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: Any child under 12 months of age. b. Toddler. Describe: Any child 12 to 24 months of age. c. Preschool. Describe: Any child two through five years of age who is not in kindergarten. d. School-Age. Describe: A child five years of age or older who is in kindergarten or 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: One adult to every four children Group size: No more than eight children in a group ii. Toddler. Ratio: One adult to every four children Group size: No more than eight children in a group iii. Preschool. Ratio: The ratio for groups composed solely of two-year-olds is one caregiver to every eight children. Groups composed solely of three and four-year-olds is one caregiver to every 10 children. Group size: If the group is composed solely of two-year-old children, the maximum group size is 16 children. If the group is composed of children who are three to four years old, the maximum group size is 20 children. iv. School-Age. Ratio: One caregiver to every 16 children Group size: No more than 32 children in a group. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: The ratio for mixed age groups of two years and up is one caregiver to every 10 children with a maximum of four two-year-olds in the group. If there are more than four two-year-olds in the mixed age group, the ratio is one caregiver to every eight children. Group size: If the group is composed of mixed ages (two years old and up) with no more than four under the age of two years, the maximum group size is 20 children. If the group is composed of mixed ages (two years old and up) with more than four under the age of two years, the maximum group size is 16 children. 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. [ ] Not applicable. There are no differences in ratios and group size requirements. ii. Infant: N/A iii. Toddler: N/A iv. Preschool: N/A v. School-Age: School-age group size is limited to a maximum of 48 children in a group. vi. Mixed-Age Groups: N/A c. Licensed CCDF family child care home providers: i. Infant (if applicable) Ratio: The ratio is one adult to four children and two adults to eight children. Group size: Four children with one adult or eight children with two adults. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: The ratio is one adult to four children and two adults to eight children. Group size: Four children with one adult or eight children with two adults. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: One adult to 10 children Group size: 10 children iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: One adult to 10 children Group size: 10 children v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: The ratio is one adult to 7 to 10 children with a maximum of two children under age two years; one adult to five to six children with a maximum of three children under age two years; two adults to 7 to 10 children with a maximum of four children under age two years. Group size: 10 children 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. Family child care home providers who are not licensed can care for up to six children with no more than three under the age of two years at the same physical address, regardless how many adults are present. [ ] 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: N/A Group size: N/A ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A 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. Family child care home providers who are not licensed can care for up to six children with no more than three under the age of two years. 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: The child care provider must be at least 18 years of age, caregivers who are 16 or 17 years old can be included in staff/child ratios for groups composed of two year olds and older provided they are under the direct supervision of an adult caregiver. All caregivers must have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of 12 clock hours of child-related training each calendar year; have documentation that they have successfully completed Lead Agency-approved safe sleep training if the facility is licensed to care for children under 12 months. 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 qualifications for a director are based on the capacity of the facility as follows: Up to 20 Children - 30 college semester hours, with 6 of the 30 hours in child-related courses; or 12 months’ experience with six college semester hours in child-related courses; or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a Youth Development Credential (YDC); 21 to 60 Children - 60 college semester hours, 12 of the hours must be in child-related courses; or 24 months’ experience and 12 college semester hours in child-related courses; 61 to 99 Children - 90 college semester hours, 18 of the 90 hours must be in child-related courses; or 36 months’ experience and 18 college semester hours in child-related courses; 100 or more Children - 120 college semester hours, 24 of the 120 hours must be in child- related courses, 6 of the 24 college semester hours may include courses in business or management; or 4 years’ experience and 24 college semester hours in child related courses, 6 of the 24 college semester hours may include courses in business 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: Providers/caregivers must be at least 18 years of age; have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of 12 clock hours of child-related training each calendar year; and if the family home is licensed to care for children under 12 months, the provider and all caregivers must have documentation that they have successfully completed department-approved safe sleep training. 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: The provider must be at least 18 years of age; have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of 12 clock hours of child-related training each calendar year. 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. Child care providers who are exempt from licensure but contracted to accept state subsidy must ensure that one adult caregiver is onsite at all times; the child care provider and all caregivers must have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of six clock hours of child-related training each calendar year; within 90 days of hire and before providing unsupervised direct care to children, caregivers are required to complete CPR and first aid training, CCDF Health and Safety Training, and one staff member who is responsible for maintaining compliance with the subsidy program must complete the Subsidy Orientation training provided by Office Of Childhood (OCC). b. License-exempt home-based child care. Family child care providers who are exempt from licensure but contracted to accept state subsidy must be at least 18 years of age; have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of six clock hours of child-related training each calendar year; complete CPR and first aid training, CCDF Health and Safety Training, and complete the Subsidy Orientation training provided by OOC. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). In-home CCDF providers are individuals selected by the family to provide child care within the child’s home. The provider must be 18 years of age or older and contracted with the Lead Agency; must have a qualifying comprehensive background screening on file; complete a minimum of six clock hours of child-related training each calendar year; complete age-appropriate CPR and first aid training, CCDF Health and Safety Training; and complete the Subsidy Orientation training provided by OOC.