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: ￿Infant" means any child who is under twelve (12) months of age or any child who is under eighteen (18) months of age and who is not yet walking, as defined by licensing regulations. b. Toddler. Describe: ￿Toddler￿ means any child who is 12 to 24 months of age, who are walking, or 25 to 35 months of age, as defined by licensing regulations. c. Preschool. Describe: ￿Preschool￿ means any child who is three or four years of age, as defined by licensing regulations. d. School-Age. Describe: ￿School-age￿ means any child who is five years of age or older, as defined by licensing regulations. 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: 1:6 Group size: 12 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1:8 (one year olds); 1:10 (two year olds) Group size: 16 (one year olds); 20 (two year olds) iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:15 (three year olds); 1:18 (four year olds) Group size: 30 (three year olds); 36 (four year olds) iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:20 (five year olds); 1:25 (six year olds and older) Group size: 40 (five year olds); 50 (six year olds and older) v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: For centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more children, the staff to child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the age of the youngest group of children that includes more than twenty percent (20%) of the total number of children in the mixed-age group. For centers with a licensed capacity of 18 or fewer children, the staff to child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the following: the age of the youngest child under three (3) years of age shall determine the staff to child ratio for the group in which the child(ren) under three (3) years of age are cared for; and where all of the children in any one group are three (3) years of age or older, the age of the majority of the children in the group shall determine the staff to child ratios. Group size: For centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more children, the maximum group size is dependent on the age of the youngest group of children that includes more than twenty percent (20%) of the total number of children in the mixed-age group. Infants and children younger than three years old may be grouped with older children if group size is met based on the age of the youngest child in the group. For centers with a licensed capacity of 18 or fewer children, the maximum group size is 18. 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: 1:3 Group size: 6 unrelated for pay; or whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home for whom no pay is received, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed 12. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: 1:6 Group size: 6 unrelated for pay; or whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home for whom no pay is received, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed 12. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 1:6 per definition of family child care learning homes, except for two designated one-hour periods daily upon approval by the Lead Agency where the ratio would be 1:8 for pay; also 1:8 if more than 8 children under the age of 5 are present whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present for whom no pay is received. Group size: 6 unrelated for pay except for two designated one-hour periods daily upon approval by the Lead Agency where the group size limit would be 8 for pay. Whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed 12. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 1:6 per definition of family child care learning homes, except for two designated one-hour periods daily upon approval by the Lead Agency where the ratio would be 1:8 for pay; also 1:12 whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home for whom no pay is received. Group size: 6 unrelated for pay except for two designated one-hour periods daily upon approval by the Lead Agency where the group size limit would be 8 for pay. Whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed 12. v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: 1:3 if more than 3 children under the age of 12 months are present, 1:6 if more than 6 children under the age of 3 are present; 1:8 if more than 8 children under the age of 5 are present; or 1:12 if all children are 5+ years old when related children or children who reside in the Home are also present for whom no pay is received. Group size: 6 unrelated for pay except for two designated one-hour periods daily upon approval by the Lead Agency where the group size limit would be 8 for pay. Whenever related children or children who reside in the Home are also present in the Home, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed 12. 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: There are no ratio requirements pertaining to the ages of the children for informal caregivers. Group size: If the relative cares for children for pay, the number of children in care cannot exceed six. Of the children in care, no more than two can be unrelated for pay. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: There are no ratio requirements pertaining to the ages of the children for informal caregivers. Group size: If the relative cares for children for pay, the number of children in care cannot exceed six. Of the children in care, no more than two can be unrelated for pay. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: There are no ratio requirements pertaining to the ages of the children for informal caregivers. Group size: If the relative cares for children for pay, the number of children in care cannot exceed six. Of the children in care, no more than two can be unrelated for pay. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: There are no ratio requirements pertaining to the ages of the children for informal caregivers. Group size: If the relative cares for children for pay, the number of children in care cannot exceed six. Of the children in care, no more than two can be unrelated for pay. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: There are no ratio requirements pertaining to the ages of the children for informal caregivers. Group size: If the relative cares for children for pay, the number of children in care cannot exceed six. Of the children in care, no more than two can be unrelated for pay. 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. The Lead Agency does not have license-exempt family child care homes. 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: Teachers in licensed center-based care must meet the following qualifications: Be at least 18 years of age; possess at least one of the following sets of minimum academic requirements and qualifying experience at the time of employment: (i) Child Development Associate (CDA); (ii) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; (iii) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Infant and Toddler; (iv) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Program Administration; (v) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in School Age and Youth Care; (vi) Technical College Diploma (TCD) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; (vii) Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development (AA, AAS, AAT); (viii) Paraprofessional Certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission; (ix) 25 quarter hours or 15 semester hours from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; (x) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field other than Early Childhood Education or Child Development and three months of qualifying child care experience; (xi) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; (xii) Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. 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: Directors of center-based care must meet the following qualifications: Be at least 21 years of age; possess at least one of the following sets of minimum academic requirements and qualifying child care experience: (i) Child Development Associate (CDA) and six months of qualifying child care experience; (ii) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six months of qualifying child care experience; (iii) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Infant and Toddler and six months of qualifying child care experience; (iv) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Program Administration and six months of qualifying child care experience; (v) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in School Age and Youth Care and six months of qualifying child care experience; (vi) Technical College Diploma (TCD) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six months of qualifying child care experience; (vii) 40-hour director training course approved by the Lead Agency and employed for a minimum of five years as an on-site child care learning center director; (viii) Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six months of qualifying child care experience; (ix) Paraprofessional Certificate issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and six months of qualifying child care experience; (x) 25 quarter hours or 15 semester hours from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six months of qualifying child care experience; (xi) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field other than Early Childhood Education or Child Development and three months of qualifying child care experience; (xii) Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; (xiii) Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. 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 family child care learning home provider is required to be at least 21 years of age. The provider is required to complete pre-service training before submitting an application to be a licensed family child care learning home. This training is required to include the following: 1. Orientation that provides, at a minimum, instruction on the application process and gives an overview of the state's rules and regulations relating to operating a family child care learning home. 2. Training course that includes provider competencies that serve as a framework for professional development, which includes, but is not limited to, early learning standards, communication, developmentally appropriate practices, professional and leadership development, business management, and advocacy for the family child care learning home, parents, children, and staff. 3. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid training offered by certified or licensed health care professionals and approved by the Lead Agency, which include emergency care for infants and children. In addition, licensed family child care providers must possess and submit valid evidence/documentation of one of the following credentials/degrees issued by either the organizations listed below, an accredited educational institution, or another organization approved/recognized by the Department: a. Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (issued by the Council for Professional Recognition and kept current); or b. Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Early Childhood Education; or c. Technical College Diploma (TCD) in Early Childhood Education; or d. Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (AA, AAS, AAT); or e. Paraprofessional Certificate (issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and kept current); or f. Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education; or g. Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Providers and applicants who have applied for a license on or before June 30, 2009, shall be exempt from the requirements stated above, except if the family child care learning home closes for business and then submits a new application for a license on or after July 1, 2009. Any provider who had submitted an application for a license on or before June 30, 2009, was required to have submitted valid evidence/documentation of a high school diploma, General Education Diploma (GED), or other credentials. 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: Relative informal providers must be individuals related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption, such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent, great-grandparent, or adult sibling. The relative must not be included in the family unit and must be at least 21 years of age. Non-relative informal providers must be individuals who are not related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption. The non-relative may not be a resident of the household of the children receiving care and must be at least 21 years of age. 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. License-exempt child care center staff must comply with health and safety standards as defined by the Lead Agency. Additionally, license-exempt center staff must have evidence of completing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for infants and toddlers, pre-service orientation, and 10 hours of training each calendar year thereafter. b. License-exempt home-based child care. N/A c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). N/A