(a) Lead Agencies shall give priority for services provided under § 98.50(a) to:

(1) Children of families with very low family income (considering family size);

(2) Children with special needs, which may include any vulnerable populations as defined by the Lead Agency; and

(3) Children experiencing homelessness.

(b) Lead Agencies shall prioritize increasing access to high-quality child care and development services for children of families in areas that have significant concentrations of poverty and unemployment and that do not have a sufficient number of such programs.