(a)
The staff/child ratios and group sizes for single-age groups of children in
centers shall be as follows:
Age of Children
|
Ratio Staff/Children
|
Maximum Group Size
|
0 to 12 Months
|
1/5
|
10
|
12 to 24 Months
|
1/6
|
12
|
2 to 3 Years
|
1/10
|
20
|
3 to 4 Years
|
1/15
|
25
|
4 to 5 Years
|
1/20
|
25
|
5 Years and Older
|
1/25
|
25
|
(1) when
combining age groups, the staff/child ratio for the youngest child in the group
shall be maintained for the entire group;
(2) children of all ages may be cared for
together in groups for the first and last operating hour of the day, provided
the staff/child ratio for the youngest child in the group is
maintained;
(3) a child two years
of age and older may be placed with children under one year of age when a
physician certifies that the developmental age of the child makes this
placement appropriate;
(4) when
determined to be developmentally appropriate by the operator and parent, a
child age two or older may be placed one age level above his or her
chronological age without affecting the staff/child ratio for that group. This
provision shall be limited to one child per group;
(5) except as provided in Subparagraphs (2)
and (3) of this Paragraph, children under one year of age shall be kept
separate from children two years of age and over;
(6) except as provided in Subparagraph (2) of
this Paragraph, children between the ages of 12 months and 24 months shall not
be grouped with older children unless all children in the group are less than
three years of age;
(7) when only
one caregiver is required to meet the staff/child ratio and no children under
two years of age are in care, that caregiver may concurrently perform food
preparation or other duties that are not direct child care responsibilities as
long as supervision of the children as specified in
10A NCAC
09 .1801 is maintained;
(8) except as provided in Subparagraph (7) of
this Paragraph, staff members and child care administrators who are counted in
meeting the staff/child ratios as stated in this Rule shall not concurrently
perform food preparation or other duties that are not direct child care
responsibilities; and
(9) when only
one caregiver is required to meet the staff/child ratio, the operator shall
select one of the following options for emergency relief:
(A) the center shall post the name, address,
and telephone number of an adult who has agreed in writing to be available to
provide emergency relief; or
(B)
there shall be a second adult on the premises who is available to provide
emergency relief.
(10)
the staff/child ratio applicable to a classroom as described in this Paragraph
shall be posted in that classroom in an area that parents are able to view at
all times.
(b) The
staff/child ratios for a center located in a residence with a licensed capacity
of 3 to 12 children when any preschool-age child is enrolled, or with a
licensed capacity of 3 to 15 children when only school-age children are
enrolled, are as follows:
Age of Children
|
Ratio Staff/Children
|
0 to 12 Months
|
1/5 preschool children plus three additional
school-age children
|
12 to 24 Months
|
1/6 preschool children plus two additional school-age
children
|
2 to 13 Years
|
1/10
|
3 to 13 Years
|
1/12
|
All school-age
|
1/15
|
(c)
The staff/child ratio applicable to a classroom for a center located in a
residence as described in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall be posted in that
classroom in an area that parents are able to view at all times.
(d) When only one caregiver is required to
meet the staff/child ratio for a center located in a residence, as described in
Paragraph (b) of this Rule and children under two years of age are in care,
that person shall not concurrently perform food preparation or other duties
that are not direct child care responsibilities.
(e) When only one caregiver is required to
meet the staff/child ratio for a center located in a residence, as described in
Paragraph (b) of this Rule the operator shall select one of the following
options for emergency relief:
(1) the center
shall post the name, address, and telephone number of an adult who has agreed
in writing to be available to provide emergency relief and who can respond
within a reasonable period of time; or
(2) there shall be a second adult on the
premises who is available to provide emergency relief.
(f) Upon the Division's receipt of a written
request, a center may choose to group children in multi-age groups rather than
single-aged groups. The staff/child ratios and group sizes for multi-age groups
of children in centers shall be as follows:
Age of Children
|
Ratio Staff/Children
|
Maximum Group Size
|
0 to 36 months
|
1/4
|
8
|
12 months to 36 months
|
1/5
|
10
|
24 months to 47 months
|
1/6
|
10
|
4 years of age to 6 years of age
|
1/9
|
18
|
6 years of age through 12 years of age
|
1/19
|
25
|
(1) Before
meeting the ratios outlined in this Paragraph or before changing from multi-age
group ratios to single-age group ratios, the Division must be notified in
writing;
(2) Paragraphs (a) through
(e) of this Rule do not apply to centers that choose to meet the ratios
outlined in this Paragraph, with the exception of Subparagraphs (a)(7), (8) and
(9) of this Rule;
(3) Children 36
months through 47 months may remain in the classroom with infants provided
there is an agreed upon transition plan between the child care facility, the
child's parents or legal guardian, and local partners if the plan includes
future care outside of the center. Transition plans must be initiated at least
six months prior to a child's third birthday, maintained in each child's file,
and be available for review by the Division; and
(4) The staff/child ratio applicable for a
multi-age group as described in this Paragraph shall be posted in that
classroom in an area that parents are able to view at all times.
Notes
10A
N.C. Admin. Code 09 .0713
Authority
G.S.
110-85;
110-91(7);
143B-168.3;
Eff.
December 1, 1988;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2006; July 1, 1998; July
1, 1994; January 1, 1992; August 1, 1990; November 1, 1989;
Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;
Amended Eff. February 1,
2021.
Authority G.S. 110-85;
110-91(7);
143B-168.3;
Eff.
December 1, 1988;
Amended Eff. January 1, 2006; July 1, 1998; July
1, 1994; January 1, 1992; August 1, 1990; November 1, 1989.
Readopted
byNorth
Carolina Register Volume 32, Issue 09, November 1, 2017 effective
10/1/2017.
Amended by
North
Carolina Register Volume 35, Issue 17, March 1, 2021 effective
2/1/2021.
Amended by
North
Carolina Register Volume 38, Issue 03, August 1, 2023 effective
7/1/2023.