5.2 Ratios, Group Size, and Qualifications for CCDF Providers

Lead Agencies must have child care standards for providers receiving CCDF funds, appropriate to the type of child care setting involved, that address appropriate staff:child ratios, group size limits for specific age populations, and the required qualifications for providers. Lead Agencies should map their categories of care to the CCDF categories. Exemptions for relative providers will be addressed in subsection 5.8. 5.2.1 Age classifications Describe how the Lead Agency defines the following age classifications (e.g., Infant: 0 – 18 months). a. Infant. Describe: Birth to 12 months of age b. Toddler. Describe: 12 months to 36 months of age c. Preschool. Describe: 36 to 60 months but younger than school-age d. School-Age. Describe: Between 5 years and 18 years of age on or before Sept. 30 of the current school year. 5.2.2 Ratio and group size limits Provide the ratio and group size limits for settings and age groups below. a. Licensed CCDF center-based care: i. Infant. Ratio: 1:4 Group size: 8 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 24-30 months: 1:4, 30-48 months 1:8 Group size: 24-30 months: 12, 30-48 months: 16 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 30 ￿ 48 months: 1:8, 48 ￿ 60 months: 1:10 Group size: 30 ￿ 48 months: 16, 48 ￿ 60 months: 20 iv. School-Age. Ratio: Under 6: 1:12, 6 years and older: 1:15 Group size: Under 6: 24, 6 years and older: 30 v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: When children of different ages are combined in one group, the adult-to-child ratio for the youngest child applies. Group size: N/A b. If different, provide the ratios and group size requirements for the license-exempt center- based providers who receive CCDF funds under the following age groups: i. [x] Not applicable. There are no differences in ratios and group size requirements. ii. Infant: iii. Toddler: iv. Preschool: v. School-Age: vi. Mixed-Age Groups: c. Licensed CCDF family child care home providers: i. Infant (if applicable) Ratio: Adult-child ratios for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 1: 3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) Group size: Group sizes for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Six When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: Nine ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Adult-child ratios for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 1: 3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) Group size: Group sizes for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Six When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: Nine iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: Adult-child ratios for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 1: 3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) Group size: Group sizes for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Six When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: Nine iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: Adult-child ratios for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 1: 3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) Group size: Group sizes for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Six When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: Nine v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: Adult-child ratios for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:6 When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 1: 3 (with at least 2 caregivers) When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: 1:3 (with 3 caregivers) Group size: Group sizes for licensed CCDF family child care homes vary based on the number of children under age 2 served in the home: When there is one child under 2 years of age and one to 11 children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are two children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Six When there are three children under 2 years of age and one to six children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are four children under 2 years of age and one to eight children over 2 years of age: 12 When there are five children under 2 years of age and one to four children over 2 years of age: Nine When there are six children under 2 years of age and one to three children over 2 years of age: Nine d. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt family child care homes? [ ] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt providers vary by age of children served. [x] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not have license-exempt family child care homes. e. Licensed in-home care (care in the child’s own home): i. Infant (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A f. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt in-home care? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt in-home care vary by age of children served. License-exempt in-home CCDF providers are authorized to provide care for up to a total of five children. Of these five children, two can be children of the in-home provider. Of the five children, the in-home care provider can serve no more than two children under the age of two and up to two children between the ages of two and four. 5.2.3 Teacher/caregiver qualifications for licensed, regulated, or registered care Provide the teacher/caregiver qualifications for each category of care. a. Licensed center-based care i. Describe the teacher qualifications for licensed CCDF center-based care (e.g., degrees, credentials, etc.), including any variations based on the ages of children in care: A teacher in a child development center must be at least 18 years of age and have earned: • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in early childhood education or a closely related field; • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in a field other than early childhood education or a closely related field, with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education and at least one year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed child development facility; • Sixty credit hours of postsecondary coursework, with at least 12 of those credit hours in early childhood education or a closely related field and at least one year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed child development facility; or • A current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or equivalent, provided that the individual is enrolled in an associate or more advanced degree program and earns an associate or more advanced degree within four years of their initial date of hire as a teacher in a child development center and at least one year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed child development facility. ii. Describe the director qualification for licensed CCDF center-based care, including any variations based on the ages of children in care or the number of staff employed: A director of a child development center must have earned: • A bachelor’s or more advanced degree with a major in early childhood education or a closely related field, and at least one year of supervised experience working with children in a licensed child development facility; or • A bachelor’s or more advanced degree with a major in a field other than early childhood education or a closely related field with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education, and at least one year of supervised experience working with children in a licensed child development facility. b. Licensed family child care Describe the provider qualifications for licensed family child care homes, including any variations based on the ages of children in care: A child development home caregiver must be at least 18 years of age and have completed or earned the following: • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in early childhood education, or a closely related field; • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in a field other than early childhood education with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education, and at least one year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed child development facility; • Sixty credit hours of postsecondary coursework, or its recognized equivalent, with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education, and have at least one year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed child development facility; or • A current CDA credential, or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential as defined by OSSE and at least one year of supervised experience working with children in a licensed child development facility. An expanded home caregiver must be at least 18 years of age and have completed or earned the following: • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in early childhood education or a closely related field; • An associate or more advanced degree with a major in a field other than early childhood education or a closely related field, with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education; • Sixty credit hours with at least 12 credit hours in early childhood education or a closely related field; or • A current CDA credential or equivalent provided that the individual is enrolled in an associate or more advanced degree program and earns an associate or more advanced degree within four years of opening their child development home. • Have at least one year of operating as the caregiver in a licensed child development home or its equivalent in another jurisdiction; or at least one year of supervised occupational experience in a licensed child development center, or its equivalent in another jurisdiction, as a center director or teacher. c. Licensed, regulated, or registered in-home care (care in the child’s own home by a non- relative) Describe the provider qualifications for licensed, regulated, or registered in-home care providers (care in the child’s own home) including any variations based on the ages of children in care: N/A. In-home care providers are license exempt. 5.2.4 Teacher/caregiver qualifications for license-exempt providers Provide the teacher/provider qualification requirements (for instance, age, high school diploma, specific training, etc.) for the license-exempt providers under the following categories of care: a. License-exempt center-based child care. N/A b. License-exempt home-based child care. N/A c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). In-home care providers must be at least 21 years of age.