Child-care tracking system changes

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio has started using an automated system to track attendance and payments for its subsidized child-care program with hopes of reducing costs and paperwork.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the state switched to a swipe-card system this week. Ohio issued cards for more than 100,000 children and card-readers for 12,000 care providers. Parents swipe cards when children enter and exit day care.

It enables the state to pay directly, instead of waiting on county Job and Family Services departments to compile and submit local billing records.