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: A child from birth to one year of age. b. Toddler. Describe: Pennsylvania defines toddlers in two groups; young toddler is a child from one to two years of age; and an older toddler is a child from two to three years of age. c. Preschool. Describe: A child from 3 years of age to the date the child enters kindergarten in a public or private school system. d. School-Age. Describe: Pennsylvania defines school age in two groups; a young school age child is a child who attends kindergarten to the date the child enters the 4th grade of a public or private school system is defined as a young school-age child; and an older school age child is a child who attends the 4th grade of a public or private school system through 15 years of age is defined as an older school-age child. 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 for both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes Group size: Maximum group size for infants in Child Care Centers is 8, while maximum group size for infants in Group Child Care Homes is 12 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1:5 for young toddlers and 1:6 for older toddlers, for both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes Group size: Maximum group size for young toddlers in Child Care Centers is 10, while the maximum group size for older toddlers in Child Care Centers is 12. The maximum group size for young and old toddler in Group Child Care Homes is 12 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:10 for both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes Group size: The maximum group size for preschoolers in Child Care Centers is 20, while the maximum group size for preschoolers in Group Child Care Homes is 12 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:12 for young school-agers and 1:15 for older school-agers in both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes. A Group Child Care Home can have 15 older school aged children if only caring for older school aged children. Group size: The maximum group size for young school-agers in Child Care Centers is 24 and the maximum group size for older school-agers in Child Care Centers is 30. While the maximum group size for young school agers in Group Child Care Homes is 12 and the maximum group size for old school agers in Group Child Care Homes is 15. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff: child ratio in both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes. Group size: When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the maximum group size for both Child Care Centers and Group Child Care Homes. 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: The operator may provide care to no more than five related and unrelated infants and toddlers at any one time. No more than two related and unrelated infants may receive care at any one time. The following numbers of infants and toddlers are permitted in a family child care home: if no infants are in care, five toddlers are permitted; if one infant is in care, four toddlers are permitted; or if two infants are in care, three toddlers are permitted. Group size: The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time who are unrelated to either the legal entity or the staff person. At any one time, the related children of either the legal entity or the staff person, but not both, may be excluded in determining compliance with this section. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: The operator may provide care to no more than five related and unrelated infants and toddlers at any one time. No more than two related and unrelated infants may receive care at any one time. The following numbers of infants and toddlers are permitted in a family child care home: if no infants are in care, five toddlers are permitted; if one infant is in care, four toddlers are permitted; or if two infants are in care, three toddlers are permitted. Group size: The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time who are unrelated to either the legal entity or the staff person. At any one time, the related children of either the legal entity or the staff person, but not both, may be excluded in determining compliance with this section. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time who are unrelated to either the legal entity or the staff person. At any one time, the related children of either the legal entity or the staff person, but not both, may be excluded in determining compliance with this section. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: N/A Group size: The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time who are unrelated to either the legal entity or the staff person. At any one time, the related children of either the legal entity or the staff person, but not both, may be excluded in determining compliance with this section. v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: The operator may provide care to no more than five related and unrelated infants and toddlers at any one time. No more than two related and unrelated infants may receive care at any one time. The following numbers of infants and toddlers are permitted in a family child care home: if no infants are in care, five toddlers are permitted; if one infant is in care, four toddlers are permitted; or if two infants are in care, three toddlers are permitted. Group size: The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time who are unrelated to either the legal entity or the staff person. At any one time, the related children of either the legal entity or the staff person, but not both, may be excluded in determining compliance with this section. 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? [ ] 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. 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. 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 lead teacher is known in Pennsylvania’s system as a Group Supervisor for Child Care Centers. The minimum required qualifications are: age 18 and: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field; a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field and 1 year of experience with children; an associate degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 2 years of experience with children; or an associate degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 3 years of experience with children. The assistant teacher is known as an Assistant Group Supervisor for Child Care Centers. The minimum required qualifications are age 18 and: a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field; a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate, including 600 or more hours of secondary training described in § 3270.31(c) (relating to age and training); a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate, 15 credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 1 year of experience with children; a high school diploma or a general education development certificate and completion of a post-secondary training curriculum described in § 3270.31(c); or a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and 2 years’ experience with children. For Group Child Care Homes the lead teacher is known as the primary staff person and their minimum required qualifications are: be 18 years of age or older; have a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field; a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate including 600 or more hours of secondary training described in § 3280.31(c) (relating to age and training); a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate, 15 credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 1 year of experience with children; a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and completion of a postsecondary training curriculum described at § 3280.31(c); or a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and 2 years of experience with children. The assistant teacher in s known as a secondary staff person and their minimum required qualifications are: to be 18 years of age or older; have a high school diploma or general education development certificate; have a minimum of an 8th grade education and enrollment in a training curriculum described at § 3280.31(c) (relating to age and training). The classroom portion of the curriculum must be completed. Documentation of completion of classroom training and continuing enrollment in the training curriculum must be included in the staff persons file; or a minimum of an 8th grade education and 2 years of experience with children. 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 qualification is age 18 and: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or the human services field and 1 year of experience with children; a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 2 years of experience with children; an associate degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 3 years of experience with children; or an associate degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field and 4 years of experience with children. 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: Age 18, have a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate and submit proof to the appropriate regional office of the Department no later than the submission of the second renewal application. 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. N/A c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). N/A