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