Chapter 3: Licensing and Certification
3-5 year old
35 square feet of indoor space per child and 50 to 75 square feet of outdoor space per child is for what age of children?
building safety; physical space; teacher-to-child ratios; staff qualifications; transportation; other standards
6 licensing regulations
regulation
Although family child care has always been a frequently used source of child care, what has been relatively recent?
11%
Approximately what percent of child care centers in the U.S. have achieved national accreditation.
Health department
Bathrooms and food service operations
Certified Childcare Professional
CCP
child development associate credential
CDA
90 days
It is wise to allow at least how many days for the initial licensing
15 (5yr olds) to one adult
Licensing ratios: 5yr olds to adults
4 infants to 1 adult
Licensing ratios: infants to adults
8 toddlers (27 months) to 1 adult
Licensing ratios: toddlers (27 months) to adults
6 toddlers (18months) to 1 adult
Licensing ratios: toddlers(18 months of age) to adults
Family-care
Most family's use what type of care?
National Early Childhood Program Accreditation Commission
NECPA
Quality rating and improvement systems
QRIS
Ladders or lattices
QRIS and career pathways are aka?
evaluate and enhance programming
QRIS process provides a research-based framework of best practice that administrators and staff can use to do what?
accreditation
QRIS should not be viewed as a substitute for what?
14
Recommended maximum group size: 3yr olds
16
Recommended maximum group size: 5yr olds
6
Recommended maximum group size: infant
8
Recommended maximum group size: toddler
7:1
Recommended ratio of children to teacher: 3yr old
8:1
Recommended ratio of children to teacher: 5yr old
3:1
Recommended ratio of children to teacher: infant
4:1
Recommended ratio of children to teacher: toddler
3-8 infants to 1 adult
State or local ratios: infants to adults
6-20 preschoolers to 1 adult
State or local ratios: preschoolers to adults
4-12 toddlers to 1 adult
State or local ratios: toddlers to adults
initial inspection and approval
What is required before the center can begin to operate?
egress (exiting) in case of emergency
When infants and/or children who are nonambulatory (not walking) are enrolled in the program, the director must be sure to meet licensing requirements for those groups. typically, these requirement focus on what?
housing these programs on the first (ground) floor
When infants and/or children who are nonambulatory (not walking) are enrolled in the program, the director must be sure to meet licensing requirements for those groups. what is usually required?
performing at a higher level and meeting additional standards
accreditation implies what?
1. extensive self-study of a center's facilities, staff, and programming 2. followed by validation which may include a site visit
accreditation process typically includes (2)
Fire regulations
alarm systems
clearance
all departments must provide what before the license is issued.
minimal
although licensing regulations sometimes address staff qualifications, requirements are often what?
Fire regulations
availability of fire extinguishers
space per child
because programs for infants and toddlers require cribs, they require more what?
Local and state
both requirements might need to be met
building codes
building materials
early childhood education
child care center staff pre-service training shows a trend toward emphasizing what?
Health department
conditions in all areas of the building
1. understand which regulations apply to their program 2. ensure that all requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner 3. pay the requisite fees
directors must (3)
plenty of time
directors who are seeking initial licensing should allow what?
Fire regulations
ease of evacuation in the event of fire
training in child development and management
even when it is not required, it is wise to provide bus drivers with what?
2nd adult
having what on the bus to assist in an emergency is also advisable
1. fine imposed 2. unable to take full advantage of available fund and community resources 3. delay the opening of a new program 4. having to close down an ongoing program
if your program is not in compliance with all the regulations you risk (4)
1. plans for diapering 2. plan for disposing of soiled and wet diapers 3. hand washing by staff after each diaper change 4. storing food 5. feeding babies 6. washing toys
in centers serving infants, licensing usually requires detailed plans for (6)
state motor vehicle department standards for school bus service
in centers that provide transportation, the service usually must meet what?
minimum
licensing implies meeting what standards?
1. operation of a child care program 2. opportunity to obtain a teaching position
licensing permits (2)
infants and toddlers
many families prefer family child care homes for who because of the smaller setting
Fire regulations
methods of storing combustible materials
2
most regulations require that how many responsible adults be on the premises at all times
building codes
plumbing
staff salaries
professional organizations are working to upgrade the criteria for early childhood staff as one component of the effort to improve what?
care or protection for children
program licensure does not guarantee quality what?
educational quality
program licensure rarely addresses what aspect of the program?
private and professional communities
programs that are accredited are deemed worthy of the trust and confidence of both what?
renewal
programs usually must seek what of their accreditation?
assess, improve, communicate the level of quality
quality improvement systems can be viewed as a systemic approach to what? (3)
Fire regulations
smoke detectors
Fire regulations
sprinkler systems
1. state teacher's licensure 2. national board certification 3. child development associate credential 4. certified childcare professional credential 5. U.S. Department of Labor registered Apprenticeship for careers in child development
staff credentialing (5)
1. numbers of children 2. type of vehicle 3. types of lights on vehicle 4. proper identification on the vehicle 5. use of car seats, 6. seat belts 7. appropriate licensing 8. insurance coverage for the vehicle and the driver
state motor vehicle department standards for school bus service regulate (8)
interior of the vehicle thoroughly
the center should establish a policy requiring the driver to check what to be sure no child remains on board; required by law every time the driver leaves the vehicle.
accountability
the licensing function is a result of legislation, and its thrust is what?
legislation
the licensing function is a result of what?
1. ascertain whether a program is in compliance with the licensing regulations 2. issue or recommend issuing a license to those programs that meet the minimum requirements
the primary function of the licensing specialist is to do what (2)
35 square feet of indoor space per child and 50 to 75 square feet of outdoor space per child
the requirement for 3-5 year old children for indoor and outdoor space is what?
expensive
total compliance with all regulations may be very what?
Fire regulations & building codes
type of building construction
teachers training and their interactions
what are key factors in creating a quality program?
credentials
what are offered through states and reflect a more rigorous process of preparation than do certificates
credentials
what are related to the educational preparation of individual staff members
Teachers
what can be certified
Teachers
what can be licensed but does not have to?
centers
what cannot be certified
director credentials
what certifies that an individual has met a defined set of requirements set fort by the grantor of the credential, usually related to skills and knowledge, and may include demonstrations of competence
Center
what has to be licensed? It is required!
levels and sources of light; levels of heat; sources of fresh air; fencing of outdoor areas; protection from radiators and low windows; numbers of toilets
what is included in regulations covering physical space? (6)
Educational accountability
what points to certifying or licensing the people responsible for children's programs
protection of children's health and safety
what requires licensing of centers
coverage
what varies from state to state
which program meets your needs and the requirement in your state
when seeking a credential or certificate you must decide what?
Building codes
wiring