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 12 months of age. b. Toddler. Describe: 12-24 months of age. c. Preschool. Describe: 2-4 years of age. d. School-Age. Describe: 5 years of age or older. 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: 10 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 9:1 Group size: 10 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 12:1 for children who are two years of age; 14:1 for children who are three years of age; 16:1 for children who are four years of age. Group size: 14 (2 years); 14 (3 years); 20 (4 years) iv. School-Age. Ratio: 20:1 for children who are between five and nine years of age; 25:1 for children who are between ten and twelve years of age. Group size: 20 (5-9 years); 25 (10-12 years) v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: : In mixed-age groupings, the ratio applies for the age of the youngest child in the classroom. Group size: In mixed-age groupings, the group size applies for the age of the youngest child in the classroom. 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- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. Group size: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. Group size: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. Group size: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. Group size: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. Group size: Not applicable- licensed CCDF child care homes will have a ratio of 1:5 across all age groups. 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: 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? [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: Teacher/Caregiver - must be 18 years of age and shall have at a minimum: 1) high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED), or 2) a current CECPR Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, a MDHS DECCD Child Care Director's Credential, or MDHS OCY Director's Child Care Credential, or 3) three years prior documented experience caring for children who are under 13 years of age and who are not related to the caregiver within the third degree computed according to civil law." Note: OCY is the former name for the Lead Agency's Division of Early Childhood Care & Development. Because some providers still hold a credential with that name, the MSDH has included that in the list of allowable qualifications. 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 childcare director shall be least 21 years of age and shall have at a minimum: 1. A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, child care, special education, psychology (with emphasis on child psychology), or family and consumer sciences (with emphasis on child development),or equivalent degree from another child-related field or course of study; or 2. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology which must include a minimum of 480 hours of practical training, supervised by college instructors, in a college operated child care learning laboratory; or 3. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology or child care and two years paid experience in a licensed child care facility; or 4. Two years paid experience as a caregiver in a licensed child care facility, and either (1) a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CECPR), or (2) a Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development(DECCD) Child Care Director's Credential or MDHS OCY Child Care Director's Credential, or (3) 24 semester hours credit with a grade of "C" or better from an accredited college or university in courses specific to early childhood; or 5. A verified certificate from the licensing agency certifying that the individual was qualified to be the director of a licensed child care facility prior to 1/1/2000 in the State of Mississippi. Note: OCY is the former name for the Lead Agency's Division of Early Childhood Care& Development. Because some providers still hold a credential with that name, the MSDH has included that in the list of allowable qualifications. 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 same qualifications apply for a family child care operator as a licensed child care director. A childcare director shall be least 21 years of age and shall have at a minimum: 1. A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, child care, special education, psychology (with emphasis on child psychology), or family and consumer sciences (with emphasis on child development),or equivalent degree from another child-related field or course of study; or 2. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology which must include a minimum of 480 hours of practical training, supervised by college instructors, in a college operated child care learning laboratory; or 3. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology or child care and two years paid experience in a licensed child care facility; or 4. Two years paid experience as a caregiver in a licensed child care facility, and either (1) a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CECPR), or (2) a Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development(DECCD) Child Care Director's Credential or MDHS OCY Child Care Director's Credential, or (3) 24 semester hours credit with a grade of "C" or better from an accredited college or university in courses specific to early childhood; or 5. A verified certificate from the licensing agency certifying that the individual was qualified to be the director of a licensed child care facility prior to 1/1/2000 in the State of Mississippi. Note: OCY is the former name for the Lead Agency's Division of Early Childhood Care& Development. Because some providers still hold a credential with that name, the MSDH has included that in the list of allowable qualifications. 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: In-home care providers must be 18 years of age and shall have at a minimum: 1) high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED), or 2) a current CECPR Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, a MDHS DECCD Child Care Director's Credential, or MDHS OCY Director's Child Care Credential, or the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center’s Credential, or 3) three years prior documented experience caring for children with disabilities who are under 8 years of age and who are not related to the caregiver within the third degree computed according to civil law. 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. N/A b. License-exempt home-based child care. N/A c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). N/A