Indiana Administrative Code
Title 470 - DIVISION OF FAMILY RESOURCES
Article 3 - CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Rule 4.7 - Child Care Centers; Licensing
Section 4.7-49 - Child grouping policies

(a) Age grouping policies apply at all times except as in subsection (f).

(b) When mixing age groups, younger children shall be protected from aggressive older children.

(c) Caregivers may care for preschool children in the same group or area.

(d) Centers may group children thirty (30) to thirty-six (36) months of age with children three (3) years of age.

(e) When all the children two (2) [sic., years] of age in a group are at least thirty (30) months of age, the child/staff ratio is 7:1.

(f) Caregivers may group children three (3) years of age through school age together during the first and last hour of the child care center's operation provided the group size does not exceed the maximum group size for the youngest children in the group.

(g) Caregivers shall care for school age children in a clearly defined separate room/area. When mixing age groups, the group may not be larger than the square foot capacity of the room.

(h) The maximum number of children per class is also determined by available space.

(i) Centers licensed prior to the effective date of this rule may elect to have a maximum group size for children two (2) years of age of fifteen (15), provided they use the same room.

(j) Kindergarten age children may be mixed with either preschool or school age groups.