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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: Infant means any child from birth through 12 months of age. b. Toddler. Describe: Toddler means any child ages 13 months to 35 months of age. c. Preschool. Describe: Preschooler or preschool-age child means any child who is at least three years of age and does not fit the definition of school-age child in this rule. d. School-Age. Describe: School-age child means any child who is attending or who has attended a public or private grade school or kindergarten and meets age requirements as specified in North Carolina General Statute 115C-364. 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: 1:5 Group size: 10 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 12 to 24 months 1/6, 2 to 3 years 1/10 Group size: 12 to 24 months 12; 2 to 3 years 20 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:15 for preschoolers ages 3 to 4 years. 1/20 for preschoolers ages 4 to 5 years Group size: 25 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:25 Group size: 25 v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: For a center choosing to group children in multi-age groups: 0 to 36 months 1:4; 12 months to 36 months 1:5; 24 months to 47 months 1:6; 4 years of age to 6 years of age 1:9; and 6 years of age through 12 years of age. There are also centers located in a residence that serve mixed age groupings. The staff/child ratios for a center located in a residence with a licensed capacity of 3 to 12 when any preschool-age child is enrolled, or with a licensed capacity of 3 to 15 children when only school-age children are enrolled are as follows: 0 to 12 Months is 1:5 preschool children plus three additional school-age children; 12 to 24 Months is 1:6 preschool children plus two additional school-age children; 2 to 13 Years is 1:10; 3 to 13 Years is 1:12; and all school-age is 1:15. Group size: For a center choosing to group children in multi-age groups: 0 to 36 months is 8; 12 months to 36 months 10; 24 months to 47 months 10; 4 years of age to 6 years of age 18; and 6 years of age through 12 years of age 25. 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: Depending on group size specifications 1:8 or 1:9 Group size: Family Child Care Homes can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. There are two group size options in statute that include ratios for infants. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Depending on the below group size specifications 1:8 or 1:9. Group size: Family Child Care Homes can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. There are two group size options in statute that include ratios for toddlers. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 1:10 Group size: Family Child Care Homes can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. The group size for school-age children and any group of children who are older 24 months is 10. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 1:10 Group size: Family Child Care Homes can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. The group size for school-age children and any group of children who are older 24 months is 10. v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: Family Child Care Homes can be licensed to care for children ages 0- 12 years and routinely care for mixed age groups. Depending on the below group size specifications the ratios are 1:8, 1:9, or 1:10. Group size: There are three options in statute. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. The third option is 10 if all children are older than 24 months. d. Are any of the responses above different for license-exempt family child care homes? [x] No. [ ] Yes. If yes, describe how the ratio and group size requirements for license- exempt providers vary by age of children served. [ ] 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: Depending on the below group size specifications 1:8 or 1:9. Group size: Licensed in-home care can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. There are two group size options in statute that include ratios for infants. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Depending on the below group size specifications 1:8 or 1:9. Group size: Licensed in-home care can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. There are two group size options in statute that include ratios for toddlers. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 1:10 Group size: Licensed in-home care can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. If all children are older than 24 months the group size is 10. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 1:10 Group size: Licensed in-home care can be licensed to care for children ages 0-12 years. The group size for school-age children and any group of children who are older 24 months is 10. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: Licensed in-home care can be licensed to care for children ages 0- 12 years and routinely care for mixed age groups. Depending on the below group size specifications the ratios are 1:8, 1:9, or 1:10. Group size: There are three options in statute. The first option is a group size of 8 with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school age children. The second option is a group size of 9 if the following limitations are met: a maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age. The third option is 10 if all children are older than 24 months. 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: At a minimum, all lead teachers in a child care center must have at least a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential or its equivalent. Lead teachers must be enrolled in the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential coursework or its equivalent within 18 months after enrollment. A lead teacher must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and have one of the following: (1) One year of verifiable child care experience working in a child care center or two years of verifiable experience as a licensed family child care home operator; or (2) Successful completion of two year high school program of Early Childhood Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education; or (3) Twenty hours of training in child development, which could include the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential coursework. If the individual is considered a teacher (also known as the assistant teacher) they must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma. CCDF-eligible facilities operating with a three through five star rated license have higher educational standards up to an AAS in Early Childhood or higher. 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: At a minimum, all child care administrators in a child care center must be at least 21 years of age and shall have at least a North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential or its equivalent. Child care administrators must begin working to complete the credential within six months after assuming administrative duties and shall complete the credential within two years of beginning work to complete the credential. The pre-service requirements for a child care administrator that does not have the credential prior to exercising any child caring responsibilities is as follows: (1) have either a high school diploma or its equivalent; (2) have two years of full-time work experience in a child care center or early childhood work experience; or an undergraduate, graduate, or associate degree, with 12 semester hours in child development, child psychology, early childhood education or directly related field; or a Child Development Associate Credential; or completion of a community or technical college curriculum program in the area of child care or early childhood; or one year of full- time child care or early childhood work experience and a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential; and (3) have verification of having completed, or be currently enrolled in, two semester credit hours, or 32 clock hours, of training in the area of early childhood program administration; or, have one year experience performing administrative responsibilities. 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: An operator of a licensed family child care home shall be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Operators of a family child care home licensed prior to January 1, 1998, shall be at least 18 years of age and literate. Literate is defined as understanding licensing requirements and having the ability to communicate with the family and relevant emergency personnel. Any operator of a licensed family child care home shall be the person on-site providing child care. 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: An operator of a licensed family child care home shall be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Operators of a family child care home licensed prior to January 1, 1998, shall be at least 18 years of age and literate. Literate is defined as understanding licensing requirements and having the ability to communicate with the family and relevant emergency personnel. Any operator of a licensed family child care home shall be the person on-site providing child care. 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. Religious sponsored programs operating with a Notice of Compliance are exempt from child care center staff qualification requirements; however, they are not exempt from the ratio and group size requirements. An administrator of a religious sponsored child care center must be literate and at least 21 years of age. All staff counted toward meeting the required staff/child ratio must be at least 16 years old, provided that persons younger than 18 work under the direct supervision of a literate staff person who is at least 21 years old. N.C.G.S. §7-110- 106(e)religious sponsored child care facility operating with a Notice of Compliance shall be under the direction or supervision of a literate person at least 21 years of age. b. License-exempt home-based child care. Religious sponsored programs operating with a Notice of Compliance are exempt from family child care home operator and staff qualification requirements. An operator of a religious sponsored family child care home but be literate and at least 21 years of age. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). NA