5.1 Licensing Requirements

Each Lead Agency must ensure it has in effect licensing requirements applicable to all child care services provided within the State/Territory (not restricted to providers receiving CCDF funds). 5.1.1 Providers subject to licensing For each category of care listed below, identify the type of providers subject to licensing and describe the licensing requirements. a. Identify the center-based provider types subject to child care licensing: Pennsylvania defines a Child Care Center as the premises in which care is provided at any one time for seven or more children unrelated to the operator. Pennsylvania also certifies facilities it calls Group Child Care Homes. A Group Child Care Home is the premises in which care is provided at one time for more than six but fewer than 16 older school-age level children or more than six but fewer than 13 children of another age level who are unrelated to the operator. A group home may operate in a residence or another premises. Are there other categories of licensed, regulated, or registered center providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: [x] No. b. Identify the family child care providers subject to licensing: Pennsylvania defines a family child care home as any home in which child care is provided simultaneously for four, five, or six children who are not relatives of the operator. Are there other categories of regulated or registered family child care providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: [x] No. c. Identify the in-home providers subject to licensing: Pennsylvania does not regulate in- home care providers. Are there other categories of regulated or registered in-home providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: [x] No. 5.1.2 CCDF-eligible providers exempt from licensing Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible providers who are exempt from licensing requirements, the types of exemptions, and describe how these exemptions do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. -Relative providers, as defined in CCDF, are addressed in subsection 5.8. a. License-exempt center-based child care. Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible center-based child care providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. Pennsylvania does not have any CCDF- eligible license exempt providers. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. N/A iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. N/A b. License-exempt family child care. Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible family child care providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. Pennsylvania does not have any CCDF- eligible licensed exempt providers. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. N/A iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. N/A c. In-home care (care in the child’s own home by a non-relative). Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible in-home care (care in the child’s own home by a non- relative) providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. OCDEL limits CCDF-eligibility only to in-home providers who are relatives of the child. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. Relative care is license-exempt, and therefore no ratio and group size requirements apply to in- home relative care. However, if the family is receiving child care subsidy, then ratios and maximum group size applies and the staff to child ratio is 1:3 unless they are grandchildren. A grandparent may care for up to six grandchildren if no other children are present. iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. The exemptions do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children in care, due to the number of children not related to the operator does not meet the regulatory requirements to become licensed. Also, if receiving subsidy there is a maximum number of grandchildren that can be present. Making the overall number of children in care not more than nine related and unrelated.