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: 6 weeks up to 18 months b. Toddler. Describe: 18 months up to 3 years c. Preschool. Describe: 3-6 years old (not eligible for kindergarten) d. School-Age. Describe: 5 years (eligible for kindergarten) - 16 years of age 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: 8 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1:6 Group size: 12 iii. Preschool. Ratio: 3-year-olds 1:9; 4￿5-year-olds (not eligible for kindergarten) 1:10; 5-6 (not eligible for kindergarten 1:12) Group size: 3-year-olds 18; 4-5 (not eligible for kindergarten) 20; 5￿6- year-old (not eligible for kindergarten) 24 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:13 Group size: 26 v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: Any mixed age groups must adhere to both the allowable age group combinations (outlined in regulation 218-RICR-70-00-1.11. B.6 and the ratio of the youngest age group in that combination. Group size: Any mixed age groups must adhere to both the allowable age group combinations (outlined in regulation 218-RICR-70-00-1.11. B.6 and the group size of the youngest age group in that combination. 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: All family child care homes are licensed as mixed age groups. Depending on the type of family child care home, Family or Group, the number of children and the assistants needed to operate vary. For Family Child Care homes the regulations state, "if a provider, who is caring for children without an assistant, cares for children under the age of eighteen (18) months, there shall be no more than four (4) children under the age of six (6) years, and of these four (4) children, no more than two (2) shall be under the age of eighteen (18) months. If the provider has an assistant, the regulations state, "A provider who has a full-time assistant shall care for no more than eight (8) children at any time. Of these eight (8) children, no more than four (4) shall be under the age of eighteen (18) months. 218-RICR-70-00-2.1.A-C Group size: All family child care homes are licensed as mixed age groups. Depending on the type of family child care home, Family or Group, the number of children and the assistants needed to operate vary. For Family Child Care homes the regulations state, "if a provider, who is caring for children without an assistant, cares for children under the age of eighteen (18) months, there shall be no more than four (4)children under the age of six (6) years, and of these four (4) children, no more than two (2) shall be under the age of eighteen (18) months. The maximum group size is 6 children, no more than 2 children under 18 months old. If the provider has an assistant, the regulations state, "A provider who has a full-time assistant shall care for no more than eight (8) children at any time. Of these eight (8) children, no more than four (4) shall be under the age of eighteen (18) months. 218-RICR-70-00-2.1.A-C 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. License exempt providers may only care for up to 6 related children. They serve mixed age groups similar to licensed family child care providers. [ ] 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: A person who meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of Teacher: (1) Option 1: The individual holds a High School Diploma with a vocational concentration in child care and has two (2) years supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program. (2) Option 2: The individual holds a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate and has three (3) years supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program. (3) Option 3: The individual holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) and has one (1) year supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program. (4) Option 4: The individual has completed twelve (12) credits in Early Childhood Education or field related to Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution of higher education and has at least three (3) months supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program. (5) Option 5: The individual holds an Associate's degree or higher in a field related to Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Services or Recreation from an accredited institution of higher education 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 lead agency currently refers to the director as the Administrator. The Administrator is responsible for the operation of the child care and/or School Age program to ensure compliance with these Regulations. b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of Administrator: (1) Option 1: In conjunction with a full-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have a High School diploma, and one (1) year of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and one (1) year of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program. (2) Option 2: In conjunction with a part-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have successfully completed at least twelve (12) credits in early childhood education at the post-secondary level, and two (2) years of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and two (2) years of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program. (3) Option 3: (In School-age programs only), the Administrator must have a High School diploma, and one (1) year of professional experience working with school-age 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: FCCH providers must be at least twenty- one (21) years of age. 2. Prior to initial licensure, FCCH provider must show evidence of having successfully completed the following: a. High school or GED (applicable for all providers initially licensed after the issuance of the 2007 Regulations); b. The Department's Orientation to Family Child Care; c. The Department's approved Pre-Service Training; d. Current certification under the most recent guidelines of the American Heart Association in: (1) Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (AA) Initial CPR certification must be done in person. (BB) CPR recertification may be done either in person or online. (2) Pediatric First Aid Pediatric first aid training may be done in person or online. e. A comprehensive background check, as outlined in § 2.2.1(B) of this Part; and f. Completion of at least twenty-four (24) hours of Professional Development; and, g. Physician’s reference and immunization information. 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. Providers must demonstrate the approved relationship with the child/children they are providing care for as well as completion of the DHS required health and safety preservice trainings. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). Providers must demonstrate the approved relationship with the child/children they are providing care for as well as completion of the DHS required health and safety preservice trainings.