Chapter 1

Definitions

Section 1. Authority. The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is authorized under the DWS Act W.S. § 9-2-2601(c), W.S. § 9-2-2602(b)(vi), W.S. § 14-4-204, and the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act, W.S. § 16-3-101 et seq. to promulgate rules and regulations to be used by the DWS in the discharge of its functions.

Section 2. Purpose. The WY Quality Counts Educational Development Program provides funding for training of owners and staff of child care facilities. W. S. § 14-4-204 refers to these services as Educational Development Scholarships and Continuing Education Grants.

Section 3. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of these rules:

(a) "Child Care Facility" means any person who operates a business to keep or care for any minor at the request of the parents, legal guardians or an agency which is responsible for the child and includes group day care agencies and day or hourly nurseries, nursery schools, kindergartens or any other preschool establishment not accredited by the state board of education. [See W. S. § 14-4-101(a)(vi)(D) or (K)].

(b) "Child Development Associate" is a standardized, nationally-recognized credential administered by the Council for Professional Recognition that provides evidence of a basic level of competence for individuals working in the child care industry.

(c) "Continuing Education Grant" is a financial award provided to upgrade the skills of child care workers to enhance the quality of child care provided by the industry.

(d) "Continuous Enrollment" means enrollment in at least one (1) credit hour in each of two (2) semesters of a fall, spring, or summer semester within the course of a year based on enrollment date.

(e) "Educational Development Scholarship" is a financial award provided to individuals working in the child care industry who enroll in and complete formal education that will enhance the quality of child care provided by the industry.

(f) "Good Standing" means satisfactory adherence to and completion of all program requirements in rules.

(g) "Immediate family" refers to a person's closest relatives by blood or marriage, including parents, siblings, spouse, and children.

(h) "Major Medical Occurrence" shall be determined by a written statement from a licensed medical practitioner that verifies a participant is no longer capable of participating in the WY Quality Counts Educational Development Program.

 (i) "Participant" is an individual who has applied and been approved for services under these rules.

(j) "Remedial Education" refers to Math or English classes (below 1000 level) required by the applicable Wyoming educational institution to enter into an approved degree program.

(k) "Satisfactory Completion" means to meet all terms and requirements for a degree, certification or training program.

(l) "Satisfactory Performance" means fulfillment of and adherence to all terms and requirements of a program.

(m) "Workforce Development Training Fund (WDTF)" is a state-managed fund established to support workforce development programs, including training, retraining, and upgrading skills for existing workers through programs administered by the Department of Workforce Services.

(n) "WY Quality Counts" is the DWS name for the Quality Child Care program found in W.S. 14-4-201 through 14-4-207.

Section 4. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this rule shall be held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the law of any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.