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: Under 1 year old b. Toddler. Describe: 1-2 years old c. Preschool. Describe: 3-4 years old d. School-Age. Describe: 5 years old and above 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: 5:1 Group size: 15 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1 year olds = 7:1; 2 year olds = 10:1 Group size: 1 year olds = 21; 2 year olds = 20 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 3 year olds = 13:1; 4 year olds = 15:1 Group size: 3 year olds = 26; 4 year olds = 30 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 5 year olds = 19:1; 6 year olds and older = 23:1 Group size: 5 year olds = 38; 6 year olds and older = 46 v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: An average of the child to staff ratios may be applied to mixed age groups of children ages two, three, four, and five. When a mixed age group includes children younger than age two, the age of the youngest child determines the child-to-staff ratio for the group. Group size: The age of the youngest child determines the group size when children in a group are of mixed ages. 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: (not applicable) Group size: (not applicable) d. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt family child care homes? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt providers vary by age of children served. A family child care may care for a maximum of six children. The maximum child-to-staff ratio shall be 6:1. [ ] 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? [ ] 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. A license-exempt in-home provider may care for a maximum of 6 children. The maximum child-to-staff ratio for a license-exempt in-home provider is 6:1. 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: Staff age 18 or older may be included in the child-to-staff ratio and may work without the direct supervision of another adult staff member. Staff age 16 and 17 may be included in the child-to-staff ratio if the person works under the direct supervision of an adult staff member. 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: The director/director designee shall be at least 21 years of age. The director/director designee shall have documentation of at least one of the following upon date of hire as director or director designee: 1) an early childhood ancillary certificate and one year of experience in teaching or care in a licensed early learning center or comparable setting, subject to approval by the department; 2) a national administrator credential and one year experience in teaching or care in a licensed early learning center, or comparable setting, plus 6 credit hours or 90 clock hours of training in child care, child development, early childhood, or management/administration, subject to approval by the department; 3) or three years of experience as a director or staff in a licensed early learning center, or comparable setting, subject to approval by the department plus 6 credit hours or 90 clock hours of training in child care, child development, early childhood, or management/administration approved by the department. A director who was qualified on the director’s date of hire remains qualified as long as the director remains continuously employed at the licensed center or at another licensed center without a break in service of more than 90 days. 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: (not applicable) 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: Per Bulletin 139, Section 309, the provider must be at least 18 years old; complete a 4-hour pre-service orientation training; have an eligible CCCBC; and complete adult and child CPR, Pediatric First Aid and Medication Administration training, mandated reporter training, and Lead Agency Key Orientation Training Modules. 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. Per Bulletin 139 Section 313, the provider must complete a 4-hour pre-service orientation training; have an eligible CCCBC; and complete adult and child CPR, Pediatric First Aid and Medication Administration training, mandated reporter training, and Lead Agency Key Orientation Training Modules. b. License-exempt home-based child care. Per Bulletin 139 Section 311, the provider must be at least 18 years old; complete a 4-hour pre-service orientation training; have an eligible CCCBC; and complete adult and child CPR, Pediatric First Aid and Medication Administration training, mandated reporter training, and Lead Agency Key Orientation Training Modules. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). Per Bulletin 139, Section 309, the provider must be at least 18 years old; complete a 4-hour pre-service orientation training; have an eligible CCCBC; and complete adult and child CPR, Pediatric First Aid and Medication Administration training, mandated reporter training, and Lead Agency Key Orientation Training Modules.