Welcome to Battle Creek Morale, Welfare, and Recreation!  Serving Those Who Support!

Stars and Stripes Learning Station


Open 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
100 N. Washington Ave., Battle Creek, Michigan 49037

Tax Liability Update






"Notification for Civilian Employees of Potential Tax Liability Related to Child Care Subsidy."
 
This may affect DoD civilian families receiving the child subsidies, better known as the "Tuition Assistance" at the Stars and Stripes Learning Station! 
We will provide further information as it is known. 

Tuition Subsidies for the Stars and Stripes Learning Station

2011 – 2012

             The Department of Defense (DoD) Child Development Program has approved the School Year 2011-2012 Fee Range Policy. The policy is a coordinated effort between the local labor relations representatives and management. The suspense for completing the annual total income review is August 31, 2011. If your paperwork is not received by this suspense, you will automatically revert to category IX. Reminder, the DD Form 2652 requires two (2) signatures for two income families if in category I through VIII. Fees will not be adjusted until September 6, 2011, if applicable to your family.  

            On October 1, 1999, the President signed into law, legislation that allowed Federal Agencies to provide tuition subsidies to Federal employees for childcare at National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited centers. On July 12, 2000 the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center was given implementation authority in accordance with Section 584 of Public Law 106-79.

            Section 1793(a) of Title 10, United States Code requires DoD to prescribe uniform fee regulations for military Child Development Centers (CDC) and School-Age Care (SAC) Programs. Fees are to be based on total family income (TFI) and shall apply to all children who attend on a regular basis. Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6060.2, “Child Development Programs (CDPs),” and DoDI 6060.3, “School-Age Care (SAC) Program,” describe DoD’s fee policy and require Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) to publish fee ranges on an annual basis. These fees, including those for hourly care, will include meals and snacks.

            In 2010, OSD approved DLA’s request to implement the new fee structure incrementally over 2 years with full implementation of the target fees by School Year 2012/2013. This policy included a five percent increase in income ranges as well as the addition of three new categories. The 2011/2012 school year marks another increase for some categories prior to the leveling out of fees for the 2012/2013 school year. Not all categories will be affected this year.

Changes in the 2011-2012 Fee Range Policy are:
 

·         Categories III, IV, V and VII will see a 2% increase in fees this year, resulting in a $2 weekly change.

·         Category VIII will also see a 2% increase in fees, resulting in a $3 weekly change.

·         Category IX will see a 3% increase, resulting in a $4 weekly change.

            The range for TFI within each category will not change; therefore families should not shift between categories, unless there has been a TFI change for your family. Families who have multiple children enrolled in the CDC will receive a discount of 15% per child after paying the full fee for the first child. The first child is defined as the youngest child enrolled.  

            In order to apply for tuition subsidies you must submit the following information and follow these guidelines:

             Priority List of eligible federal patrons includes:           

·         Active duty Military personnel (Guard, Reserve on active duty)

·         DoD Civilian parents (paid from both appropriated funds (APF) and non-appropriated funds (NAF))

·         DoD Civilian grandparents who have legal custody of grandchildren

·         DoD Federal Contractors working in the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center

            Tuition subsidy categories are based on your total family income (TFI)*. The following forms (available on the Stars and Stripes Learning Station website) and tax/income information are required to apply for the tuition subsidy.
 

1.      DD Form 2652, Application for Department of Defense Child Care Fees with original signatures of sponsor (military member or DoD employee) and spouse.

2.      DLA Form 24, Child Development Services Request for Care Record - The DLA Form 24 replaces DLIS 1933 which had been used previously. Section 15 of this form, as well as the statement of understanding, are not applicable to the Battle Creek Installation and Stars and Stripes Learning Station, and should remain blank.

3.      Two current leave and earning statements (LES)/pay stubs or current W-2s if LES/pay stubs are not available. Note: Those with a TFI greater than $125,001 do not have to submit the tax and income information, but are still required to complete the DD Form 2652 and registration form for each child. Patrons must submit all information required to the Childcare Program Specialist in order to verify income at the time of registration or at the yearly update.

4.      A copy of the prior year IRS tax form 1040 – only if a family member is self-employed.

            All information is required to be updated annually concerning your child’s enrollment at Stars and Stripes Learning Station. Patrons should immediately report TFI increases (promotions, marriages, etc.) or a decrease (loss of employment, reduced income, etc.) that causes a change to their immediate income category. Patrons refusing to show proof of income, or only have one signature on the DD form 2652 will be placed automatically in Category IX. The DLA Installation Support Director may terminate childcare subsidies for any family who deliberately withholds income data to qualify for a lower fee category.

            Children on the waiting list must have the same paperwork submitted to the Childcare Specialist in order to verify their TFI. Once your category is verified, you will be emailed a determination by the Childcare Program Specialist, stating your category and effective date. This same email will also go to the Childcare Provider. Please ensure you include your work email address on the DD Form 2652.

            You are not officially on the waiting list until the following is given to the Child Care Provider, Young Child Associates: a) the completed slip and waitlist form; b) the registration fee and one week of tuition are paid for each child. Being on the waiting list does not constitute a position for your child/children; it puts you on the list according to the priority list above. 

Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care

Child Development Center Fee Ranges

School Year (SY) 2011-2012

                 This scale is based on full-time care. If you are enrolling your child in a Before/After School Program, that scale is based on hours per week for care. See the Fee Range charts for the hourly or part-time rates on the Stars and Stripes websites located at:  http://www.hdifederalcentermwr.com/Stars%20and%20Stripes/StarsandStripesLearningStation.html or call Mrs. Judi Hetzel or Mrs. Sarah LaGro for additional information. If you are anticipating any new arrivals (adoptions, guardianship changes, etc.) in your household don’t forget to enroll your child on the waiting list, and add any unborn child(ren) to the child subsidy paperwork as soon as possible. We don’t want anyone missing out on a position or miss the opportunity to receive child subsidies. Payments of the child subsidies will not be back-dated or paid retroactively.  

             All TFI information must be turned in to the Childcare Program Specialist, Tiffany Schmidt. No submittals will be accepted by the staff at Stars and Stripes Learning Station due to the confidential nature of the paperwork. You can submit your package to Room 1-1-7. Please call (269)961-4124 for an appointment, or send via encrypted email. Incomplete packages will be returned to the sponsor and will be deemed unacceptable until all required information is present. 

            Please feel free to contact the Childcare Program Specialist by phone or e-mail if you have any questions or concerns. Tiffany.Schmidt@dla.mil or 269-961-4124.

For more information contact SaSLS, 269-963-5598 or 269-961-4271