers or DCYF contracted seasonal day camps are:

		Infants (Birth - 11 mos.)	Toddlers (12 - 29 mos.)	Preschool (30 mos. - 6 yrs not attending kindergarten or school)	School-age (5 - 12 yrs attending kindergarten or school)
Region 1	Full-Day Half-Day	(($62.05))$95.45 (($31.03))$47.73	(($56.14))$68.64 (($28.07))$34.32	$53.18 $26.59	(($53.36))$46.59 (($26.68))$23.30
Spokane County	Full-Day Half-Day	(($68.54))$78.18 (($34.27))$39.09	(($56.59))$65.00 (($28.30))$32.50	(($52.14))$62.73 (($26.07))$31.37	(($49.00))$50.00 (($24.50))$25.00
Region 2	Full-Day Half-Day	(($59.09))$76.09 (($29.55))$38.05	(($49.09))$68.64 (($24.55))$34.32	(($44.77))$60.91 (($22.39))$30.46	(($32.73))$56.59 (($16.37))$28.30
Region 3	Full-Day Half-Day	(($88.58))$105.45 (($44.29))$52.73	(($80.36))$98.18 (($40.18))$49.09	(($72.50))$86.82 (($36.25))$43.41	(($65.45))$79.32 (($32.73))$39.66
Region 4	Full-Day Half-Day	(($113.64))$135.23 (($56.82))$67.62	(($101.59))$120.91 (($50.80))$60.46	(($85.68))$106.82 (($42.84))$53.41	(($90.64))$78.79 (($45.32))$39.40
Region 5	Full-Day Half-Day	(($72.56))$86.82 (($36.28))$43.41	(($64.00))$81.59 (($32.00))$40.80	(($55.77))$74.77 (($27.89))$37.39	(($54.18))$66.82 (($27.09))$33.41
Region 6	Full-Day Half-Day	(($77.00))$87.73 (($38.50))$43.87	(($67.50))$80.36 (($33.75))$40.18	(($57.73))$72.95 (($28.87))$36.48	(($50.23))$66.14 (($25.12))$33.07

(((a) Centers in Clark County are paid Region 3 rates.

(b) Centers in Benton, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties are paid Region 6 rates.))

(2) WAC 110-300-0005 and 110-300-0356 allow providers to care for children from birth up to and including the end of their eligibility period after their 13th birthday.

(3) Providers must obtain child-specific and time-limited exceptions from DCYF to provide care for children outside the age listed on the center's license.

(4) If providers are granted an exception to care for a child who is 13 years old or older at application or reapplication:

(a) The payment rate is the same as subsection (1) of this section, and the five through 12 year age range column is used for comparison; and

(b) The children must meet the special needs requirement described in WAC 110-15-0220.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-12-072, filed 5/27/22, effective 7/1/22)

WAC 110-15-0225Special needs rates—Licensed or certified child care centers and seasonal day camps.

(1) In addition to the base rate for licensed or certified child care centers and seasonal day camps listed in WAC 110-15-0200, DCYF may authorize the following additional special needs daily rates which are reasonable and verifiable as provided in WAC 110-15-0220:

(a) Level 1. The daily rate listed in the table below:

		Infants (Birth - 11 mos.)	Toddlers (12 - 29 mos.)	Preschool (30 mos. - 6 yrs not attending kindergarten or school)	School-age (5 - 12 yrs attending kindergarten or school)
Region 1	Full-Day Half-Day	$7.30 $3.65	$6.14 $3.07	$5.80 $2.90	$5.45 $2.73
Region 2	Full-Day Half-Day	$7.36 $3.68	$6.15 $3.08	$5.70 $2.85	$5.05 $2.52
Region 3	Full-Day Half-Day	$9.75 $4.88	$8.13 $4.06	$7.02 $3.51	$6.82 $3.41
Region 4	Full-Day Half-Day	$11.35 $5.67	$9.48 $4.74	$7.95 $3.98	$7.16 $3.58
Region 5	Full-Day Half-Day	$8.32 $4.16	$7.16 $3.58	$6.30 $3.15	$5.59 $2.80
Region 6	Full-Day Half-Day	$8.18 $4.09	$7.02 $3.51	$6.14 $3.07	$6.00 $3.00

(((i) Centers in Clark County are paid Region 3 rates;

(ii) Centers in Benton, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties are paid Region 6 rates;))

(b) Level 2. A rate greater than Level 1, not to exceed $15.89 per hour.

(2) If a provider is requesting one-on-one supervision or direct care for the child with special needs the person providing the one-on-one care must:

(a) Be at least 18 years of age;

(b) Meet the requirements for being an assistant under chapter 110-300 WAC; and

(3) If the provider has an exception to care for a child who is age 13 years or older and has special needs according to WAC 110-15-0220, DCYF authorizes the special needs payment rate as described in subsection (1) of this section using the five through 12 year age range for comparison.