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: Age six (6) weeks to age one (1) year. b. Toddler. Describe: Age one (1) year to two (2) years. c. Preschool. Describe: Child between the ages of two (2) years through four (4) years. d. School-Age. Describe: A child between 5 and 13 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: 4/1 Group size: Eight (8) ii. Toddler. Ratio: 4/1 Group size: Twelve (12) iii. Preschool. Ratio: 12/1 Group size: 2 years - group size of 16. 3 years - group size of 20. 4 years - group size of 24 iv. School-Age. Ratio: 16/1 Group size: Thirty-two (32) v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: If a center-based provider mixes age groups for certain times of the day, the ratio associated with the youngest child in the group is to be maintained for the entire group. Group size: The maximum group size for a mixed age group is determined by the age of the youngest child in the group. Mixed age groups typically occur when children are arriving, departing or for short periods for scheduled activities (i.e. meals) with adult/child ratios met based on the age of the youngest child in the mixed age group. School-age groups of children may be combined with children over the age of 24 months during short periods for special occasions such as field trips with adult/child ratios met based on the age of the youngest child in the mixed age group. Out-of-School Time Child Care Centers group size is determined by the activity and is limited to facilitate staff/child interaction and safe, constructive participation by children and is based on the youngest age child in the group. 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: 6 children/1 staff for family child care home (only 2 children under age 2 permitted) Group size: 4 children for family child care facilities. 6 children/1 staff for family child care home. 3 children/1 staff for informal family child care home. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: 4 children/2 staff for family child care facilities. 2 children/1 staff for family child care homes. Group size: 4 children for family child care facilities. 2 children for family child care homes. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 12 children/2 staff for family child care facilities 6 children/1 staff for family child care homes Group size: 12 children for family child care facilities. 6 children for family child care homes iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 12 children/2 staff for family child care facilities 6 children/1 staff for family child care homes Group size: 12 children for family child care facilities. 6 children for family child care homes v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: 6 children/1 staff (only 2 children under age 2 permitted) 3 children/1 staff for informal family child care home Group size: 12 children for family child care facilities. 6 children for family child care homes. 3 children/1 staff for informal family child care home 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: 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: Infant, Toddler, Preschool Lead Teacher Must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience and one of the following qualifications: A CDA credential and 300 hours of relevant work experience or, a total of 2 years of relevant work experience or, a registered Apprenticeship Certificate for Child Development Specialist (ACDA) or 28 college credits with at least 9 credit hours in early childhood development. Infant/Toddler Qualification Each qualified staff member caring for children 24 months of age and under must have a minimum of 40 hours of approved training related to the care of children 24 months of age and under. Infant, Toddler, Preschool Assistant Teacher Must be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent and have a minimum of 1-year relevant work experience or a West Virginia Training Certificate in Early Care and Education (WVTCECE) or its equivalent. Infant/Toddler Qualification Each qualified staff member caring for children 24 months of age and under must have a minimum of 40 hours of approved training related to the care of children 24 months of age and under. Out-of-School Time Teacher (Group Leader) Must be at least 18 years of age and have 1 year of supervised relevant work experience. Out-of-School Time Assistant Teacher (Assistant Group Leader) Must be at least 18 years of age and meet the requirements of a high school diploma or GED. 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: Child Care Center director Must be at least 21 years old and meet the following educational, training and work experience based upon the number of children to be served: Type I Center (up to 30 children) - The director must meet one of the following requirements: CDA credential or 12 college credits in an early care and education field with 300 hours of relevant work experience or a total of 10 years of relevant work experience. Type II Center (31-60 children) - The director must meet one of the following requirements: ACDA registered or 28 college credits with at least 9 credit hours in early childhood development or 15 years of relevant work experience. Type III Center (more than 60 children) - The director must meet one of the following requirements: An associate's degree in early care and education or a bachelor's degree or An associate's degree in a related field with 12 credit hours in early childhood and 90 practicum contact hours or A bachelor's degree in a related field and a total of 2 years or relevant work experience or A degree in business, management or administration with 12 credit hours in early childhood development and 300 hours of relevant work experience. Out-of-School Time Child Care Center Director Must be at least 21 years of age, have at least one year of leadership experience in a school age program or similar program, be responsible for the daily operation of the program and oversight of staff, have a written work plan for the routine on-site presence for each site under his or her responsibility and be responsible for on-site activity and staff scheduling, ensuring there is a site supervisor for each site. 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: Family Child Care Facility Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School Age, Lead Teacher Must be at least 21 years of age, Have a high school diploma or equivalent Six months experience caring for children A certification in CPR/First Aid Completion of one of the following: 15 clock hours of child development training or arrangement to complete those hours within the first 6 months of operation or Have a CDA or ACDA credential or Completion of at least 3 college credit hours in child development or a related field at an accredited college or university. Family Child Care Home At least 18 years of age Be able to read and write Informal/Relative Home Be at least 18 years of age Be able to read and write or have another adult present in the home, during the hours of care, who is able to read and write. 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. West Virginia has no license-exempt providers. b. License-exempt home-based child care. West Virginia has no license-exempt providers. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). West Virginia has no license- exempt providers.