(1) A Center must
establish groupings of children for care and maintain Staff: child ratios as
follows:
Ages of Children
|
Staff: Child Ratio*
|
Maximum Group Size**
|
Infants less than one (1) year old or children
under eighteen (18) months who are not walking
|
1:6
|
12
|
One (1) year olds who are walking
|
1:8
|
16
|
Two (2) year olds
|
1:10
|
20
|
Three (3) year olds
|
1:15
|
30
|
Four (4) year olds
|
1:18
|
36
|
Five (5) year olds
|
1:20
|
40
|
Six (6) years and older
|
1:25
|
50
|
* Staff, such as the Director or service workers (food,
maintenance and clerical staff, etc.), shall be counted in the Staff: child
ratio only during the time that they are giving full attention to the direct
supervision of the children. Service staff routinely acting as child care
workers shall meet the qualifications of the respective caregivers.
** Maximum group size does not apply to outdoor play on the
playground routinely used by the Center or for special activities in the Center
lasting no more than two (2) hours. Maximum group size does not apply to
Centers with a licensed capacity of 18 or fewer. However, required Staff: child
ratios must be maintained.
(2) Mixed-Age Groups for Centers with a
licensed capacity of 19 or more children. The Staff: child ratios for a
mixed-age group shall be based on the age of the youngest group of children
that includes more than twenty percent (20%) of the total number of children in
the mixed-age group.
(3) Mixed-Age
Groups for Centers with a licensed capacity of 18 or fewer children. The Staff:
child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the following: the age of
the youngest child under three (3) years of age shall determine the Staff:
child ratio for the group in which the child(ren) under three (3) years of age
are cared for; and where all of the children in any one group are three (3)
years of age or older, the age of the majority of the children in the group
shall determine the Staff: child ratios.
(4) For Centers with a licensed capacity of
19 or more, children under three (3) years of age shall be housed in separate
physical areas from older children and cannot be mixed with older children
except at the following times and circumstances:
(a) During early morning times of arrival and
late afternoon times of departure, infants and children younger than three (3)
years may be grouped with older children so long as Staff: child ratios and
group size are met based upon the age of the youngest child in the
group.
(b) Children who turn three
(3) years of age during the regular school year may remain grouped with other
two (2) year olds for the remainder of the school year provided that the
continued placement in the younger group is with the agreement of the older
child's Parent(s) and is developmentally appropriate for the child.
(5) Staff: Child Ratios During
Day-time Scheduled Rest or Sleeping Periods. During those periods, the Staff:
child ratios may be doubled for children three (3) years and older provided
that: at least one (1) Staff person is in each room providing direct
supervision of the children; and all Staff required by paragraph (1) above
relating to Staff: child ratios are in the Center and available to assure safe
evacuation in an emergency.
(6)
Staff: Child Ratios During Evening and Night-time Care. The Staff: child ratios
required by paragraph (1) above shall be maintained except when a majority of
the children are sleeping. When a majority of the children are sleeping, then
the required ratios may be doubled. However, all Staff required by paragraph
(1) above must be available on the premises of the Center to resume supervision
of the children whenever a majority of the children in care in an area are no
longer asleep or an emergency situation arises.
(7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised
at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each
child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor
activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions
between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff
members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for
and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and
Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be
alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all
times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children
being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and
Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions
and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during
mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm's length away from children
thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.
(8) Assignment of Caregiving Staff. Employees
shall be assigned so that in so far as possible children receive care from the
same Employee each day.
(9)
Immediately prior to the Center closing and being locked at the end of the
business day, the Staff member charged with the responsibility of locking the
Center shall make a physical inspection of the entire premises to verify that
no child is left on the Center's premises.
Notes
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.32
O.C.G.A. ยง
20-1A-1et seq.
Original
Rule entitled "Staff: child Ratios and Supervision" adopted. F.
Dec. 23, 1997; eff.
Mar. 1, 1998, as
specified by the Agency.
Amended: F. Dec. 4,
2015; eff. Dec. 24, 2015.
Amended: F. May 26,
2017; eff. June 15, 2017.
Amended: F. Aug. 31,
2020; eff. Sept. 20, 2020.