SBA Mandates New Childcare Resource Guide: Help for Small Providers on Operations and Compliance, Translated into 10 Languages

The newly proposed Convening Operations Assistance for Childcare Heroes Act, or the COACH Act, is a straightforward piece of legislation aimed at giving small childcare providers a much-needed operational boost. The bill requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and publish a comprehensive resource guide specifically for small businesses that operate childcare facilities. This guide isn't just a one-off; the SBA must publish it within one year of the bill’s enactment and update it at least every five years after that.

The Operational Playbook for Childcare

Think of this guide as a centralized, practical handbook for running a small childcare operation. It’s designed to cover the operational basics that often overwhelm small business owners, especially those focused on caring for kids rather than paperwork. Specifically, the SBA guide must include guidance on operations, finances, compliance with relevant laws, training and safety protocols, and quality standards, including how to qualify for federal funding like the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). For a sole proprietor running an in-home daycare, this means less time wading through disparate government websites and more time focused on the kids—or at least, less time stressing about tax compliance and licensing.

Making the Information Accessible

One of the most impactful provisions in the COACH Act focuses on accessibility. Recognizing that many small providers, particularly those serving diverse communities, may not speak English as their first language, the bill mandates that the resource guide be published online in English and the 10 most commonly spoken languages in the United States. Crucially, the bill specifically names Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean as required translations. This is a big win for providers who currently struggle to navigate complex regulations written only in English, ensuring that key safety and compliance information is available to a wider range of small business owners.

Leveraging the Existing Network

This bill doesn't just create a guide; it ensures the guide actually reaches the people who need it. Before publishing, the SBA must consult with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state and local childcare resource agencies to make sure the information is accurate and relevant. After publication, the SBA is required to leverage its extensive network of resource partners—including Women's Business Centers (WBCs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE chapters, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)—to distribute the guide directly. These partners are tasked with getting the guide into the hands of small childcare concerns, sole proprietors, and, importantly, providers the Administrator determines have "limited administrative capacity." This direct distribution method bypasses the typical administrative hurdles that often prevent smaller, less sophisticated operations from accessing government resources, making it easier for them to stay compliant and potentially improve quality.