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: K.A.R. 28-4-420(l) infant means a child who is between two weeks and 12 months of age, or a child over 12 months who has not learned to walk. b. Toddler. Describe: K.A.R. 28-4-420(ee), Toddler means a child who has learned to walk and who is between 12 and 30 months of age. c. Preschool. Describe: K.A.R. 28-4-420(u), Preschool age means a child who is between 30 months of age and the age of eligibility to enter kindergarten as prescribed in K.S.A. 72- 1107(c). d. School-Age. Describe: Child Care Center: K.A.R. 28-4-420(z) School age means a child who will attain the age of six years on or before the first day of September of any school year, but who is not 16 years of age or older. School Age Program: K.A.R. 28-4-576(hh) "School age" and "child" mean an individual who is kindergarten age through the academic year in which the child is in the sixth grade and who is attending the program. 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: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Minimum staff-child ratio is 1 to 3 or 1 to 4. Group size: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Maximum number of children per unit is 9. ii. Toddler. Ratio: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Minimum staff-child ratio is 1 to 6. Group size: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Maximum number of children per unit is 12. iii. Preschool. Ratio: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Minimum staff-child ratio is 1 to 12. Group size: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Maximum number of children per unit is 24. iv. School-Age. Ratio: KAR 28-4-587(j)(2)(B) Each operator shall maintain additional qualified staff to ensure that the supervisory ratio of one staff member for each 15 children and youth is not exceeded. Group size: Kansas does not currently have a maximum group size for school age programs. This regulation is being drafted in the Out of School Time promulgation process. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Minimum staff-child ratio is 1 to 6, including not more than 3 infants. Group size: KAR 28-4-428(a)(2) Maximum number of children per unit is 12, including not more than 6 infants. 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: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: K.A.R. 28-4-114 Family Child Care Home is 1:10 or 2:12. Group size: Family Child Care Home maximum group size is 10 children with one provider. Maximum number of children with one provider under 12 months is 3, maximum number of children at least 12 months to 5 years of age is 8, maximum number of children at least 5 years but under 10 years of age is 10. Family Child Care Home maximum group size with two providers is 12.. Maximum number of children under 12 months is 5, maximum number of children at least 12 months to 5 years of age is 10, maximum number of children at least 5 years but under 10 years of age is 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: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: Not Applicable Group size: Not Applicable f. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt in-home care? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt in-home care vary by age of children served. 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: K.A.R. 28-4-429. A Leader Teacher must be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent and one of the following: Associate degree or a higher degree in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university; technical certificate or diploma in early childhood; child development associate credential; three semester hours of academic study or equivalent training in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university and three months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children of the same age range they will be serving; or six months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children of the same age range they will be serving. 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 Program Director must be 18 years of age or older and have a high school diploma or equivalent and one of the following for facility licensed for less than 24 children: Associate degree or a higher degree in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university; Child development associate credential; Technical certificate or diploma in early childhood; Three months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children AND three semester hours of academic study or equivalent training in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university; or Six months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children. For facilities licensed for more than 24 children: Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university AND three months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children; Bachelor’s degree in a non-related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university AND any of the following options: Six months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children; Twelve semester hours of academic study or equivalent training in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline; Child development associate credential; or Technical certificate or diploma in early childhood; Associate degree in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university AND six months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children; Twelve semester hours of academic study or equivalent training in early childhood, child development, or a related academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university and any of the following options: Six months of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children; Child development associate credential; or Technical certificate or diploma in early childhood; Child development associate credential and one year of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children; or Six years of experience in early childhood education providing direct care and supervision to children OR four years of experience in a licensed facility providing direct care and supervision to children. 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: Each applicant, if an individual, and each licensee, if an individual, must meet the following requirements: Be at least 18 years of age have a high school diploma or equivalent. K.A.R. 28-4-113 Care provider and provider mean an individual who cares for and supervises children in a facility and has responsibility for the health, safety, and well-being of children, including the following a primary care provider. K.A.R 28-4-114a, a provider must meet all initial training requirements before being allowed unsupervised care of the children. 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: There are no licensed, regulated, or registered in-home care providers in Kansas. 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. Not Applicable b. License-exempt home-based child care. Not Applicable c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). Not Applicable