FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 1, 2026
Contact: Sarah Fulton (302) 401-1114
DOVER — Kent County Democrats Sen. Trey Paradee and Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris filed two bills in April that would allow for more families to send their children to summer camps through the expansion of Purchase of Care regulations.
Delaware’s Purchase of Care (POC) program subsidizes child care access for families within 200% of the federal poverty line, allowing working parents to access early childhood education as well as care outside of school for children up to 12 years old. Families qualifying for POC have historically been unable to register for summer camp until June, while families paying out-of-pocket can register when enrollment opens in January. Introduced on April 15, Senate Bill 278 requires the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to authorize POC applications as early as January 1 to allow for all families to register for summer camp at the same time, regardless of income.
“This issue was brought to us by our friends at our local YMCA, who let us know that families were struggling to register their children for summer camps in time while awaiting authorization for their Purchase of Care,” said Sen. Paradee. “No child should be pushed to the back of the line because of bureaucratic red tape. Every child deserves to have a fun and enriching summer camp experience, while every parent deserves to have a safe place for their school age children to spend the day while they are at work.”
SB 278 also requires that parent copayments be based on whether the child receives assistance for a full- or half-day of child care. School-age children typically need fewer than 4 hours of care before and after school, yet they are charged the same copays as those in need of full-day care. A half-day rate would cut these costs in half, making child care more affordable.
“The need for childcare is the same regardless of income, and the timeline to enroll in childcare should be the same regardless of income,” said Rep. Harris. “Together, SB 278 and SB 293 create more equity and expand opportunities for all Delaware families.”
Senate Bill 293 revises Delaware’s current summer camp licensure requirements by allowing the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) to accept national accreditation standards set by the American Camp Association (ACA) in lieu of state licensure. These national standards include rigorous health and safety requirements. By recognizing ACA-accredited summer child care programs as being in compliance with OCCL regulations, a growing number of summer camps will be eligible for provider reimbursement through Purchase of Care.
“Summer should be a season of growth, confidence and connection,” said Jarrett Royster, YMCA of Delaware President and CEO. “For working families, having a safe and enriching place for their children during the day is essential. These proposed changes help level the playing field, ensuring more children can experience summer camp. They would also allow all YMCA camps to accept Purchase of Care, significantly expanding access for families across Delaware. We’re grateful to Senator Paradee and Representative Harris for their leadership and look forward to continuing our partnership to build on this progress.”
SB 278 was released from the Senate Health & Social Services Committee on April 22 and awaits consideration before the Senate. SB 293 has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
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