R381-100-10. Ratios and Group Size

  (1) As listed in Table 1 for single-age groups of children, the provider shall:

  (a) maintain at least the number of caregivers and not exceed the number of children in the caregiver-to-child ratio, and

  (b) not exceed the group sizes.

TABLE 1

Caregiver-to-Child Ratios and Group Sizes

                        # of # of

Ages of Children Caregivers Children Group Size

birth - 23 months 1 4 8

2 years old 1 7 14

3 years old 1 12 24

4 years old 1 15 30

School-age 1 20 40

  (2) As listed in Tables 2-13 for mixed-age groups of children, the provider shall:

  (a) maintain at least the number of caregivers and not exceed the number of children in the caregiver-to-child ratio, and

  (b) not exceed the group sizes.

TABLE 2

Older Toddlers and Two-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 18 to 23 months 1-3

                           2 1-6

                        Total children: up to 7

           2 18 to 23 months 1-6

                           2 1-13

                        Total children: up to 14

TABLE 3

Two-year-olds and Three-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           3 1-9

                        Total children: up to 10

           2 2 1-13

                           3 1-19

                        Total children: up to 20

TABLE 4

Two-year-olds and Four-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           4 1-10

                        Total children: up to 11

           2 2 1-13

                           4 1-21

                        Total children: up to 22

TABLE 5

Two-year-olds and Five-twelve Year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                          5-12 1-13

                        Total children: up to 14

           2 2 1-13

                          5-12 1-27

                        Total children: up to 28

TABLE 6

Three-year-olds and Four-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 3 1-11

                           4 1-13

                        Total children: up to 14

           2 3 1-23

                           4 1-27

                        Total children: up to 28

TABLE 7

Three-year-olds and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 3 1-11

                          5-12 1-15

                        Total children: up to 16

           2 3 1-23

                          5-12 1-31

                        Total children: up to 32

TABLE 8

Four-year-olds and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 4 1-14

                          5-12 1-17

                        Total children: up to 18

           2 4 1-29

                          5-12 1-35

                        Total children: up to 36

TABLE 9

Two-year-olds, Three-year-olds, and Four-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           3 1-9

                           4 1-9

                        Total children: up to 11

           2 2 1-13

                           3 1-20

                           4 1-20

                        Total children: up to 22

TABLE 10

Two-year-olds, Three-year-olds, and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           3 1-11

                          5-12 1-11

                        Total children: up to 13

           2 2 1-13

                           3 1-24

                          5-12 1-24

                        Total children: up to 26

TABLE 11

Two-year-olds, Four-year-olds, and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           4 1-12

                          5-12 1-12

                        Total: up to 14

           2 2 1-13

                           4 1-26

                          5-12 1-26

                        Total children: up to 28

TABLE 12

Three-year-olds, Four-year-olds, and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 3 1-11

                           4 1-14

                          5-12 1-14

                        Total: up to 16

           2 3 1-23

                           4 1-30

                          5-12 1-30

                        Total children: up to 32

TABLE 13

Two-year-olds, Three-year-olds, Four-year-olds,

and Five-to-twelve-year-olds

# Caregivers Required Age # Children Present

           1 2 1-6

                           3 1-11

                           4 1-11

                          5-12 1-11

                        Total children: up to 14

           2 2 1-13

                           3 1-25

                           4 1-25

                          5-12 1-25

                        Total children: up to 28

  (3) Infants and toddlers may be included in mixed-age groups only when 8 or fewer children are present in the group.

  (4) If more than 2 children who are younger than 24 months old are included in a mixed-age group, and the group has more than 4 children, there shall be at least 2 caregivers with the group.

  (5) During nap time only, the caregiver-to-child ratio may double if:

  (a) all children in the group are at least 18 months old,

  (b) all children in the group are in a restful and nonactive state, and

  (c) the caregiver supervising the napping children is able to contact another on-site caregiver without leaving the children unattended.

  (6) There shall be at least 2 caregivers present when there is only one group of children on the premises and that group has more than 8 children, or more than 2 infants or toddlers.

  (7) The provider's or an employee's child age 4 years or older is not counted in the caregiver-to-child ratio when the parent of the child is working at the facility, but the child shall be counted in the group size.

  (8) Caregivers who are 16 or 17 years old may be included in the caregiver-to-child ratio, but shall not have unsupervised contact with any child in care.

  (9) Volunteers may be included in the caregiver-to-child ratio if they:

  (a) are at least 16 years old,

  (b) receive at least 2.5 hours of preservice training before counting in the caregiver-to-child ratio, and

  (c) complete at least 1.5 hours of child care training for each month they volunteer 40 hours or more.

  (10) Student interns who are registered in a high school or college child care course may count in the caregiver-to-child ratio when requirements in R381-100-7(14)(a)-(c) are met.

  (11) Guests shall not count in caregiver-to-child ratios.

  (12) A center that has been constructed, licensed, and continuously operated since 1 January 2004 is

  exempt from maximum group size requirements if:

  (a) the caregiver-to-child ratio is maintained, and

  (b) the required square footage for each group of children is maintained.