Add Vermont Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

changelog.d/vt-ccap.added.md

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+Add Vermont Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP).

lessons/agent-lessons.md

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+# Agent Lessons Learned
+
+Accumulated from /encode-policy-v2 and /backdate-program runs across all contributors.
+Loaded by implementation agents on future runs.
+
+
+## New Lessons from Vermont CCFAP (2026-03-12)
+
+### REFERENCE
+- When a parameter cites a source document, verify the document identity (not just page/section) is correct; referencing a related but wrong document (e.g., a rate sheet instead of the regulations PDF) passes casual review because the values may appear in both places.
+- Section citations must use the most specific subsection available (e.g., "Section I B 6" not "Section I B"); generic parent-section citations make it impossible to verify which provision justifies the parameter value.
+
+### TEST
+- Test case names/descriptions must match their expected output values; a name that says "$275 weekly" when the test expects $250 misleads reviewers and masks whether the test is actually correct.

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/age_group/infant_max.yaml

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+description: Vermont defines infants as children up to this age in months under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 24
+
+metadata:
+  unit: month
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP infant age limit
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 1
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=3

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/age_group/preschool_max.yaml

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+description: Vermont defines preschoolers as children up to this age in months under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 60
+
+metadata:
+  unit: month
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP preschool age limit
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 1
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=3

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/age_group/toddler_max.yaml

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+description: Vermont defines toddlers as children up to this age in months under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 36
+
+metadata:
+  unit: month
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP toddler age limit
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 1
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=3

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/age_threshold/base.yaml

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+description: Vermont limits the Child Care Financial Assistance Program to children younger than this age.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 13
+
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP child age threshold
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 6
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=4
+    - title: 33 V.S.A. § 3512
+      href: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/035/03512

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/age_threshold/special_needs.yaml

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+description: Vermont limits the Child Care Financial Assistance Program to children with special needs younger than this age.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 19
+
+metadata:
+  unit: year
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP special needs child age threshold
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 6
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=4
+    - title: 33 V.S.A. § 3512
+      href: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/035/03512

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/care_schedule/full_time_max.yaml

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+description: Vermont sets this amount as the maximum weekly hours for full-time care under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 50
+
+metadata:
+  unit: hour
+  period: week
+  label: Vermont CCFAP full-time maximum hours
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 3
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=4

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/care_schedule/part_time_max.yaml

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+description: Vermont sets this amount as the maximum weekly hours for part-time care under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 25
+
+metadata:
+  unit: hour
+  period: week
+  label: Vermont CCFAP part-time maximum hours
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section I B 3
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=4

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/family_share/scale.yaml

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+description: Vermont sets this amount as the weekly family share based on income as a share of the federal poverty guideline under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+
+metadata:
+  type: single_amount
+  threshold_unit: /1
+  amount_unit: currency-USD
+  period: week
+  label: Vermont CCFAP weekly family share scale
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Income Guidelines (effective October 6, 2024)
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/Income-Guidelines.pdf
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section IX
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=17
+
+brackets:
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 0
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 0
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 1.7501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 50
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 2.0001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 75
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 2.2501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 100
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 2.5001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 125
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 2.7501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 150
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 3.0001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 175
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 3.2501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 200
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 3.5001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 225
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 3.7501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 250
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 4.0001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 275
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 4.2501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 300
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 4.5001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 325
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 4.7501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 350
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 5.0001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 375
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 5.2501
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 400
+  - threshold:
+      2024-10-01: 5.5001
+    amount:
+      2024-10-01: 425

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/income/fpl_limit.yaml

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+description: Vermont limits gross income to this share of the federal poverty guideline under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01: 4
+  2024-10-01: 5.75
+
+metadata:
+  unit: /1
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP income limit FPL multiplier
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section II B 2
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=9
+    - title: Act 76 FAQs
+      href: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/ccfap/act76-faqs

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/income/sources.yaml

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+description: Vermont counts these income sources as gross income under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+values:
+  2024-04-01:
+    - employment_income
+    - self_employment_income
+    - pension_income
+    - social_security
+    - alimony_income
+    - child_support_received
+    - dividend_income
+    - interest_income
+    - rental_income
+    - unemployment_compensation
+    - workers_compensation
+    - veterans_benefits
+    - military_retirement_pay
+    # Excluded: SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Reach Up, EITC, tax refunds,
+    # education grants/scholarships, foster care payments,
+    # adoption assistance, child support paid out
+
+metadata:
+  unit: list
+  period: year
+  label: Vermont CCFAP countable income sources
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP Regulations Section II B 2
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/CCFAP-Regulations.pdf#page=9

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/rates/licensed_center.yaml

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+description: Vermont provides these weekly reimbursement rates for licensed child care centers under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+
+metadata:
+  period: week
+  unit: currency-USD
+  label: Vermont CCFAP licensed center weekly rates
+  breakdown:
+    - vt_ccfap_care_schedule
+    - vt_ccfap_age_group
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP State Rates (June 30, 2024)
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/State-Rates.pdf
+    - title: CCFAP Capped State Rates (July 13, 2025)
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/Capped-State-Rates.pdf
+
+FULL_TIME:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 471
+    2025-07-13: 495
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 443
+    2025-07-13: 465
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 439
+    2025-07-13: 439
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 371
+    2025-07-13: 371
+
+PART_TIME:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 258
+    2025-07-13: 271
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 243
+    2025-07-13: 255
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 240
+    2025-07-13: 240
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 204
+    2025-07-13: 204
+
+EXTENDED_CARE:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 640
+    2025-07-13: 672
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 602
+    2025-07-13: 632
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 597
+    2025-07-13: 597
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 505
+    2025-07-13: 505

policyengine_us/parameters/gov/states/vt/dcf/ccfap/rates/registered_home.yaml

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+description: Vermont provides these weekly reimbursement rates for registered family child care homes under the Child Care Financial Assistance Program.
+
+metadata:
+  period: week
+  unit: currency-USD
+  label: Vermont CCFAP registered home weekly rates
+  breakdown:
+    - vt_ccfap_care_schedule
+    - vt_ccfap_age_group
+  reference:
+    - title: CCFAP State Rates (June 30, 2024)
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/State-Rates.pdf
+    - title: CCFAP Capped State Rates (July 13, 2025)
+      href: https://outside.vermont.gov/dept/DCF/Shared%20Documents/CDD/CCFAP/Capped-State-Rates.pdf
+
+FULL_TIME:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 387
+    2025-07-13: 407
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 364
+    2025-07-13: 382
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 361
+    2025-07-13: 361
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 321
+    2025-07-13: 321
+
+PART_TIME:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 212
+    2025-07-13: 223
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 200
+    2025-07-13: 210
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 198
+    2025-07-13: 198
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 176
+    2025-07-13: 176
+
+EXTENDED_CARE:
+  INFANT:
+    2024-06-30: 527
+    2025-07-13: 553
+  TODDLER:
+    2024-06-30: 494
+    2025-07-13: 519
+  PRESCHOOL:
+    2024-06-30: 491
+    2025-07-13: 491
+  SCHOOL_AGE:
+    2024-06-30: 436
+    2025-07-13: 436