3A:52-5.4(a)(6)(i) · For early childhood programs, the following shall apply, the kitchen facility or food preparation area shall be separated from other areas of the center by a door, gate, screen, or other barrier to prevent accidental access by children.

Provide a barrier to the kitchen area to prevent accidental access by the children.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.3(i)(5)(i) · Environmental condition precautions are as follows: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center and, in the discretion of the Office of Licensing, any other time, the applicant or facility operator shall certify in writing that the center provides a potable water supply provided by a public community water system. If the facility is supplied by a public community water system, the applicant or facility operator shall provide documentation of water testing conducted by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection for water testing for lead and copper from all faucets and other sources used for drinking water or food preparation and at least 50 percent of all indoor water faucets utilized by the center.

Complete and submit a DCF Drinking Water Testing Checklist and Statement of Assurance and a copy of the center's water testing completed by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Corrected Corrected by May 19, 2026

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-2.1(b) · A person applying for an initial license or renewal license to operate a center or relocation of a center shall submit a completed application to the Office of Licensing at least 45 days prior to the anticipated opening of the center or to the expiration of its existing regular license.

Complete and submit a DCF Renewal Attestation for the center's license renewal.

Corrected Corrected by May 19, 2026

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.2(d) · An applicant seeking the renewal of a license or of a Certificate of Life/Safety Approval to continue operating a center shall obtain and maintain on file a fire safety inspection certificate for the building based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months. If the center prepares meals, the applicant seeking renewal shall obtain and maintain on file a satisfactory Sanitary Inspection Certificate, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:24, indicating that the kitchen is in compliance with the applicable requirements of the State Sanitary Code, based on a sanitary inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months.

Provide a current fire certificate as required.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: health medication. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-7.3(a) · (a) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply: 1. Each child not enrolled in a public or private school shall have had a health examination performed by a health care provider within: i. Six months prior to admission, for children who are 2½ years of age or younger; or ii. One year prior to admission, for children above 2½ years of age. 2. For each child not enrolled in a public or private school, upon admission, the center shall maintain on file at the center a Universal Child Health Record (Department of Health Form CH-14) or its equivalent, updated annually, along with an immunization record , and a special care plan, if applicable. A 30-day grace period is permitted in N.J.A.C. 8:57- 4.5(e): i. For children coming from other states or countries in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.6 and 4.7; and ii. For children who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). 3. For children enrolled in a public or private school, the center shall obtain a written statement from each child's parent indicating: I. That the child is in good health and can participate in the normal activities of the program; and ii. Any conditions or specific needs that may require special accommodations. 4. If immunizations are contraindicated for medical reasons, the center may choose to admit the child, provided that the parent submits to the center a written statement from a health care provider attesting to the following: i. The reason the immunization is medically contraindicated; and ii. The specific time period that the immunization is medically contraindicated. 5. A child shall be exempted from a physical examination, immunization, or medical treatment if the parent objects thereto in a written statement submitted to the center, signed by the parent, explaining how the examination, immunization, or medical treatment conflicts with the child’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices. i. Religiously-affiliated centers shall have the authority to withhold or grant a religious exemption from the required immunization for children entering or attending their centers without challenge by any secular health authority, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.4. ii. The center shall maintain the parent’s written statement on file as part of the child’s record. 6. Those children with immunization exemptions may be excluded from the center by the Office of Licensing or the Department of Health during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak, as determined by the State Commissioner of Health.

Ensure Universal Health Records are maintained on file as required for all children in the program.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: health medication. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-4.8(d) · The director, head teacher(s), group teacher(s), and program supervisor(s) shall each complete 20 hours of staff development each year. Recommended topics of training for these staff include educational and physical activity; special needs programming and program development; social-emotional and behavioral development for young children; legal issues, including ADA guidelines and leadership and advocacy.

Ensure that all credentialed staff complete 20 hours of staff development annually.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: supervision. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-4.8(c) · The center shall ensure that all staff members who work at the center complete 12 hours of continuing staff development each year. Orientation training as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(a) may be included for six of the required hours of staff development specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(c) and (d).

Ensure that all staff complete 12 hours of staff development annually.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: recordkeeping. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-4.10(a) · As a condition of securing a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall provide for himself or herself, and shall obtain from all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis, written consent for the Department to conduct a Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) background check to determine whether an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated against any such person. If a staff member refused to consent to a CARI background check, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall immediately terminate the staff member's employment at the center.

Ensure that CARI background checks are completed as required for the sponsor/sponsor representative and all regularly scheduled staff for the center's license renewal.

Corrected Corrected by Jun 23, 2026

Category: background checks. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-4.1(d) · the Staff Records Checklist for the current director and all staff members currently working at the center shall be maintained on file at the center.

Complete and maintain on file, a current Staff Records Checklist designated by OOL.

Corrected Corrected by Jun 23, 2026

Category: recordkeeping. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.3(b)(7) · Outdoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: the center shall comply with the Playground Safety Subcode of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, as specified in N.J.A.C. 5:23-11.

Remove the small climber and slide or provide documentation from the manufacturer or a certified playground inspector indicating that the playground equipment meets ASTM F1487 (or ASTM F2373 for children under 2.5 years of age).

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-7.5(b)(10) · (9) The center shall develop and follow a policy on the administration of medication and health care procedures to children, which shall include the following provisions: before administering a health care procedure associated with a child’s health condition, such as the use of a blood glucose monitor, nebulizer, or epinephrine pen, the center shall ensure that all staff members who administer the procedure are taught to do so by the child’s parent or another appropriately-trained person. There shall be at least two staff members present at the center who are trained in such health care procedures. 10. The center shall store prescribed epinephrine pens in their original boxes with the child’s name and prescription. A special care plan or other documentation from a health care provider shall accompany the epinephrine pen. If two epinephrine pens are required, both shall be available. Each center under the jurisdiction of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5 shall store back-up epinephrine pens on site consistent with the requirements stated at N.J.S.A. 18A:40- 12.5.e(1).

Ensure Asthma medications are stored in their original boxes with the child's name and prescription, accompanied by a special care plan that includes procedures for contacting parents and emergency medical services.

Corrected Corrected by May 19, 2026

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-6.8(a)(1) · The center shall complete and maintain on file for each enrolled child a Children’s Records Checklist, signed by the director, sponsor, or sponsor representative and designated by the Office of Licensing, indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the child's name, address, birth date, and date of enrollment; the name(s), home and work address(es), home and work telephone number(s) and signature(s) of the parent(s); the name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of any person(s) authorized by the parent(s) to visit the child at the center and/or take the child from the center, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.5(a)1; and the name, address, and telephone number of the child's health care provider; signed authorization from the parent(s) for emergency medical treatment; the parent’s signature attesting to the receipt of the Information to Parents document, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.6(b); the parent’s signature attesting to the receipt of the Information to Parents document, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.6(b).; health information for each child, as follows: for early childhood programs, a record of the child’s health examination and immunizations, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.3(a); and for school-age child care programs, a record of the parent’s statement concerning the child’s health, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.3(b).

Complete and maintain on file, a current Children's Records Checklist designated by OOL.

Corrected Corrected by May 19, 2026

Category: health medication. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.4(a)(4) · For early childhood programs, the following shall apply, a supply of hot tap water not exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit and cold running water shall be provided.

Ensure that hot tap water does not exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.3(q)(1) · Space and room requirements are as follows: all space and rooms within the center to be used by children shall be inspected and approved by the Office of Licensing prior to their use. In making its determination, the Office of Licensing shall consider whether the space is too far removed, remote, or isolated from other areas of the center to be used by children. Rooms or areas of the center that are not Office of Licensing-approved for use by children shall be made inaccessible to children.

Ensure the bathroom in room 2 is accessible to the children and free of clutter and storage.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.3(n)(1) · Fire prevention requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct fire drills at least once a month, as specified in the NJUFC. The center shall ensure that fire drills are conducted during each session provided at the center and that one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable. The center shall ensure that all children present are evacuated from the building within three minutes during each fire drill.

Ensure one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable, and all children are evacuated from the building within three minutes during each fire drill.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3A:52-5.3(l)(4) · Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct two lockdown drills per year and maintain on file a record of each lockdown drill. The center shall ensure that lockdown drills are conducted during each session provided at the center.

Conduct and document at least two lockdown drills annually.

Corrected Corrected by Apr 14, 2026

Category: recordkeeping. Marked corrected in the state record.