State of Regulations for Child Care Centers in Connecticut Weakness
Strength ✔✔ All child care programs are required to be licensed. ✔✔ C enters are required to have at least one first-aid and CPR certified staff on the premises.
✗✗ Child care centers are inspected only once a year. ✗✗ Child care licensing staff are not required to have an
✔✔ R equires all center staff to undergo a background check that includes a check of state and federal criminal history records using a fingerprint, and checks of child abuse and neglect registries. Sex offender registries are not explicitly included in the checks.
Associate’s degree, and have an average caseload of 235 programs.
✗✗ Reports of routine inspections conducted at child care programs and reports of those conducted because of complaints are not available online.
✔✔ R equires program activities to address all six developmental domains (social, physical, language/literacy, cognitive/ intellectual, emotional and cultural).
✗✗ Center directors are not required to have any college credits/courses.
✗✗ Lead teachers in centers are not required to have a
✔✔ H ealth and safety standards address all 10 basic standards (immunizations, guidance/discipline, diapering/handwashing, fire drills, medicine administration, incident reporting, hazardous materials, playground surfaces under outdoor equipment, emergency preparedness and placing infant on back).
CDA credential or an Associate’s degree.
✗✗ Center staff are not required to have fire safety and other health and safety training. They are required to complete orientation training.
✔✔ H as requirements regarding parent involvement, and allows parental visits, but does specifically address communicating with parents. ✔✔ M eets NAEYC’s ratio and group size requirements for six of seven age groups (6, 9, 18 and 27 months, and 4 and 5 years). Does not meet ratio and group size requirements for 3-year-olds.
Recommendations ■■ Establish education requirements for the directors of centers. ■■ Increase education requirements for lead teachers in centers. ■■ Establish pre-service training requirements for teachers.
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