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[-] · Corrected Jul 2, 2025

An education consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice and support regarding the educational content and practice of the program. A person needs to apply for approval to be an education consultant. Program staff shall not serve as education consultants for programs in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role; or in a program with the same operator as a program in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role. Specific duties of the education consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, annual site visits to the facility, reviewing daily plans, curriculum documents, and educational policies for the developmental and age appropriate practices, observing program staff interactions, use of materials and equipment, implementation of plans and approaches to classroom management; and providing feedback on documentation review and classroom observations to the director and head teacher. A health consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the health of the children and the health program. Specific duties of the health consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, quarterly site visits to facilities that serve children three years of age and older; or for group child care homes, facilities that operate no more than three hours per day, or facilities that enroll only school age children, semi-annual site visits. Facilities that are closed during the summer months may omit the summer quarterly visit. Site visits shall be made by the health consultant during customary business hours when the children are present at the facility. Specific duties include, but are not limited to reviewing health and immunization records of children and program staff, reviewing the contents, storage and plan for maintenance of first aid kits, observing the indoor and outdoor environments for health and safety, observing children’s general health and development, observing diaper changing and toileting areas and diaper changing, toileting and hand washing procedures, reviewing the policies, procedures and required documentation for the administration of medications, including petitions for special medication authorizations needed for programs that administer medication, assisting in the review of individual care plans for children with special health care needs or children with disabilities, as needed; and quarterly review of all injury, illness, incident and accident reports. A social service consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the emotional needs, program staff support and the social service program. A registered dietitian consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding nutrition and food service for those programs that prepare or plan meals. A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative service shall include, but not be limited to an annual review of written policies, plans and procedures that relate to the services provided by the consultant, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person, of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and program staff about specific problems, acting as a resource person to program staff and the parent(s) to include coordinating services and assisting families and program staff in identifying necessary resources, and seeking and supporting the collaboration of multiple consultants serving the program. The activities and observations required by each consultant shall be documented in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.

Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Apr 15, 2024

In child care centers that serve children under three years of age, there shall be a sink with hot and cold running water designated for diaper changing and hand washing of staff and children in the program space. Visual contact with all other children shall be maintained while changing diapers or using the sink. Child care centers which staff three (3) adults to a group size of eight (8) infants or toddlers may use an accessible diaper changing facility if it is immediately adjoining the program area. Separate sinks shall be available for purposes other than hand washing after diaper changing within child care centers. Group child care homes shall have a sink accessible for hand washing other than the sink used for food preparation.

[19a-79-10(d)(1)] · Corrected Apr 15, 2024

At least every two (2) years, the local health director shall make unannounced visits, inspections or investigations of the licensed child care center or group child care home.

[19a-79-2a(c)(7)] · Corrected Apr 15, 2024

The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child's parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include an individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child's parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as necessary.

All staff shall have the personal qualities necessary to care for and work with children, relate to adults, and relate to the parent(s).

[19a-79-4a(c)(3)(A) thru (C) · Corrected Mar 26, 2024

The operator shall implement and annually review specific written policies, plans and procedures that include, but not necessarily be limited to discipline, when a child is not picked up as planned, emergencies, supervision of children, general operating policies, and personnel policies. The operator shall notify the parent(s), staff and the Office of Early Childhood within five (5) days of changes in these policies, plans and procedures. Where toilets and sinks are shared by children and adults, a written policy shall be developed and implemented that requires supervision of children when using the shared toilet room.

[19a-79-3a(d)(2) thru (8) &/or19a-79-7a(d)(11)(A)] · Corrected Mar 26, 2024

Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

All spaces occupied by people, equipment within buildings, approaches to buildings and parking lots shall have a minimum of one foot candle of lighting per square foot. All rooms used by children for reading, painting and other close work shall have at least fifty foot candles of light. For other work or play areas there shall e at least thirty foot candles of light.

[19a-79-7a(e)(8) &/or 19a-79-7a(e)(9)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

Rugs, if used, shall be secured to the floor.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

Disposable paper sheets shall be used and discarded immediately after each diapering.

[19a-79-10(e)(5)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

Plastic bags, balloons and Styrofoam objects shall not be accessible to children under three (3) years of age.

[19a-79-10(h)(2)] · Corrected Jul 18, 2023

The operator shall be responsible for the overall management and operation of the child care center or group child care home in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations and shall assure annual training for all current staff on the child care center or group child care home policies, plans and procedures. A file shall be kept on the licensed premises for each employee of the child care center or group child care home which shall include documentation of professional development for each program staff person who cares for the children, including documentation of annual training for current staff on the child care center or group child care home policies, plans and procedures.

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[-] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

All equipment shall be of such design and material as to be readily cleaned and safe for children. Equipment shall not be colored or covered by any poisonous material. Equipment shall be sturdy, safely constructed and free from protruding nails, rust, toxic material and other hazards.

[19a-79-7a(g)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

The operator shall be responsible for assuring the supervision of the children at all times while the children are at the facility, indoors or outdoors, or on field trips. At no time shall a child be left unsupervised.

19a-79-4a(c)(4)(D) · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

The operator shall implement and annually review specific written policies, plans and procedures that include, but not necessarily be limited to discipline, when a child is not picked up as planned, emergencies, supervision of children, general operating policies, and personnel policies. The operator shall notify the parent(s), staff and the Office of Early Childhood within five (5) days of changes in these policies, plans and procedures. Where toilets and sinks are shared by children and adults, a written policy shall be developed and implemented that requires supervision of children when using the shared toilet room.

[19a-79-3a(d)(2) thru (8) &/or19a-79-7a(d)(11)(A)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Adequate equipment for rest shall be provided. When cots are shared, they shall be washed and disinfected and linens changed between children.

[19a-79-7a(g)(2)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Hardware such as air conditioners, water heaters or fuse boxes shall be inaccessible to children. The playground shall be free of glass, debris, holes and other hazards.

[19a-79-7a(g)(4) and/or 19a-79-7a(h)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Each toilet room shall be ventilated to the outside atmosphere. In child care centers constructed or renovated after January 1, 1994, all toilet facilities shall be mechanically ventilated to the outside atmosphere.

[19a-79-7a(d)(11)(F) &/or19a-79-7a(d)(11)(G)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Rugs, if used, shall be secured to the floor.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

[19a-79-7a(e)(5)] · Corrected Jun 7, 2022

While children are in attendance at the program the operator and staff shall not engage in, nor allow, abusive, neglectful, physical, corporal, humiliating or frightening treatment or punishment, and shall not tie nor bind children and shall not physically restrain children except for the protection and safety of the child or others, using least restrictive methods, as appropriate.

[19a-79-3a(b)(8)(C)] · Corrected Oct 13, 2021

The operator and staff shall manage child behavior using techniques based on developmentally appropriate practice, including positive guidance, redirection and setting clear limits that encourage children to develop self-control, self-discipline and positive self-esteem.

[19a-79-3a(b)(8)(A)] · Corrected Oct 13, 2021

There shall be at least one (1) program staff person for every ten (10) children, or fraction thereof in attendance. When there is a mixed age group, the lower required ratio for the age of the youngest child shall prevail. During nap time, when all of the children in the group are sleeping, the overall staff child ratios shall be maintained on the licensed premises.

[19a-79-4a(c)] · Corrected Oct 13, 2021