When a subsidized family decides to leave your program, specific rules govern how much notice they must give you, how long you continue to get paid, and what you can — and cannot — do in response.

The 14-Day Notice Requirement

A parent who wants to withdraw their child from your program must give you at least 14 days (two weeks) notice before the change takes effect.

During those 14 days:

• The child may remain enrolled at your program
• You continue to receive EEC reimbursement through the end of the notice period
• The parent still owes parent fees through the last day of care

This applies whether the parent is switching to another provider or ending subsidized care entirely.

You Cannot Refuse to Release a Child

Even if a parent hasn't paid all outstanding fees or hasn't followed proper notice procedures, you cannot refuse to release the child from your care. Refusing to release a child is not an authorized response under EEC policy.

What Happens to Outstanding Fees

A parent must pay all outstanding parent fees before a new child care placement can be entered for them at a different provider. However, there is an exception: if the parent has an active repayment agreement and is current on its terms, a new placement can be issued even if a balance remains.

This means: if a family leaves owing fees they haven't resolved, that debt follows them — but it's a problem for their next placement, not a reason to withhold the current child.

Emergency Exceptions to the 14-Day Rule

Under limited circumstances, a parent may withdraw without providing 14 days notice:

• The provider agrees to waive the two-week notice period
• The parent has filed a health and safety complaint with EEC's Regional Licensing Office about your program — in which case they may withdraw immediately

In either case, the parent must notify the CCR&R (if on a voucher) or EEC Financial Assistance Unit (if in a contract slot) of the termination.

Provider-Initiated Termination of Placement

You may terminate a child's placement at your specific program with a two-week advance written notice if, for example, the parent consistently fails to follow your program's policies. However:

• Terminating a placement does not terminate the family's overall authorization for subsidized care
• The family may transfer their voucher to another program
• This is different from EEC terminating the authorization entirely (which only EEC/CCR&R can do)

Family Perspective

If you want to understand this from the family's side — including how the 14-day rule interacts with starting care at a new program — see Switching Providers (1.7).

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Next Steps

• Billing during the notice period: See How Reimbursement Works (2.4)
• Attendance during the notice period: See Attendance Tracking (2.7)
• Collecting outstanding fees: See Collecting Parent Fees (2.6)
• Contact your CCR&R if a parent withdraws without proper notice