LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The School Readiness Assistance program helps offer affordable, quality childcare to low-income families. On Tuesday, Childcare Providers pushed for a delay on changes to reimbursement and co-pay policies.

Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Olivia said childcare providers now have a 30-day pause before the new reimbursement rates for providers take effect.

The changes were supposed to happen on Oct. 1.

This will move the current tiered system to a fixed rate for all providers.

Olivia said the changes to co-payments from the individual families paying for childcare will need to take effect tomorrow.

This means families with an income over 40% of the state's median income do have a co-pay. And that co-pay is based on a sliding scale.

Childcare provider

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