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 up to age one. b. Toddler. Describe: A child age one up to age three. c. Preschool. Describe: A child from ages three up to age five. d. School-Age. Describe: A child age five and older. 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: Maximum group sizes are determined by individual room capacity and all space used must be approved for care by the department. Room capacity is determined in accordance with 35 square feet per child. Capacity for each room approved is provided in writing based on a floor plan review during the initial license process. In spaces where more than twenty children are allowed, providers shall identify which children each provider is responsible to supervise. ii. Toddler. Ratio: 1:5 Group size: Maximum group sizes are determined by individual room capacity and all space used must be approved for care by the department. Room capacity is determined in accordance with 35 square feet per child. Capacity for each room approved is provided in writing based on a floor plan review during the initial license process. In spaces where more than twenty children are allowed, providers shall identify which children each provider is responsible to supervise. iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:10 Group size: Maximum group sizes are determined by individual room capacity and all space used must be approved for care by the department. Room capacity is determined in accordance with 35 square feet per child. Capacity for each room approved is provided in writing based on a floor plan review during the initial license process. In spaces where more than twenty children are allowed, providers shall identify which children each provider is responsible to supervise. iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:15 Group size: Maximum group sizes are determined by individual room capacity and all space used must be approved for care by the department. Room capacity is determined in accordance with 35 square feet per child or 25 square feet per child for licensed school age programs (only cares for school age children). Capacity for each room approved is provided in writing based on a floor plan review during the initial license process. In spaces where more than twenty children are allowed, providers shall identify which children each provider is responsible to supervise. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: The provider shall ensure children to staff ratios are maintained in all settings, including large indoor and outdoor space. Ratios for each age grouping are as follows: Infant 1:5; Toddler 1:5; Preschool 1:10; School Age 1:15. Group size: A program that serves twenty or fewer children, and routinely operates a mixed age group, shall meet a ratio of ten children to one staff. Each provider may care for a maximum of four children under the age of two, with no more than two children under the age of one. A center program that serves more than twenty children in a mixed age group, must: (1) Maintain a ratio of five children to one staff, if the group includes three or more children under the age of three; and (2) In all other circumstances, maintain the children to staff ratio that is based on the age range of the majority of children in the group. Children of program employees must be included in determining the children to staff ratio. 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: If only one provider is present, no more than four of the children may be under the age of two years, and no more than three of those children may be under the age of one. If a family day care assistant is present, no more than eight children may be under the age of two Group size: No more than 12 children of any age may be in care at any one time, regardless of the number of registered assistants present. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: If only one provider is present, no more than four of the children may be under the age of two years. If a child is between the ages of 2 and 3 years old the ratio is 1:12. Group size: No more than 12 children of any age may be in care at any one time, regardless of the number of registered assistants present. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 1:12 Group size: No more than 12 children of any age may be in care at any one time, regardless of the number of registered assistants present. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 1:12 Group size: No more than 12 children of any age may be in care at any one time, regardless of the number of registered assistants present. v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: NA Group size: NA 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: NA Group size: NA ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: NA Group size: NA iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: NA Group size: NA iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: NA Group size: NA v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: NA Group size: NA 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: Child care teachers in centers shall be at least eighteen years of age and demonstrate and maintain the ability to provide care that attends to the child's physical growth and development and to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of the child, as determined by the department. There are no additional variations based on ages of children in care. 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 program administrator is the director or individual responsible for planning and implementing the program in a licensed child care or school-age program and must be at least eighteen years of age and: (1) Have a bachelor's degree in a field of education or human development; (2) Have a two-year degree in early childhood education; (3) Have a Child Development Associate credential or comparable credential, as determined by the department; (4) Hold certification in a child learning philosophy and have at least one year of experience in a child care setting; (5) Have a child development technician diploma; or (6) Have four years of experience in a center or school-age program. There are no additional variations based on ages of children in care. 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: All providers shall be at least eighteen years of age and demonstrate and maintain the ability to provide care that attends to the child's physical growth and development and to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of the child, as determined by the department. There are no additional variations based on ages of children in 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: NA 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. NA b. License-exempt home-based child care. A license exempt home-based informal provider shall be at least eighteen years old in order to qualify for child care assistance payments. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). A license exempt in-home provider shall be at least eighteen years old in order to qualify for child care assistance payments.