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: 0-15 months b. Toddler. Describe: 15-33 months c. Preschool. Describe: 33-60 months d. School-Age. Describe: 60+ months 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 educator for 3 infants, additional educator for 4th infant Group size: max group size: 7 infants ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1 educator for 4 toddler additional educator for 5th toddler Group size: max group size: 9 toddlers iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1 educator for 10 preschoolers, additional educator for 11th preschooler Group size: max group size: 20 preschoolers iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1 educator for 13 students, additional educator for 14th student Group size: max group size: 26 students v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: NA Group size: NA 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: 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 Ratio: No more than 3 children younger than two-years-old in a group of 6 children with 1 educator, including at least one toddler who is walking independently. Additional children must be older than 24 months. No more than 10 children for 2 educators with no more than 6 children younger than two-years-old, including no more than 3 infants. No more than 10 children to 3 educators with no more than 6 infants. Additional children must be 15 months of age or older. Group size: max group size: 10 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: 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. [x] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt in-home care vary by age of children served. There are no ratios because the provider can only care for children in one family. They may provide child care for no more than five children at a time. 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: Infant/Toddler teachers must be at least 21 years of age or have a high school diploma or equivalent and meet one of the following sets of requirements: Have successfully completed 3 credits in the Child Growth and Development category and have nine months of work experience or one practicum; or; have a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential; or have graduated from a two- year high school vocational program in early childhood education, approved by the Department for both the education and experience requirements and have been evaluated and recommended by the program instructor. The following education may substitute for a portion of the required work experience: An associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study may substitute for six months of the required experience. A bachelor's degree in an unrelated field of study may substitute for three months of the required experience. For infant-toddler teachers, one continuing education unit (ten hours of instruction) in category Infant and Toddler Development, Care and Program Planning may substitute for three months of work experience. To be qualified as an infant/toddler teacher, three months of the required work experience must be in caregiving to infant/toddlers. Preschool teacher must be at least 21 years of age or have a high school diploma or equivalent and meet one of the following sets of requirements: Have successfully completed 3 credits in category Child Growth and Development and have nine months of work experience or one practicum; or have a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential; or have graduated from a two-year high school vocational program in early childhood education, approved by the Department for both the education and experience requirements and have been evaluated and recommended by the program instructor. The following education may substitute for a portion of the required work experience: an associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study may substitute for six months of the required experience. A bachelor's degree in an unrelated field of study may substitute for three months of the required experience. To be qualified as a preschool teacher, three months of the required work experience must be in caregiving to preschool age children. A School Age Group leader shall be at least 18 years of age and meet one of the following sets of requirements: have a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree; and have three months of experience working with school age children; or have a high school diploma or equivalent; and have six months of experience working with school age children including three months of supervised experience at a school age child care program; or have nine months of experience with school age children including three months of supervised experience at a school age child care program. During the pandemic, the EEC Board approved a set of Minimum Hiring Requirements and alternative verification processes that supported programs in hiring more quickly. These requirements maintained the core expectations of certification, but allowed greater flexibility in when and how courses were completed and recognized a range of credentials from other related fields. Directors were given authority to review educator qualifications while hiring rather than waiting on a review from EEC staff. The Board recently voted to sustain these flexibilities given the ongoing staffing shortage facing the field. EEC is in the process of developing a new credentialing system which will replace the current state. 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 working in a licensed center-based program must be at least 21 years of age and have met one of the following sets of requirements for education and experience; At least nine months of work experience or one practicum must be with either infants and toddlers or preschoolers (if with infants /toddlers, the total work experience is reduced by 1/3): High school diploma or equivalent; and 12 credits in at least 4 categories of study except Child Care Administration including 3 credits in Child Growth and Development and 2 credits in Planning Programs, Curriculum, or Classroom management or 3 credits in infant/toddler care; and 36 months of work experience; high school diploma or equivalent CDA credential in center-based, home visitor or family child care setting with a preschool or infant/toddler endorsement and 27 months of work experience; associates degree in Early Childhood Education or related field of study and 12 credits in at least 4 categories of study except Child Care Administration including 3 credits in Child Growth and Development and 2 credits in Planning Programs, Curriculum, or Classroom management or 3 credits in infant/toddler care; and 18 months of work experience; bachelor's degree in an unrelated field of study and 12 credits in at least 4 categories of study except Child Care Administration including 3 credits in Child Growth and Development and 2 credits in Planning Programs, Curriculum, or Classroom management or 3 credits in infant/toddler care; and 18 months of work experience; bachelor's or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or in a related field of study and 12 credits in at least 4 categories of study except Child Care Administration including 3 credits in Child Growth and Development and 2 credits in Planning Programs, Curriculum, or Classroom management or 3 credits in infant/toddler care; and 9 months of work experience; Alternative Early Childhood Training Program and 12 credits in at least 4 categories of study except Child Care Administration including 3 credits in Child Growth and Development and 2 credits in Planning Programs, Curriculum, or Classroom management or 3 credits in infant/toddler care; and 27 months of work experience; Certification as an Early Intervention Specialist by the MA Department of Public Health K-3 Teacher for Young Children with Special Needs Certification from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Have 6 months of work experience after meeting the above qualifications (Lead Teacher qualifications), have evidence of satisfactory completion of at least 2 credits or 3 CEUs in the category of Child Care Administration; and have evidence of completion of at least 2 additional Early Childhood Settings Child and Classroom Management Advanced or Specialized Early Childhood Education or Development Children with Special Needs, Birth through 16 years. Infant and Toddler Development, Care, and Program Planning Health and Safety in Early Childhood Families and Community Child Care Policy Supervision or Staff Development in Early Childhood Education Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment. EEC was given authority by its board to implement the educator qualifications and professional development requirements of its licensing regulations in a way that reduces the administrative burden on programs and educators. As part of this authority, EEC streamlined its teacher certification process. Historically, EEC has administered secondary verification of Educator Qualifications by reviewing and issuing a Teacher Qualifications (TQ) Certificate. EEC eliminated this process, as it was duplicative, given that EEC licensors already, and will continue to, review staff files to ensure staff meet these requirements during routine monitoring visits. The minimum hiring requirements process described for educators is also in place for directors. 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: All family child care educators must be at least 18 years of age. Prior to receiving their initial license to provide family child care, an applicant must submit evidence of current certification in basic first aid and CPR that is age appropriate for all of the children in care. In addition, an applicant for a license to care for six or fewer children must have at least the following: one year of experience as a parent; or one year of full-time experience, or the equivalent, in caring for children younger than 12 years of age; or nine months of full-time experience in caring for children younger than 14 years of age and completion of 15 hours of training, approved by the Department, not including the EEC educator orientation; or six months of fulltime experience in caring for children younger than 12 years of age and completion of 30 hours of training, approved by the Department, not including the EEC orientation; or qualification as a teacher or site coordinator by EEC. An applicant for a license to care for seven or eight children, at least two of whom must be school age, must have evidence of having completed within one year prior to application a pre-service training approved by the Department; and either: two years of experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant; or one year of experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant and one additional year caring for unrelated children in a group setting; or EEC certification as a teacher or site coordinator. An additional three credits in education or early childhood education may substitute for six months of the required additional experience. An additional six credits in education or early childhood education may substitute for nine months of the required additional experience. An applicant for a license to care for nine or ten children must have evidence of having completed within one year prior to application a five hour pre-service training approved by the Department and either: three years of experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant, or one year of experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant; and one of the following: two additional years caring for unrelated children in a group setting, which may include experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant; EEC certification as a teacher or site coordinator and one additional year of experience caring for unrelated children in a group setting, which may include experience as a family child care licensee or certified assistant. An additional three credits in education or early childhood education may substitute for six months of the required additional experience. An additional six credits in education or early childhood education will substitute for nine months of the additional required experience 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: EEC does not license providers caring for children in the child’s home (also known as informal child care providers). 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. EEC does not monitor educator/provider qualifications and credentials for CCDF license-exempt child care programs and instead monitoring focuses on health and safety trainings. All program staff in funded center- based programs must complete the full suite of EEC Essentials health and safety trainings, which includes pediatric first aid and CPR. In Funded Programs that only run before and after school care and do not care for infants, program staff are not required to complete the Infant Safe Sleep and Shaken Baby Syndrome training modules in the suite. For all funded center-based programs, while all staff must complete CPR and First Aid trainings, programs must ensure that at least one staff member currently trained and certified in age-appropriate CPR and first aid must be on the premises at all times when children are present. For all funded programs, while all staff must complete medication administration trainings, the Program must ensure that at least one adult with training in medication administration is present at any and all times. b. License-exempt home-based child care. NA c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). Non-relative informal child care providers must be at least 18 years of age or older and may not be a resident of the child's household. Prior to providing and being reimbursed for subsidized child care, the non-relative informal child care provider must complete EEC's background record check process, complete all applicable pre-service health and safety trainings (EEC Essentials) and required orientation, obtain current and valid CPR and first aid certification appropriate to the ages of children served, agree to annual monitoring visits from EEC demonstrating compliance with all applicable health and safety requirements (in accordance with parental permission) including but not limited to those identified in the Compliance Requirements for Informal Non-Relative Child Care Providers, and agree to only provide subsidized care in the child's home.