Certified in Pennsylvania
The provider must satisfy the program’s certification and participation requirements—not merely operate informally or provide occasional care.
Pennsylvania child-care employers
Staff bonus applications are open.
Eligible certified child-care providers participating in Child Care Works can apply for 2026–27 recruitment and retention funding. Use this guide to verify the starting requirements, prepare the staff records and plan the payroll treatment before the deadline.
Work the application stepsStart with fit
Three conditions to check first.
The public announcement describes funding for qualified staff working at eligible Child Care Works providers. Read the complete policy before assuming that the business or every employee qualifies.
Participating in Child Care Works
The state announcement identifies certified providers participating in Child Care Works. Confirm current status with the local Early Learning Resource Center.
Qualified under the policy
Professional Development Registry and other staff requirements apply. Review the full announcement for each employee before counting the expected award.
Do not promise a payment before approval. At least $540 is the announced minimum retention-bonus amount for qualified employees, but providers must apply, meet the rules and receive program approval.
Apply by November 30
Prepare the application in the right order.
1. Open the full policy.
Review provider, site, staff, registry, payment and reporting requirements.
Review provider, site, staff, registry, payment and reporting requirements.
2. Find the correct ELRC.
The local Early Learning Resource Center receives the provider application and can answer program-specific questions.
The local Early Learning Resource Center receives the provider application and can answer program-specific questions.
3. Verify staff records.
Reconcile qualified employees, work status and required Professional Development Registry information.
Reconcile qualified employees, work status and required Professional Development Registry information.
4. Prepare payroll handling.
Coordinate with the payroll provider or tax professional before distributing approved employee bonuses.
Coordinate with the payroll provider or tax professional before distributing approved employee bonuses.
5. Submit before November 30.
Save the completed application, attachments and submission confirmation.
Save the completed application, attachments and submission confirmation.
6. Track payment and reporting.
Retain the approval, employee payment records and any program reports or attestations.
Retain the approval, employee payment records and any program reports or attestations.
Before distributing funds
Plan for payroll—not just the application.
The IRS identifies bonuses as supplemental wages. Employers generally must handle applicable withholding and employment-tax reporting. The method can depend on how the bonus is paid and identified, so providers should coordinate the approved program payment with their payroll professional or payroll system before releasing it.
Identify the payment
Keep the program award and each employee’s bonus amount separate and traceable in the records.
Confirm withholding
Use current federal, Pennsylvania and applicable local payroll guidance rather than treating the award as a contractor payment or an off-payroll gift.
Keep the audit trail
Save the award notice, staff eligibility support, payroll register and proof that approved funds reached qualified employees.
This is general educational information, not individualized tax or payroll advice. See IRS Publication 15 and obtain professional guidance for the provider’s circumstances.
Official sources
Use the administering agencies.
- Pennsylvania DHS announcement — October 15, 2026
- Pennsylvania Key program page and full policy
- Find the local Early Learning Resource Center
- IRS Publication 15: Employer’s Tax Guide
Check the rest of the business foundation.
Use the Pennsylvania Launch Guide for formation, taxes, permits and hiring, or take the Ready to Launch assessment for a focused next-step plan.
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Educational information only. Let’s Go SMALL is a DBA of Vacation Ownership Marketing LLC. This page is not legal, tax, accounting, payroll or grant-eligibility advice. Program rules, funding and deadlines can change; verify them with Pennsylvania DHS, Pennsylvania Key and the responsible ELRC.