State of Regulations for Child Care Centers in the Dept. of Defense Weakness
Strength ✔✔ All child care programs are required to be licensed.
✗✗ Reports of inspections conducted at child care programs because of complaints are not available online.
✔✔ All child care centers are inspected at least four times a year.
✗✗ Meets NAEYC’s ratio and group size requirements for only
✔✔ C hild care licensing staff are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field, and they have an average caseload of 50 programs.
two of seven age groups (6 and 9 months). Does not meet ratio and group size requirements for 18 and 27-month and 3, 4 and 5-year-olds.
✔✔ R eports of routine inspections conducted at child care programs are available online. ✔✔ R equires center directors to have at least a Bachelor’s degree or higher in ECE or related field. ✔✔ R equires lead teachers in centers to have a CDA credential or Associate’s degree.
Recommendations
✔✔ C enter staff are required to have orientation, fire safety, and other health and safety training. ✔✔ A ll center staff are required to have first-aid and CPR training.
■■ Make complaint reports available online. ■■ Reduce the staff-child ratios for some age groups.
✔✔ C enter staff are required to complete at least 24 hours of annual training and work toward a CDA credential. ✔✔ R equires all center staff to undergo a comprehensive background check that includes a check of state and federal criminal history records using a fingerprint, and checks of child abuse and neglect registries and the National Sex Offender Registry. ✔✔ R equires program activities to address all six developmental domains (social, physical, language/literacy, cognitive/ intellectual, emotional and cultural). ✔✔ 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). Diapering is not addressed. ✔✔ H as requirements regarding parent involvement and communication, and allows parental visits.
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