Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
The following requirements apply to all programs, including
family child care, small group and school age and large group and school age
child care. Additional requirements for family child care are found at 606 CMR
7.08(9). Additional requirements for small group and school age and large group
and school age child care are found at 606 CMR 7.08(10).
(1) The licensee must support and encourage a
partnership with and the involvement of parents in the early education and care
of their children.
(2)
Parent Communication. The licensee must develop a
mechanism for and encourage ongoing communication with parents, and must be
able to communicate effectively with families whose primary language is not
English or who require alternative communication methods.
(3)
Parent Input.
The licensee must have a procedure for allowing parental input in the
development of program policies, which may include, but need not be limited to
a suggestion box and individual or group parent meetings.
(4)
Parent Visits.
The licensee must permit and encourage unannounced visits by parents to the
program and/or to their child's room at any time while their child is
present
(5)
Enrollment
Meeting. The licensee must provide an opportunity for and
encourage parents to meet with the program administrator or his/her designee
prior to admitting a child to the program.
(a)
The licensee must offer children and parents an orientation to the
program.
(b) The licensee must
provide an opportunity for parent(s) and children to visit the program and meet
educators before the child is enrolled.
(c) The licensee must seek information about
each child's and family's interests and needs.
(d) To support transitions and coordinate
with services offered by other providers, the educators must request that
parents share with them information about other therapeutic, educational,
social and support services received by the child.
(e) For children younger than school age,
educators must discuss each child's developmental history with his or her
parents at the time of enrollment. The developmental history must be updated
annually and maintained in the child's record.
(6)
Written Information for
Parents. The licensee must provide the following information to
families in writing prior to enrollment of their child:
(a) notification that parents are welcome to
visit the program unannounced at any time while their child is present; and
that input from and communication with parents is encouraged;
(b) the frequency of children's progress
reports;
(c) the program's policy
regarding administration of medication as in
606 CMR
7.11(2)(a);
(d) the procedures for meeting potential
emergencies, as in
606 CMR
7.11(7)(f);
(e) the transportation plan, as in
606 CMR
7.13(1);
(f) a program calendar noting closed days and
hours of operation;
(g) the
program's fee schedule, including any fees for late payment, late pick-up,
field trips, special materials, etc.;
(h) the program's plan to provide positive
and consistent guidance to children based on their individual needs and
development;
(i) the program's
criteria for excluding children from care due to serious illnesses, contagious
diseases and reportable diseases in conformance with regulations and
recommendations set by the Division of Communicable Disease Control, Department
of
Public Health;
(j) information regarding SIDS risk reduction
practices, including the practice of sleeping infants on their backs as
required by
606 CMR
7.11(13)(e);
(k) the procedures relating to children's
records as in
606 CMR 7.04(7) through
(10); (l) notice that child educators are
mandated reporters and must, by law, report suspected child abuse or neglect to
the Department of Children and Families;
(m) notice that the program is licensed by
EEC, including the telephone number and address of the EEC regional office
responsible for the program;
(n) a
statement that parents may contact EEC for information regarding the program's
regulatory compliance history.
(7)
Parent
Conferences. The licensee must make educators available for
individual conferences with parents at parental request.
(8)
Notifications to
Parents. The licensee must inform parents:
(a) immediately of any injury which requires
any medical care beyond minor first aid or of any emergency administration of
non-prescription medication;
(b)
immediately of any allegation of abuse or neglect involving their children
while in the care and custody of the licensee;
(c) prior to or as soon as possible following
any change in educators;
(d) at the
end of the day regarding any minor first aid administered;
(e) in writing within 24 hours of any
incident described in 606 CMR 7.08(8)(a), (b), or (d);
(f) whenever special problems and significant
developments arise, as provided at 606 CMR
7.06(5);
(g) whenever a communicable disease or
condition has been identified in the program;
(h) in writing seven days prior to the
implementation of any change in program policy or procedures;
(i) in writing prior to the introduction of
any pets into the program;
(j) in
writing of the use of any herbicides or pesticides, prior to their use whenever
possible; and
(k) whenever the
program deviates from the planned menu.
(9)
Additional Requirements for
Family Child Care. The provider must notify parents:
(a) in writing of the existence of a firearm
in the family child care home. This notification must be given upon enrollment
and/or when the firearm is brought into the family child care home;
(b) of any changes in the regular composition
of the household. The provider must notify the parents of anyone regularly on
the premises.
(10)
Additional Requirements for Small Group and School Age and Large
Group and School Age Child Care. In addition to the requirements
of 606 CMR 7.08(6), the following information must be provided to parents in
writing prior to enrollment:
(a) the program's
written statement of purpose, as required by
606 CMR
7.04(17)(a), including and,
where applicable, information on the administrative organization of the
program, as required by
606 CMR
7.04(17)(c);
(b) The suspension and termination policy as
in 606 CMR 7. 04(17)(i).
