COLUMBUS – With thousands of Ohio schoolchildren learning remotely this fall, state-issued childcare licenses are being expanded to include organization, such as businesses and churches, that can care for school-age children who are learning from home if their parents have to go to work.
Churches, recreation centers, businesses and other organizations can apply for Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care licenses to provide care to children who are learning remotely during the school day, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.
The licensing of the new centers is to ensure children have safe places to go when they are not learning in school, DeWine said.
Additionally, providers licensed by the Ohio Departments of Job and Family Services and Education will be allowed care for school-age children who are learning remotely during the school day.
The centers will receive funding to cover the cost of care for economically eligible children.
The Department of Education hopes to extend this same option to licensed school-age childcare providers by early September if the expansion is approved by the Ohio Board of Education.
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The state reported 844 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, the third straight day of fewer than 1,000 new cases, for a total of 116,495 with 3,996 deaths. There were 15,771 active cases.