Is there a change in the child/caregiver ratios for day care centers?
The numbers of children that may be supervised by one classroom caregiver in a day care center will not change September 1, 2003. The current minimum standards provide a range for numbers of children in a group; however, this range has often been applied incorrectly and therefore was removed during the rule revision process to simplify the child/staff ratio chart. Determining group size and child/caregiver ratio by the specified age group depends upon the ages and numbers of children in each group at any given time. These numbers can fluctuate daily in centers where children attend sporadically or children are regrouped to accommodate staffing needs. A new rule (ยง746.1507), which addresses how to determine the specified age group, will increase consistency in enforcement and increase understanding for providers, parents, and others.
