Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart
1.
Staff-to-child ratios and maximum group size.
Except as provided in subpart
2, the minimally acceptable
staff-to-child ratios and the maximum group size within each age category
are:
| Age Category |
Minimum Staff:Child Ratio |
Maximum Group Size |
|
|
|
| Infant |
1:4 |
8 |
| Toddler |
1:7 |
14 |
| Preschooler |
1:10 |
20 |
| School-age child |
1:15 |
30 |
Subp.
2.
Staff distribution.
The license holder must ensure that the following requirements
for staff distribution are met and a written staff distribution record is kept
in the administrative record.
A. Only
a staff person who is qualified as a teacher, assistant teacher, or aide and
who works directly with children can be counted in meeting the staff-to-child
ratios.
B. An assistant teacher may
be substituted for a teacher during morning arrival and afternoon departure
times if the total arrival and departure time does not exceed 25 percent of the
center's daily hours of operation.
C. The maximum group size applies at all
times except during meals, outdoor activities, field trips, naps and rest, and
special activities such as films, guest speakers, and holiday
programs.
D. Except as provided in
item B, staff distribution within each age category must follow the pattern in
subitems (1) to (4).
(1) The first staff
member needed to meet the required staff-to-child ratio must be a
teacher.
(2) The second staff
member must have at least the qualifications of a child care aide.
(3) The third staff member must have at least
the qualifications of an assistant teacher.
(4) The fourth staff member must have at
least the qualifications of a child care aide.
The pattern in subitems (1) to (4) must be repeated until the
number of staff needed to meet the staff-to-child ratio for each age category
has been achieved.
Subp. 3.
Age category grouping.
Children in different age categories may be grouped as
follows:
A. During morning arrival and
afternoon departure times, children in different age categories may be grouped
together if:
(1) the total arrival and
departure time does not exceed 25 percent of the daily hours of
operation;
(2) the staff-to-child
ratio, group size, and staff distribution applied are for the age category of
the youngest child present; and
(3)
the group is divided when the number of children present reaches the maximum
group size of the youngest child present.
B. During the center's regular hours of
operation, children in different age categories may be mixed within a group if:
(1) infants are not grouped with children of
other age categories;
(2) there is
no more than a 36-month range in age among children in a group;
(3) the staff-to-child ratios, group size,
and staff distribution applied are for the youngest child present;
and
(4) program staff are qualified
to teach the ages of all children present within the group.
The restriction in subitem (2) may be waived if all children in
the group are school age.
Subp. 4.
Age designation.
A child must be designated as a member of the age category that
is consistent with the child's date of birth with the following
exceptions:
A. A child may be
designated as an "infant" up to the age of 18 months for purposes of staff
ratios, group size, and child care programming, if the parent, teacher, and
center director determine that such a designation is in the best interests of
the child. A child may be designated as a "toddler" up to the age of 35 months,
or as a "preschooler" at the age of 31 months for purposes of staff ratios,
group size, and child care programming, if the parent, teacher, and center
director determine that the designation is in the best interests of the
child.
B. A child attending
kindergarten must be designated a school-age child.
Statutory Authority: MS s
245A.02;
245A.09;
252.28
