As an ELS Center, what are the steps to enroll children to MRA funding?

Maximum Reimbursable Amount (MRA) funding is local funding available to Early Learning Scholarship (ELS) centers that have a contract with the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC).  

Please follow these steps to enroll a child into your MRA funding:  

1. Connect to Families  

Report a MRA vacancy on www.earlylearningsf.org and receive referrals to families who work with Children’s Council and Wu Yee. Or, enroll from your own waitlist.   

2. Confirm Enrollment Eligibility

Confirm the family lives in San Francisco and prioritize family enrollment using DEC’s guidelines.  

3. Confirm Income Eligibility

Verify the family’s income is at or below 110% of Area Median Income (AMI) by using the chart below of family size and total countable income.  

Monthly State Median Income
Family Size  (Number of people constituting a “family”, biological or adoptive parents and their dependents)	1 or 2	3	4	5	6	7	8+
Monthly Countable Income  (All income of the individuals in family size)	$10,571	$11,887	$13,208	$14,267	$15,321	$16,379	$17,433

4. Collect Income Paperwork

Request and file a document that verifies income. This could include payroll check stub(s), a letter from the employer, or another record of wages issued by the employer for the month preceding eligibility certification. If a parent is self-employed, a letter from the source of the income, a copy of the most recent tax or other business records will work.  

If the above is not available, the parent can self-certify by indicating their total gross income amount and family size and complete the ELS Family Eligibility Form.  

5. Waive Family Fee

Family Fees do not apply in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for MRA or ELS Voucher. For State Voucher-funded families, family fees become effective on October 1, 2023. However, ELS programs will be reimbursed by the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (SFDEC) for any fees owed by families so that the payment equals the whole ELS Rate. 

6. Add the Child to the DEC Enrollment Tracking System (DETS)

Create a classroom in the DEC Enrollment Tracking System, if you haven’t done so already, and enroll the child into MRA funding. If you don’t have a login, please contact [e-mail]

7. Keep Information Updated in DEC Enrollment Tracking System

You will not receive a certificate from Children’s Council or Wu Yee. Please maintain family information in DEC Enrollment Tracking System. You need to certify enrollments every month.

8. Receive Payment from Children’s Council.  

You will receive an advance payment from Children’s Council four times a year for ¼ of your total annual MRA contract with DEC. The payment will not be connected to an individual’s enrollment, but you may use the ELS Center rates or PFA rates to determine your projected income as needed.  

Quarter 1 (July, August, September): released July 21, 2023 

Quarter 2 (October, November, December): released September 26, 2023

Quarter 3 (January, February, March): to be announced

Quarter 4 (April, May, June): to be announced

9. Monitor your MRA Contract 

Ensure you are not over-enrolled. Your projected MRA and PFA enrollments multiplied by the annual ELS Center or PFA rates should not be over your total awarded contract listed on your ELS Participation Agreement. DEC will not reimburse beyond your awarded MRA amount. If you have met your contract, you may opt to continue to enroll local or state voucher enrollments by reporting an ELS Voucher vacancy in www.earlylearningsf.org. Please ensure you fully earn your MRA before taking voucher enrollments.

Ensure you are not under-enrolled. You must serve at least 90% of your peak enrollment number or be projected to earn 90% of the MRA amount by the end of the 3rd quarter to earn the full remaining quarter payment. Enroll MRA, PFA, or Title 5 families to meet your contract goal. 

10. Reach Out for Help

Have questions? Contact the Help Desk at [e-mail] or 415-343-4669.