Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A.
Child to staff ratios are established to ensure the safety of all
children.
B. Minimum child to staff
ratios shall be met at all times.
1. There
shall be a minimum of two staff members present at an early learning center
when more than four children are present.
2. Only those staff members directly
providing care, supervision or guidance to children shall be counted in the
child to staff ratios.
C.
The department's form noting required child-to-staff ratios shall be posted in
each room included in the centers licensed capacity.
D. Minimum child-to-staff ratios for centers
are as follows.
1. Infants under 1 year,
5:1;
2. 1 year, 7:1;
3. 2 years, 10:1;
4. Children 3 years, 13:1;
5. 4 years, 15:1;
6. 5 years, 19:1;
7. 6 years and up, 23:1.
E. Mixed Age Groups-Minimum Child to Staff
Ratios
1. An average of the child to staff
ratios may be applied to mixed age groups of children ages two, three, four and
five.
2. Child to staff ratios for
children under age two are excluded from averaging.
3. When a mixed age group includes children
younger than age two, the age of the youngest child determines the child to
staff ratio for the group.
4. An
average may be applied to a mixed age group consisting only of children ages
five and older.
F. Rest
Time-Minimum Child to Staff Ratios
1.
Sufficient staffing needed to satisfy child to staff ratios shall be present on
the premises during rest time and available to assist as needed.
2. Children ages one and older may be grouped
together at rest time with one staff member in each room supervising the
resting children.
G.
Walking To and From School. Minimum child to staff ratios shall be met when
walking children to and from school.
H. Field Trips-Minimum Child to Staff Ratios
1. Minimum child to staff ratios, plus one
additional adult, shall be met for all field trips.
2. An adult staff member from the center
shall be present with each group of children.
3. At no time shall a child or group of
children be left alone without an adult staff member present unless the child
is supervised by the parent of the child or designated representative
authorized in writing by the parent.
I. Non-vehicular ExcursionsMinimum Child to
Staff Ratios
1. Minimum child to staff ratio,
plus one additional adult, shall be met for all non-vehicular
excursions.
2. An adult staff
member from the center shall be present with each group of children.
3. At no time shall a child or group of
children be left alone without an adult staff member present unless the child
is supervised by the childs parent or designated representative authorized in
writing by the parent on the non-vehicular excursions.
J. Water ActivitiesMinimum Child to Staff
Ratios
1. A minimum of two staff shall be
present when children are engaged in water activities.
2. The following minimum child to staff
ratios apply when children are engaged in water activities, excluding water
play activities, unless the children are participating in swimming lessons with
a certified water safety instructor.
|
Ages of Children
|
Ratio
|
|
Three years
|
20:2
|
|
Four years
|
25:2
|
|
Five years and up
|
30:2
|
3.
The age of the youngest child determines the child to staff ratio when children
in a group are of mixed ages.
K. Children with Disabilities and Children
with Special Health Care Needs-Minimum Child to Staff Ratios. When the nature
of a child with special health care needs or the number of children with
special health care needs warrants added care, the center shall add sufficient
staff as necessary.
L. Maximum
group sizes for centers are as follows.
1.
Infants under 1 year, 15;
2. 1
year, 21;
3. 2 years, 20;
4. 3 years, 26;
5. 4 years, 30;
6. 5 years, 38;
7. 6 years and up, 46.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6 and
17:407.40(A)(3).
