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: Birth to 18 months. b. Toddler. Describe: 18 months to 2.5 years. c. Preschool. Describe: 2.5 years to 4 years. d. School-Age. Describe: 5 to 13 years. 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: 1:4 Group size: 12 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1:6 Group size: 20 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:10 for 3 year old 1:12 for 4 year old Group size: 20 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:15 Group size: 30 v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A 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: 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 Ratio: N/A Group size: N/A 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. ● Infant Ratio: 1:3 Group size: 5 ● Toddler Ratio: 1:4 Group size: 5 ● Preschool Ratio: 1:5 Group size: 5 ● School-Age Ratio: 1:5 Group size: 5 [ ] 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. An Approved In-home child care provider can serve no more than two unrelated children for fewer than 24 hours of care per day, in the child’s home. 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: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3 is DHS/DFD's standard for CCDF-center-based care teacher qualifications which differ based on the center's licensed capacity, level of education, type of degree, age of children, and years of experience. There are seven different options, (combination of education and experience) for meeting the Head Teacher requirements. At minimum, the Head Teacher must have a teaching certificate from the Department of Education, along with six (6) college credits and three years of experience or nine (9) college credits and three years of experience. For a Group Teacher the minimum requirement is a Child Development Association (CDA) 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: For early childhood programs licensed to serve more than 30 children, the director shall meet the qualification requirements specified for education and experience￿either a Master's Degree in any field related to children or business, or a Bachelor's Degree with one year of managerial or supervisory experience. 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: N/A 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: N/A 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. Family child care providers who are registered pursuant to the Family Day Care Provider Registration Act of 1987, N.J.S.A. 30:5B16 et seq. (P.L. 1987, Chapter 27) under the N.J.S.A. 30:5B16 et seq., the Department of Children and Families authority, must meet qualification requirements as indicated in the Chapter 54 Manual of Requirements which includes, but is not limited to: 1. Be at least 18 years of age; 2. Be of good character and reputation, with sufficient knowledge, intelligence, stability, energy and maturity to maintain a family child care home and to care for children; 3. Be in sufficient physical, mental and emotional health to care properly for children to be placed in the home; 4. Reside in the family child care home; and, 5. Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the sponsoring organization and the Office of Licensing that he or she complies with all applicable requirements of the Manual of Requirements. See N.J.A.C. 3A:545.1and 5.2 c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). Approved In-Home child care providers qualifications are as follows: ● Provider must be 18 years or older and a resident of New Jersey. ● Must provide care only in the home that has been approved by DHS/DFD and its designees. ● Must demonstrate and meet all DHS/DFD requirements, including CCDBG Health and Safety Requirements, including but not limited to Comprehensive Criminal Background checks, medication examinations, and, also comply with all required health and safety trainings both pre-service and annual.