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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: Center " Infant" means a child from 6 weeks through 14 months of age .
Day Care Home "Infant" means a child through 12 months of age.
Group Day Care Home "Infant" means a child through 12 months of age.
b. Toddler. Describe: child from 15 months to 2 years of age. The term may include a child up to 30 months of age depending upon physical or social development.
c. Preschool. Describe: Center "Preschooler" means a child from 3 through 5 years of age. Children enrolled in kindergarten may be considered either preschool or school-age. Children 2 years of age may be considered preschoolers or toddlers, depending on their level of development.
Day Care Home "Preschool age" means children under 5 years of age and children 5 years old who do not attend full day kindergarten.
Group Day Care Home "Preschool age" means children under 5 years of age and children 5 years old who do not attend full day kindergarten.
d. School-Age. Describe: Center "School-age" means a child up to 18 years of age who is enrolled in 1st grade or higher. Children attending kindergarten may be considered either preschool or school-age
Day Care Home "School age" means children from 6 to 12 years of age and 5-year-olds who are in full-day kindergarten.
Group Day Care Home "School age" means children 6 to 12 years of age and 5 year olds who are in full-day kindergarten.
5.2.1 Ratio and group size limits
Provide the ratio and group size limits for settings and age groups below.
c. Licensed CCDF center-based care:
i. Infant.
Ratio: 1 to 4
Group size: Max 12
ii. Toddler.
Ratio: 1 to 5
Group size: Max 15
iii. Preschool.
Ratio:
1 to 8 (Two years of age) Group size: Max 16
1 to 10 ( three years of age) Max 20
1 to 10 ( four years of age) Max 20
1 to 20 ( five years of age) Max 20
Group size:
Twos 16
Three's 20
Four's 20
Five Preschoolers 20
iv. School-Age.
Ratio: 1 to 20
Group size: 30
v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable).
Ratio: Whenever children of different ages are combined, as allowed by Section 407.190(d) below, the staff/child ratio and maximum group size shall be based on the age of the youngest child in the group. Infants, toddlers and two-year-olds may be combined; and/or Two-year-old through five-year-old children may be mixed in any combination; and/or Four-year-old through six-year-old children may be mixed; and/or Children of all ages may be mixed during the first hour and last hour of programs that operate 10 or more hours per day.
Group size: Whenever children of different ages are combined, as allowed by Section 407.190(d) below, the staff/child ratio and maximum group size shall be based on the age of the youngest child in the group.
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: NA
Group size: NA
ii. Toddler (if applicable)
Ratio: 1 to 8.
Group size: 8 max.
iii. Preschool (if applicable)
Ratio: 1 to 8.
Group size: 8 max
iv. School-Age (if applicable)
Ratio: 1 to 8.
Group size: 8 max
v. Mixed-Age Groups
Ratio: 1:3 (under the age of 24 months, if no more than 5 children are under the age of 5), 1:2 (under the age of 30 months if no more than 6 children are under the age of 5.)
Group size: Up to 8 children under the age of 12, of which
Up to 5 children may be under the age of 5, of which
Up to 3 children may be under 24 months of age.
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. Regardless of age, no more than three children may be cared for, including the provider's own children, or may care for all children from a single household, allowing the provider to care for more than 3 children.
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: NA
Group size: NA
ii. Toddler (if applicable)
Ratio: NA
Group size: NA
iii. Preschool (if applicable)
Ratio: NA
Group size: NA
iv. School-Age (if applicable)
Ratio: NA
Group size: NA
v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable)
Ratio: NA
Group size: NA
f. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt in-home care?
No.
Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt in-home care vary by age of children served. Regardless of age, no more than three children may be cared for, including the provider's own children, or may care for all children from a single household, allowing the provider to care for more than 3 children.
5.2.2 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: Section 407.100 General Requirements for Personnel and Section 407.140 - Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers shall be able to demonstrate the skill and competence necessary to contribute to each child's physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development. Factors include but not limited to: emotional maturity, cooperation with the purposes and services of the program, respect for children and adults, good personal hygiene, frequent interaction with children, listening skill, skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs, skills in planning, directing and conducting programs, and others. Shall be at least 19 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED). Shall have achieved one of the following: 1)sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college/university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or 2)one year (1,560 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours (or45 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or 3) completion of credentialing programs approved by the Department in accordance with Appendix G of The DCFS Day Care Licensing Standards.
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: Day care centers licensed for more than 50 children shall employ a full-time child care director, for 50 or fewer children or half-day programs with children attending no more than 3 consecutive hours per day, may employ a child care director who also serves as a member of the child care staff. When the director serves in both capacities, must meet the qualifications of both the director and teaching positions. The child care director shall be 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalency (GED). Shall be able to demonstrate the skill and competence necessary to contribute to each child's physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development. Factors include but not limited to: emotional maturity, cooperation with the purposes and services of the program, respect for children and adults, good personal hygiene, frequent interaction with children, listening skill, skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs, skills in planning, directing and conducting programs, and others. Shall have achieved one of the following:
1) Sixty semester or 90 quarter-hours of credit from an accredited college or university with 18 semester or 27 quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development from birth to age 6, or
2) two years (3,120 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center, 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college credit with 10 semester or 15 quarter-hours in courses related directly to childcare and/or child development, and proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university until 2 years of college have been achieved. A total of 18 semester or 27 quarter hours in courses related directly to childcare and/or child development is required to be obtained within the total 2 years of college, or
3) completion of a credentialing program approved, completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter hours in courses related to childcare and/or child development from birth to age 6 at an accredited college or university, and 2 years (3,120 clock hours) child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten or licensed day care center.
The childcare director of a facility serving more groups of school-age children than groups of pre-school shall have achieved:
1) Sixty semester or 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university with 18 semester or 27 quarter hours in courses related to child care and/or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields, including courses related to school-age children, or
2) two years (3,120 clock hours) of child development experience in a recreational program, kindergarten, or licensed day care center serving school age children, or license exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school, 30 semester or45 quarter hours of college credits with 10 semester or 15 quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields, and proof of enrollment in an accredited college or university until 2 years of college have been achieved. A total of 18 semester or 27 quarter hours in courses related directly to childcare and/or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields, including courses related to school-ag??children, is required to be obtained within the total 2 years of college credits. When a program serves only school-age children, the director shall be 21 years of age, and shall have: Sixty semester or 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university with 18 semester or 27 quarter hours in courses related to child care and/or child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields, and at least 1560 clock hours of child development experience in a recreational program or a licensed day care center serving school-age children. Effective 7-1-17, all new child care directors hired on or after July 1, 2017 shall have a minimum of an associate's degree in child development or early childhood education, or the equivalent (defined as 64 semester hours in any discipline with a minimum of 21 semester hours of college credit in child development or early childhood special education) and either a Gateways to Opportunity Level 1 Illinois Director Credential or 3 semester hours of college credit or 3 points of credential-approved training in administration, leadership or management .
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: The caregivers in a day care home shall be 18 years of age and in a group day care home shall be at least 21 years of age. Shall have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate, CPR, First Aid and Heimlich Maneuver Training, a basic course of 6 or more clock hours in providing care to children with disabilities, 15 hours of pre-service training prior to application, and 15 hours of annual in-service training, SIDS, SUID, Shaken Baby and Safe Sleep training, Mandated Reporter training, and instructions on Lead Hazards and Lead in Water. Adult members in contact with children shall be stable, law abiding, responsible, mature individuals. Shall treat children with respect, courtesy, and patience. Shall exhibit competence in knowledge of basic hygiene, ability to communicate with children, ability to set realistic controls for children, using developmentally appropriate behavior management techniques that do not constitute corporal punishment of children, and others. Shall have tuberculin skin test administered by the Mantoux method in accordance with the rules of the Department of Public Health. Shall make mealtimes a pleasurable experience to the children at all times and drinking water shall be readily available to the children at all times. Shall encourage children to try new foods but not forced to. Shall have achieved: 1) One year(1,560 clock hours) child development experience in a licensed day care home, nursery, school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center plus 6 semester or equivalent quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development from an accredited college or university, one year(30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) of credit from an accredited college or university with 6 semester or equivalent quarter hours related directly to child care and/or child development, or 2) completion of a credentialing program approved in accordance with Appendix F of Part 408.35.
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: Age 18 or older, completion of all required health and safety training topics, clearance of all required background checks, cooperation with visits from health and safety coaches.
5.2.3 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:
License-exempt center-based child care. Age 18 or older, completion of all required health and safety training topics, clearance of all required background checks, cooperation with visits from health and safety coach.
License-exempt home-based child care. Age 18 or older, completion of all required health and safety training topics, clearance of all required background checks, cooperation with visits from health and safety coach.
License-exempt in-home care (care in the child's own home). Age 18 or older, completion of all required health and safety training topics, clearance of all required background checks, cooperation with visits from health and safety coach.