Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 13A - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Subtitle 17 - CHILD CARE-LETTERS OF COMPLIANCE
Chapter 13A.17.08 - Child Supervision
Section 13A.17.08.03 - Group Size and Staffing
Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. Assignment of Staff. One or more staff members shall be assigned to each group of children as needed to meet the requirements for group size and staffing set forth at §§C-E of this regulation.
B. Age of a Child. For purposes of determining group size and staff required under this chapter, the age of a child is determined solely according to the date of the child's most recent birthday.
C. Same-Age Groups in Nursery Schools. In groups of children of the same age in a nursery school, the following requirements apply:
| Child Age Group | Staff/Child Ratio | Maximum Group Size |
| 2 years old | 1 to 6 | 12 |
| 3 years old | 1 to 12 | 24 |
| 4 years old | 1 to 15 | 30 |
D. Same-Age Groups in Before-School and After-School Child Care Programs. In groups of children of the same age in a before-school or after-school child care program, the following requirements apply:
| Child Age Group | Staff/Child Ratio | Maximum Group Size |
| 2 years old | 1 to 6 | 12 |
| 3 or 4 years old | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| 5 years old or older | 1 to 15 | 30 |
E. Mixed Age Groups.
| Group Composition | &#Group Size | Minimum Staffing Level |
| Group includes one to three 2 year old children | 7 to 10 | 1 Staff member |
| Group includes four or more 2 year old children | 7 to 10 | 2 Staff members |
| Group includes one to three 2 year old children | 13 to 20 | 2 Staff members |
| Group includes four to six 2 year old children | 13 to 20 | 3 Staff members |
F. When children who are 2 years old, 3 years old, 4 years old, and 5 years old are grouped together, the average age of all the children in the group as of September 1 of that school year is used to determine the group's maximum size and staff/child ratio.
