Virginia Administrative Code
Title 8 - EDUCATION
Agency 20 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chapter 780 - STANDARDS FOR LICENSED CHILD DAY CENTERS
Part V - Staffing and supervision
Section 8VAC20-780-350 - Staff-to-children ratio and group size requirements
Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 16, March 25, 2024
A. The maximum group size limitations specified in Table 1 shall be followed whenever children are in care.
TABLE 1. Maximum Group Size Requirements |
||
Age |
Maximum Group Size |
|
1. |
Birth up to 16 months |
12 |
2. |
16 months up to 24 months |
15 |
3. |
2 year olds |
24 |
4. |
3 year olds up to school age eligible |
30 |
B. The staff-to-children ratios specified in Table 2 are required whenever children are in care.
TABLE 2. Ratio Requirements |
||
Age |
Ratio (staff: children) |
|
1. |
Birth up to 16 months |
1:4 |
2. |
16 months up to 24 months |
1:5 |
3. |
2 year olds |
1:8 |
4. |
3 year olds up to school age eligible |
1:10 |
5. |
School age eligible up to 9 years |
1:18 |
6. |
9 years through 12 years |
1:20 |
C. When children are in ongoing mixed age groups, the staff-to-children ratio and group size applicable to the youngest child in the group shall apply to the entire group.
D. Group size limitations shall not apply during:
E. Group size requirements in subsection A of this section do not apply to children school age eligible through 12 years of age.
F. The center shall develop and implement a written policy and procedure that describes how the center will ensure that each group of children receives care by consistent staff or team of staff members.
G. Staff shall be counted in the required staff-to-children ratios only when they are directly supervising children.
H. A child volunteer 13 years of age or older not enrolled in the program shall not be counted as a child in the staff-to-children ratio requirements.
I. For children ages 16 months through preschool age, during the designated rest period, when children are resting or in an inactive state, the following rest period ratios are permitted if the requirements of subsections J through N of this section are met:
J. Staff required by rest period ratios shall be within sight and sound at all times in the same space as the resting or sleeping children.
K. In addition to the staff required by rest period ratios, an additional staff member shall always be available on-site to offer immediate assistance. The staff required by rest period ratios shall be able to summon the additional staff member without leaving the room or area of the sleeping or resting children.
L. Once at least half of the children in the resting room or area are awake and off their mats or cots, the staff-to-children ratio shall meet the ratios as required in subsection B of this section.
M. One staff member shall not supervise more than one room or area during rest time.
N. Centers providing evening and overnight care shall meet the requirements of subsections I through this subsection N of this section during sleep periods.
O. The ratio for balanced-mixed-age groupings of children shall be one staff member for every 14 children provided:
P. A maximum group size of 28 shall be followed whenever children in care are in balanced-mixed-age groupings.
Q. With a parent's written permission and a written assessment by the program director and program leader, a center may choose to assign a child to a different age group if such age group is more appropriate for the child's developmental level and the staff-to-children ratio and group size shall be for the established age group.
Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.