ACF Seeks Public Comment on Revised Child Care and Development Fund Plan Preprint for 2028-2030

On October 23, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically its Office of Child Care (OCC), published a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comments on proposed changes to a critical federal information collection instrument. This notice concerns the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan Preprint for States/Territories, identified as form ACF-118. The agency's action initiates a formal process for stakeholders to provide feedback on both an extension of the current plan format and significant revisions planned for future cycles.

The Child Care and Development Fund Framework

The CCDF program serves as the primary federal funding source for child care assistance for low-income families and aims to improve the quality of child care for all children. The statutory basis for this program lies in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 1990, as amended by the CCDBG Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-186), and further codified in 42 U.S.C. 9858. Under these authorities, each state and territory's CCDF Lead Agency is required to submit a comprehensive plan every three years. This plan, submitted on the ACF-118 form, functions as the formal application for CCDF funds and provides both ACF and the public with crucial details and assurances regarding how states and territories will operate their CCDF programs and deliver child care services.

Proposed Actions and Their Rationale

ACF's request has two distinct components. First, the agency proposes an extension, without any changes, of the currently approved CCDF Plan Preprint for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2025-2027. This extension would allow states and territories to continue submitting necessary amendments through September 30, 2027, ensuring continuity in program administration during the transition period. Second, and more substantively, OCC is requesting comments on a newly proposed CCDF Plan Preprint for FFY 2028-2030. This forthcoming version of the ACF-118 form incorporates significant updates designed to achieve several key objectives.

The stated goals for the 2028-2030 plan are to simplify and reduce the number of questions, thereby lowering the administrative burden on responding agencies. Furthermore, the revisions aim to streamline data entry processes and strengthen overall program integrity. These proposed changes reflect an effort to refine the collection of information, making it more efficient for states and territories while maintaining or enhancing the quality of oversight and accountability required by federal statute.

Impact on State and Territory Lead Agencies

State and Territory Lead Agencies are the primary respondents to the ACF-118, making them the direct beneficiaries and primary sources of feedback on these proposed changes. The current estimates indicate that 56 such agencies will respond, with an average burden of 32 hours per response. This translates to a total burden of 1,792 hours and an annual burden of 597 hours across all respondents. Any reduction in complexity or data entry requirements, as proposed by ACF, could yield tangible benefits for these agencies, allowing them to redirect resources towards direct program implementation and service delivery rather than administrative compliance.

Public Comment Period and Key Considerations

The public comment period for this information collection activity concludes on December 22, 2026. ACF has specifically invited comments on four critical aspects:

• Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions and possesses practical utility.
• The accuracy of ACF's estimate regarding the burden associated with the proposed information collection.
• The quality, utility, and clarity of the information intended for collection.
• Potential methods to minimize the burden on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Stakeholders, including state officials, child care providers, researchers, and advocacy groups, are encouraged to submit their feedback. The input received will be crucial in shaping the final version of the ACF-118 form for the 2028-2030 cycle, potentially influencing how federal child care funding is administered and reported for years to come. The agency's commitment to soliciting public input underscores the collaborative nature of federal policy implementation and the importance of balancing oversight with practical administrative realities for states and territories.