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: Infant means any child from birth to 12 months of age. b. Toddler. Describe: Toddler means any child in care from 12 to 36 months of age. c. Preschool. Describe: Wyoming Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Center (CCC) do not provide a definition of preschool. For general purposes, the approximate age range is 3 years old through 5 years old. d. School-Age. Describe: The Rules for Certification of Family Child Care Home (FCCH), Family Child Care Center (FCCC), or Child Care Center (CCC): school age children means children who have completed kindergarten or are enrolled in the first grade or are six (6) years old or 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: Children ages 0-11 months: 1:3; 2:8; and 3:10 Note: the 1:3 ratio is only enforced when this staff is the only staff on the premises. As soon as there is a second staff on the premise the ratio is 1:4 Group size: Maximum of 10 ii. Toddler. Ratio: 2:10; and 3:12 for 12-24 months. 1:8, 2:16; and 3:18 for 24-36 months. Group size: Maximum of 12 for ages 12-24 months; Maximum of 18 for ages 24-36 months. iii. Preschool. Ratio: 1:10; 2:20; and 3:24 for 3 year olds. 1:12; 2:24; and 3:30 for 4 and 5 year olds. Group size: Maximum of 24 for 3 year olds; Maximum of 30 for 4 and 5 year olds. iv. School-Age. Ratio: 1:18; 2:32; and 3:40 for children ages 6-13 years. Group size: The maximum group size is 40. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable). Ratio: see below Group size: (e) When age groups are combined the following staff:child ratios and group sizes for the youngest age group present shall apply. These options represent maximum numbers of children per youngest age group and total. (i) When one (1) staff person is present caring for up to six (6) children under the age of 36 months there shall be no more than two (2) under the age of 12 months, no more than two (2), one (1) year to24 months, and no more than two (2), two (2) years to 36 months, with a maximum group size of eight (8) children; or (ii) When one (1) staff person is present, if there are only two (2) children under the age of two (2), the maximum group size can b increased to ten (10) children and no more than five (5) children shall be present in the 24-36 month age group. (iii) When two (2) staff persons are present and caring for a mixed age group there shall be no more than four (4) children under the age of 12 months, no more than four (4), one (1) year to 24 months, and no more than four (4), two (2) years to 36 months, with a maximum group size of 15 children. 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. [ ] Not applicable. There are no differences in ratios and group size requirements. ii. Infant: N/A iii. Toddler: N/A iv. Preschool: N/A v. School-Age: N/A vi. Mixed-Age Groups: The Wyoming Child Care Purchase of Service Rules defines group size and staff:child ratios. Centers are limited to 1 adult to 30 children; however, there is no maximum group size. A change to the maximum group size requires a change to the Purchase of Service rules and will not be completed by October 1, 2024. c. Licensed CCDF family child care home providers: i. Infant (if applicable) Ratio: 1:3; 2:8; and 3:10 for children birth to 12 months. Note: the 1:3 ratio is only enforced when this staff is the only staff on the premises. As soon as there is a second staff on the premise the ratio is 1:4 Group size: Maximum of 10 ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: 1:5; 2:10 (12-24 months) or 1:8; 2:15 (24-36 months) Group size: No more than five (5) 24-36 month olds for a maximum of eight (8) or ten (10) children in a mixed age group. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: 1:10 (3 years); 1:12 (4 years); 2:15 or in a mixed age group of 3 and 4 year olds the maximum capacity is 15 children with a staff person present. Group size: Maximums of: 10 (3 years); 12 (4 years); or 15 (3 & 4 years combined) iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: 2:15 (6-13 years) or in a mixed age group the maximum capacity is 15 children. Group size: Maximum of 15 v. Mixed-Age Groups Ratio: (i) When one (1) staff person is present caring for up to six (6) children under the age of 36 months there shall be no more than two (2) under the age of 12 months, no more than two (2), one (1) year to24 months, and no more than two (2), two (2) years to 36 months (ii) When one (1) staff person is present, if there are only two (2) children under the age of two (2) (iii) When two (2) staff persons are present and caring for a mixed age group there shall be no more than four (4) children under the age of 12 months, no more than four (4), one (1) year to 24 months, and no more than four (4), two (2) years to 36 months Group size: (i) maximum group size of eight (8) children (ii) maximum group size can be increased to ten (10) children and no more than five (5) children shall be present in the 24￿36-month age group (iii) maximum group size of 15 children 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. In order to receive child care assistance payments, legally exempt home providers shall not provide child care for more than ten children under school age in an immediate family unit. The ten (10) child limit in the home shall include the provider's own children under school age. In the case of grandparents, the total number of children shall never exceed six (6). [ ] 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: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. Group size: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. ii. Toddler (if applicable) Ratio: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. Group size: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. iii. Preschool (if applicable) Ratio: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. Group size: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. iv. School-Age (if applicable) Ratio: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. Group size: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. v. Mixed-Age Groups (if applicable) Ratio: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. Group size: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. 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: For Infants: Minimum age of staff shall be 16 years of age. Staff under the age of majority shall be under the supervision of an adult staff member at all times. When four (4) or more infants are enrolled, an infant director/lead teacher must obtain the Infant/Toddler Director credential and at least one (1) staff person must obtain at least eight (8) credits of specialized infant/toddler training. In addition, both must maintain 16 training credits per year. The assistant teacher is required to maintain four (4) or eight (8) infant/toddler training hours and maintain 32 training credits biannually. For all other age children: Minimum age of staff shall be 16 years of age. Staff under the age of majority shall be under the supervision of an adult staff member at all times. The 32 training credits requirement is currently considered to be non-compliant pursuant to the Preliminary Notice of Non-Compliance dated 3/08/2024. As such, the department is revising its rules to convert this to a 16 hour per year annual requirement; however, these rules will not be in effect until after October 1, 2024 so the Department will need additional time to meet this requirement 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 director shall: (i) Be at least 21 years old; (ii) Have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate; (iii) Have a combination of education and experience equivalent to two (2) years in the areas of management, early childhood education, child development, nursing or other; (iv) Shall have completed six (6) clock hours of childcare training in addition to pre-service training prior to licensing; (v) Shall have received a professional credential from an organization recognized by the Department; and (vi) Directors shall meet all training requirements as outlined in Chapter 4. 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: For Infants: Minimum age of staff shall be 16 years of age. Staff under the age of majority shall be under the supervision of an adult staff member at all times. When four (4) or more infants are enrolled, an infant director/lead teacher must obtain the Infant/Toddler Director credential and at least one (1) staff person working directly with infants must obtain at least eight (8) hours of specialized infant/toddler training. In addition, both must maintain 32 training credits biannually. The assistant teacher is required to maintain four (4) or eight (8) infant/toddler training hours and maintain16 training credits per year. For all other age children: Minimum age of staff shall be 16 years of age. Staff under the age of majority shall be under the supervision of an adult staff member at all times. The 32 training credits requirement is currently considered to be non-compliant pursuant to the Preliminary Notice of Non-Compliance dated 3/08/2024. As such, the department is revising its rules to convert this to a 16 hour per year annual requirement; however, these rules will not be in effect until after October 1, 2024 so the Department will need additional time to meet this requirement. 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: Providers who provide care for a child in the child's home are exempt from licensure per the Wyoming Statute. 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. For license-exempt child care centers, the minimum age of a director and staff is 18 years of age or older. b. License-exempt home-based child care. For license-exempt child care homes, the minimum age of a provider and staff is 18 years of age or older. c. License-exempt in-home care (care in the child’s own home). For license-exempt child in home care, the minimum age of a provider and staff is 18 years of age or older.