Last year VDSS decided to cease allowing 2 year olds to be considered toddlers for social services reimbursement. This was done on 30 days notice and the reason given was that in standards a 2 year old is categorized preschool. For centers like ours which serve a large community of children receiving assistance it was devastating. This recategorization caused a loss of over 24000 dollars, which sadly has certainly affected quality. Teacher salaries, programs, and staff training have all been affected. VDSS maintains that it wants policies to be consistent, but may i point out that there other programs sponsored by VDSS that recognize a two year old as a toddler, such as the infant and toddler program.  In 2004         the ratio for  twos were changed to 1 to 8, different than preschool. thus they should be in a different category. thousands of children would benefit if the cdcc would simply call 2 year olds toddler#2, thus restoring the toddler reimbursement  level. It costs more to care for a 2 by cdcc's own standards and yet VDSS wants to treat them the same as a 4 year old for reimbursement reasons. If a 2 year old is viewed as different from a 4 for ratios it should be labeled differently and reimbursed acoordingly. Sadly VDSS is promoting quality but cutting funding for 2 year olds at same time. By simply calling twos toddler #2 in stndards this should cause the office of early childhood development to reverse what i feel is a harmful decision to children across the commonwealth. Also, may i add that centers have not had a market rate increase in 6 years and that increase was based on a survey done in 2001, nearly 9 years ago. Thank you for your consideration.         I iurge the CDCC to insist that VDSS address the market rate issue soon  or                                    go back to pre-ratios which none of us want. Thank you