• Numbers 1 to 999999
• 0 when none served
• - (dash) when data applies but is not available NA when data requested does not apply

Numbers That Must Add Up:

Check 1: For each type of care, add the number of children in each age bracket for Elements 3a to 3g in each column. Your number should match the number in Element 3h for that column. An error has occurred if the numbers do not match.

Check 2: For each type of care, add the number of children 0 years old up to 13 years old in Element 3h and the number of children 13 years old and older in Element 3i for each column. Compare your answer to the value entered in Element 2b of that column. If the numbers are not the same, there is an error.

Guidance: A child may be counted in more than one provider column (Columns B-L) if the child receives care from more than one provider type for different portions of the typical day, week, or month.

Example: A child attends a child care center in the morning and a family child care home in the afternoon. The child would be counted under both provider types of center-based and family child care.

Provider types are broken up into the two broad categories of licensed/regulated and legally operating (no license category available in state or locality). Under each of these categories are four types of providers: in-home, family home, group home, and centers.

Licensed or regulated provider = Provider legally regulated or licensed by Tribe or State designated licensing agent.
No License Category Available (legally operating provider) = For reporting purposes, a legally operating, unregulated provider is one which, if not participating in the CCDF program, would not be subject to any state or local child care regulations. According to section 98.2 of the CCDF regulations, "Licensing or regulatory requirements means requirements necessary for a provider to legally provide child care services in a state or locality, including registration requirements established under state, local or Tribal law....".
Child's Home = Care provided by a caregiver in the child's home.
Family Home = Care provided in a family child care home.
Group Home = Care provided in a group child care home (as differentiated from a family child care home by the Tribal Lead Agency).
Center = Care provided in a center-based setting, including programs in schools.
Relative = A provider who is a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt or uncle, or sibling living outside the child's home.

When data are applicable but not available, provide a footnote in the comment section explaining when the missing data will be submitted.