Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.31 - Staff
(1)
Director
(a) A Center must have
a Director who is responsible for the supervision, operation and maintenance of
the Center. The Director must be on the Center's premises. If the Director is
absent from the Center at any time during the hours of the Center's operation,
there shall be an officially designated person on the Center site to assume
responsibility for the operation of the Center, and this person shall have full
access to all records required to be maintained under these rules.
(b) Qualifications of Director. The Director
must meet the minimum qualifications listed below.
1. Be at least twenty-one (21) years of
age;
2. Possess at least one of the
following sets of minimum academic requirements and qualifying child care
experience:
(i) Child Development Associate
(CDA) credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition; Child
Development and Related Care diploma from a vocational institute accredited by
the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
or similar credential where the course of study includes an intensive practicum
in child care as part of the curriculum and which is approved by the
Department; and six (6) months of qualifying child care experience;
(ii) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in
Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six (6) months of qualifying
child care experience;
(iii)
Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Infant and Toddler and six (6) months
of qualifying child care experience;
(iv) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in
Program Administration and six (6) months of qualifying child care
experience;
(v) Technical
Certificate of Credit (TCC) in School Age and Youth Care and six (6) months of
qualifying child care experience;
(vi) Technical College Diploma (TCD) in Early
Childhood Education or Child Development and six (6) months of qualifying child
care experience;
(vii) Forty-hour
(40) director training course approved by the Department and has been employed
for a minimum of five (5) years as an on-site Child Care Learning Center
Director;
(viii) Associate's degree
in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and six (6) months of
qualifying child care experience;
(ix) Paraprofessional Certificate issued by
the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and six (6) months of qualifying
child care experience;
(x)
Twenty-five (25) quarter hours or fifteen (15) semester hours from an
accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development and six (6) months of qualifying child care experience;
(xi) Bachelor's degree from an accredited
college or university in a field other than Early Childhood Education or Child
Development and three (3) months of qualifying child care experience;
(xii) Bachelor's degree from an accredited
college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development;
(xiii) Master's degree
from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development;
3.
Participate in the orientation and training required by these rules;
4. Must be able to perform adequately the job
duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children enrolled in
the Center in accordance with these rules;
5. Never have been shown by credible
evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation or other reliable
evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or adult or to have
subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement
to this effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said
request, the Director or Staff shall provide this statement to the
Department;
6. Not have made any
material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to the
Department or to the proposed or current License Holder, Permit Holder or
commission holder, and
7. Comply
with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks.
(c) Required Records. A copy and/or written
verification of the credential or degree awarded to the Director listed in
591-1-1-.31(1)(b)2. (i) through (xiii) shall be maintained by the Center in the
Director's file, and such documentation shall be available for inspection and
provided to Department staff upon request.
(2)
Teacher/Lead Caregiver
(a) A Center with a licensed capacity of 19
or more children must have a designated teacher/lead caregiver for each group
of children.
(b) Qualifications of
Teacher/Lead Caregiver. The teacher/lead caregiver must meet the minimum
qualifications listed below.
1. Be at least
eighteen (18) years of age;
2.
Possess at least one of the following sets of minimum academic requirements and
qualifying experience at the time of employment:
(i) Child Development Associate (CDA)
credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition; Child
Development and Related Care diploma from a vocational institute accredited by
the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
or similar credential where the course of study includes an intensive practicum
in child care as part of the curriculum and which is approved by the
Department;
(ii) Technical
Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development;
(iii) Technical
Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Infant and Toddler;
(iv) Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in
Program Administration;
(v)
Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in School Age and Youth Care;
(vi) Technical College Diploma (TCD) in Early
Childhood Education or Child Development;
(vii) Associate's degree in Early Childhood
Education or Child Development (AA, AAS, AAT);
(viii) Paraprofessional Certificate issued by
the Georgia Professional Standards Commission;
(ix) Twenty-five (25) quarter hours or
fifteen (15) semester hours from an accredited college or university in Early
Childhood Education or Child Development;
(x) Bachelor's degree from an accredited
college or university in a field other than Early Childhood Education or Child
Development and three (3) months of qualifying child care experience;
(xi) Bachelor's degree from an accredited
college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development;
(xii) Master's degree
from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or Child
Development.
3. If the
newly hired lead teacher does not possess one of the educational and qualifying
child care experience requirements listed in 591-1-1-.31(2)(b)2. (i) through (xii), the Center may hire this individual as lead teacher if the following
requirements are met:
(i) The lead teacher
enrolls in a program of study to obtain one of the educational credentials and
qualifying experience requirements listed in 591-1-1-.31(2)(b)2. (i) through (xii), within six (6) months after becoming employed at the Center and
completes the credential or degree within eighteen (18) months after
enrollment;
(ii) The Center
prepares a written plan outlining the newly hired lead teacher's professional
development in obtaining one of the credentials or degrees listed in
591-1-1-.31(2)(b)2. (i) through (xii). Such plan must include the following
information:
(I) Individual's identifying
information (name, address and telephone numbers);
(II) Technical college, university or school
where enrolled (name, address and telephone number) or Department-approved
trainer providing credential course work (name, address and telephone
number);
(III) Credential or degree
individual is seeking;
(IV) Content
area of credential or degree;
(V)
Anticipated date for completion of credential or degree;
(VI) Names and numbers of courses to be
completed during the current year and ongoing updates of the names and numbers
of courses to be completed for the following year(s);
(VII) Documentation of course work
successfully completed throughout process (i.e., completion of quarter,
semester or component of course work); and
(VIII) A copy of the credential or degree
awarded by the technical college, university, school or Department-approved
trainer for specified credential upon completion.
(iii) This professional development plan must
be maintained in the lead teacher's file, and such plan shall be available for
inspection and provided to Department staff upon request.
4. Participate in the orientation and
training required by these rules;
5. Must be able to perform adequately the job
duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children enrolled in
the Center in accordance with these rules;
6. Never have been shown by credible
evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation or other reliable
evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or adult or to have
subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement
to this effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said
request, the teacher/lead caregiver or Staff shall provide this statement to
the Department;
7. Not have made
any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to
the Department or to the proposed or current License Holder, Permit Holder or
commission holder; and
8. Comply
with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks.
(c) Required Records. A copy and/or written
verification of the credential or degree awarded to the lead teacher listed in
591-1-1-.31(2)(b)2. (i) through (xii) shall be maintained by the Center in the
lead teacher's file, and such documentation shall be available for inspection
and provided to Department staff upon request.
(3)
Caregivers/Aides for a Center with
Licensed Capacity of Nineteen (19) or More Children
(a) A Center with a licensed capacity of
nineteen (19) or more children may employ caregivers/aides to assist the
teacher/lead caregiver in the care of children in any group within the Center.
No caregiver/aide who is 16 or 17 years of age shall be solely responsible for
children.
(b) Qualifications of
Caregivers/Aides for a Center with Licensed Capacity of Nineteen (19) or More
Children.
1. Be at least sixteen (16) years
of age;
2. Participate in the
orientation and training required by these rules;
3. Must be able to perform adequately the job
duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children enrolled in
the Center in accordance with these rules;
4. Never have been shown by credible
evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation or other reliable
evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or adult or to have
subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement
to this effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said
request, the teacher/lead caregiver or Staff shall provide this statement to
the Department;
5. Not have made
any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to
the Department or to the proposed or current License Holder, Permit Holder or
commission holder; and
6. Comply
with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks.
(4)
Caregivers/Aides for a Center with
Licensed Capacity of Eighteen (18) or Fewer Children
(a) A Center with a licensed capacity of
eighteen (18) or fewer children may employ caregivers/aides to assist the
Director in the care of children in any group within the Center.
(b) Qualifications of Caregivers/Aides for a
Center with Licensed Capacity of Eighteen (18) or Fewer Children.
1. Be at least eighteen (18) years of
age;
2. Participate in the
orientation and training required by these rules;
3. Must be able to perform adequately the job
duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children enrolled in
the Center in accordance with these rules;
4. Never have been shown by credible
evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation or other reliable
evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or adult or to have
subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement
to this effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said
request, the teacher/lead caregiver or Staff shall provide this statement to
the Department.
5. Not have made
any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to
the Department or to the proposed or current License Holder, Permit Holder or
commission holder;
6. Have either
a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED) or three (3) months
qualifying child care experience as determined by the Department; and
7. Comply with the background check
requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks.
(5)
Provisional Employees.The
Center may hire Provisional Employees. All Provisional Employees:
(a) Must comply with the background check
requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks;
(b) Must be informed of the rules for Child
Care Learning Centers and the Center's policies and procedures for the age
group for which they will be providing care;
(c) Must be informed of the Center's policies
and procedures necessary to the proper performance of their job duties in
compliance with the rules for Child Care Learning Centers;
(d) Must participate in the orientation and
training required by these rules;
(e) Must be able to perform adequately the
job duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children enrolled
in the Center in accordance with these rules;
(f) Must never have been shown by credible
evidence, e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation or other reliable
evidence to have abused, neglected or deprived a child or adult or to have
subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly
negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement
to this effect at the time of application or at any other time. Upon said
request, the Provisional Employee shall provide this statement to the
Department;
(g) Must not have made
any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to
the Department or to the proposed or current License Holder or commission
holder;
(h) Must be supervised at
all times by a Director or Employee with a valid and current satisfactory
Comprehensive Records Check Determination; and
(i) May be hired as a permanent Employee by
the Center only if the individual receives a satisfactory Comprehensive Records
Check Determination by the Department and meets all other qualification
requirements in these rules.
(6)
Independent Contractors.A
Center may have an independent contractor to offer supplemental educational or
physical activities for children in care.
(a)
Such an independent contractor is considered either an Employee or Provisional
Employee of the Center for the purpose of these rules and must comply with the
background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks; and
(b) Such an independent contractor is
exempted from annual training and first-aid/CPR training
requirements.
(7)
Parents.The Center may have Parents occasionally assist in a classroom,
chaperone or accompany a group of children from the Center on a field trip.
(a) A Parent that is this type of occasional
assistant is not required to obtain a criminal records check determination;
however, a staff member who is also a Parent of a child in care at the Center
is considered either an Employee or Provisional Employee for purposes of these
rules and must comply with the background check requirements as outlined in
Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks; and
(b) No Parent shall be solely responsible for
children other than their own and must be under continuous direct supervision
of a Director or Employee with a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive
Records Check Determination while in the presence of children in care other
than their own.
(8)
Volunteers.The Center may have volunteers other than Parents help
in a classroom, chaperone or accompany a group of children from the Center on a
field trip.
(a) Volunteers that provide
consistent services are considered either Employees or Provisional Employees
for purposes of these rules and must comply with the background check
requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks;
(b) No volunteer shall be solely responsible
for children other than their own and must be under continuous direct
supervision of a Director or Employee with a valid and current satisfactory
Comprehensive Records Check Determination while in the presence of children
other than their own; and
(c) Such
volunteer is exempted from annual training and first-aid/CPR training
requirements.
(9)
Students-in-Training.The Center may have Students-in-Training at the
Center.
(a) Students-in-Training are
considered either Employees or Provisional Employees for purposes of these
rules and must comply with the background check requirements as outlined in
Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks;
(b) No Student-In-Training shall be solely
responsible for children other than their own and must be under continuous
direct supervision of a Director or Employee with a valid and current
satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination while in the presence of
children in care other than their own; and
(c) Such Students-in-Training are exempted
from annual training and first-aid/CPR training requirements.
(10)
Staff for School-Age
Centers.
(a) After-school programs
serving children ages five (5) years and older (school-age) that routinely
operate a maximum of four (4) hours per day, Monday through Friday, whether the
School-age Center is the only licensed program at that location or operates a
full day Child Care Learning Center, shall comply with the following:
(b) A School-age Center must have at least
one lead teacher/caregiver who is responsible for:
1. Day-to-day programming and
2. Supervision of the assistant
caregivers/aides assigned to each classroom or group of School-age
Children;
(c) If there
is only one lead teacher/caregiver and more than one classroom or group of
School-age Children, the Director of the School-age Center shall assign an
assistant caregiver/aide who is at least 18 years of age to each classroom or
group of children;
(d) If there is
a lead teacher/caregiver assigned to each classroom or group of children, the
assistant caregiver/aide may be 16 or 17 years of age; and
(e) Staff for School-Age Centers are
considered Employees or Provisional Employees for purposes of these rules and
must comply with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks.
(11)
Clerical, Housekeeping,
Maintenance and Other Support Staff. The Center shall have qualified and
sufficient direct-care, clerical, housekeeping, maintenance and other support
staff to ensure full compliance with these rules without neglecting the
supervision of the children.
(a) Other Staff
That May Have Direct Contact With Children in Care. A Center may have
additional staff at the Center. Any staff member that has any personal contact
with any child in care:
1. Is considered
either an Employee or Provisional Employee for purposes of these rules and must
comply with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule
591-1-1-.09, Criminal Records and
Comprehensive Background Checks; and
2. May be exempted from annual training and
first-aid/CPR training requirements.
(b) Other Staff That Must Not Have Direct
Contact With Children in Care. The Center may have individuals at the Center to
repair and/or maintain the facility while children are in care that have no
personal contact with any child in care. These individuals:
1. Must have no contact with children in
care;
2. May not be required to
obtain a criminal records check determination, unless they have contact with
children in care; and
3. May be
exempted from annual training and first-aid/CPR training
requirements.
(12)
Work Schedules.Staff shall
not regularly be scheduled to perform child care duties for more than twelve
(12) hours within any twenty-four (24) hour period.
(13)
Compliance with Applicable Laws
and Regulations.Center Staff shall not commit any criminal act, as
defined under Georgia law, in the presence of any child enrolled in the Center.
Center staff shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Notes
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