Current through September 24, 2024
(1) All
before- and after-school programs shall have an adequate budget.
(2) Records shall be kept on all school age
students enrolled in each program.
(3) Each program shall post their annual
certificate of approval and provide parents with a copy of the policies and
procedures.
(4) Parents shall have
access to all areas of the program when the student is present.
(5) Immediate access to all areas of the
school or program shall be granted to all Department representatives and other
inspection authorities (i.e., fire safety, sanitation, health, etc.) during
operating hours.
(6) Any program
found in operation without oversight from the Department of Education will be
reported to local authorities as indicated by T.C.A. §
49-1-1105(a).
(7) If the program provides transportation,
the transportation shall be in accordance with the rules of this
Chapter.
(8) Staff
(a) Each program shall have a director
responsible for the day to day operations, including staff and program.
1. The director shall be at least twenty-one
(21) years of age and shall have at least a high school diploma and four (4)
years' experience working with school age students.
2. Directors shall have eighteen (18) hours
in-service training each year.
3. A
person shall be designated to serve as acting director when the director is
absent.
(b) All staff
shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age and one (1) staff member in
each group shall have a high school diploma.
1. High school students in grade twelve (12)
may work in before or after school programs but shall not count in ratios and
shall not be left alone with children.
2. All staff shall have twelve (12) hours of
in-service training each year.
(c) All staff shall be physically, mentally,
and emotionally stable and shall have knowledge of school age behavior and
development.
(d) All new employees
shall have orientation and training on the following prior to assuming duties:
1. Abusive head trauma;
2. Emergency preparedness;
3. Health and safety;
4. Developmentally appropriate
practice;
5. Effective afterschool
programming;
6.
Supervision;
7. Parent
communication; and
8. Any
additional training identified by the Department.
(e) Staff shall be in compliance with all
criminal history background checks required under
0520-12-01-.07.
(f) Program volunteers shall complete
criminal history background checks and appropriate in- service
training.
(g) Staff records shall
be maintained for each employee with the following: educational background,
reference checks, TBI check, in-service training, physical exams and
reviews.
(9) Each
grouping of children shall have adult supervision and shall meet the following
minimum staffing requirements:
(a) Minimum
staffing requirements per group:
|
Age
|
Max. Group Size
|
Adult:Child Ratio
|
|
Elementary School
|
No Max
|
1:20
|
|
Middle School
|
No Max
|
1:30
|
|
High School
|
No Max
|
1:30
|
(b)
Swimming and field trips require ratios be doubled.
(10) All program equipment shall be in good
condition and kept clean.
(11)
Students shall have time for self-directed activities, as well as,
adult-directed activities.
(a) Students shall
have choices regarding activities and an opportunity to help plan
activities.
(b) Parents shall be
informed of any TV or movies or computer games to be shown.
(c) Staff shall monitor computer
use.
(d) Sports and physical
activity shall be offered, weather permitting.
(e) Students shall have opportunities for
learning, self-expression, and enrichment activities each day.
(f) Students shall receive child abuse
awareness and personal safety information.
(12) Teachers shall be knowledgeable of
developmentally appropriate school-age behavior.
(a) Discipline shall be in accordance with
rules and policy adopted by the program to define program objectives, student
expectations, behavioral code, and discipline procedures. The rules and policy
shall be made available to all participants in an accessible document such as a
student handbook.
(b) No corporal
punishment is allowed.
(c) Good
behavior shall be praised and encouraged.
(13) Programs shall comply with the following
rules for health and safety:
(a) Students
shall have immunizations in accordance with this Chapter.
(b) Instructions for any student's special
health needs shall be documented.
(c) Parents shall be notified if their
student is hurt or becomes ill.
(d)
All parents shall be notified of any communicable diseases in accordance with
this Chapter.
(e) Use of
medications shall be in accordance with school system's policy for the
administration of medications and health care procedures as defined by T.C.A.
§
49-5-415
and State Board of Education guidelines.
(f) Smoking and the possession or consumption
of alcohol is prohibited.
(g) There
shall be a staff member present at all times who has current certification in
CPR and first aid training.
(h) A
first aid kit must be on the premises as well as a first aid chart.
(i) There shall be no firearms on the
premises.
(k) There shall be an
Emergency Management Plan, a written plan to protect students in event of
disaster, such as fire, tornado, earthquake, chemical spills, floods,
etc.
(14) Snacks and
meals (if full day program) shall be scheduled regularly.
(a) Students will receive meals and snacks
based on the amount of time spent in the program.
(b) Menus shall be posted.
(c) Special diets and instructions shall be
provided in writing.
(15) Programs shall be in buildings that are
not hazardous or dangerous to children.
(a)
All facilities shall have annual fire and health inspections.
(b) All programs shall have a working
telephone.
(c) Programs shall have
thirty (30) square feet of usable space per adolescent.
(d) Outdoor recreation/sports area shall have
fifty (50) square feet per student.
(16) Programs serving students with
disabilities shall follow the rules defined in this Chapter.
(a) Adaptations shall be directed towards
helping the student become independent and developing self-help
skills.
(b) Specialized services
provided shall be documented and information shared with appropriate
parties.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
49-1-302(l);
49-1-1101 through 49-1-1109; and 49-6-707.
