Minnesota Administrative Rules

9503.0075 DROP-IN AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.

Subpart 1.

Exemptions for drop-in and school-age child care programs.

A license holder operating a drop-in or school-age child care program as defined in part 9503.0015 must comply with parts 9503.0005 to 9503.0170 with the following exceptions:

A.

The staff ratios and group size restrictions in part 9503.0040 do not apply and are replaced by the requirements in subparts 2 to 6.

B.

Part 9503.0045, subpart 1, items F and G, of the child care program plan do not apply.

C.

The requirement in part 9503.0050, subpart 6, that separate bedding be provided for each child in care applies only to those children in care who are less than 30 months old. The provisions in part 9503.0050, subpart 6, requiring washing and cleaning of bedding and blankets remain in effect and apply to all bedding or blankets used by the drop-in child care program.

D.

Half the furnishings, equipment, materials, or supplies specified by the following subparts of part 9503.0060 are required:

(1)

subpart 4, item A, subitems (2), (5), and (8);

(2)

subpart 5, item A, subitems (2), (3), and (7); and

(3)

subpart 6, item A, subitems (3) and (6).

E.

Part 9503.0070, regarding night care programs, does not apply.

F.

Part 9503.0090, subpart 2, regarding parent conferences and daily reports, does not apply.

Subp. 2.

Supervision.

A drop-in and school-age child care program must:

A.

be operated under the supervision of a person who qualifies both as a director under part 9503.0031 and as a teacher under part 9503.0032; and

B.

have at least two staff persons present at the center whenever the program is operating even when the ages and numbers of children present are such that the staff-to-child ratio requirements established in subpart 3 could be met by having only one staff person.

Subp. 3.

Staff ratios; drop-in programs.

The minimum ratio of staff persons to children that a license holder may maintain in a drop-in program is:

A.

for infants ages six weeks through 16 months, one staff person for every four infants;

B.

for children ages 17 months through 29 months, one staff person for every seven children; and

C.

for children ages 30 months through 12 years, one staff person for every ten children.

Subp. 3a.

Staff ratios; school-age programs.

A school age program must maintain a minimum staff ratio as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision 6, paragraph (f).

Subp. 4.

Exception to staff ratio for ages 30 months through 12 years in a drop-in program.

The number of children per staff person specified in subpart 3 for a drop-in program may be increased only with children ages 30 months through 12 years, only by a maximum of four children, and only for a time period, not to exceed 20 minutes, required for additional staff to arrive at the center. A center that exceeds the ratio in subpart 3, item C, must be able to document having staff persons who, as a condition of their employment, are on call to come to the center as needed and arrive at the center within 20 minutes after receiving notification to report.

Subp. 5.

Age category grouping; drop-in programs.

Whenever the total number of children present to be cared for at a drop-in child care center is more than 20, the center shall comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision 6, paragraph (e).

Subp. 5a.

Care provided to siblings.

A drop-in child care program may group siblings together as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.14, subdivision 6, paragraph (k).

Subp. 6.

Staff distribution.

Staff distributions for drop-in child care programs must meet the requirements in items A and B.

A.

If a drop-in child care program serves both infants and older children, the following minimum staff distribution pattern applies for the supervision of infants ages six weeks through 16 months and children ages 17 months through 29 months:

(1)

The first staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher as specified in part 9503.0033.

(2)

The second staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an aide as specified in part 9503.0034, subpart 1.

(3)

The third staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher as specified in part 9503.0033.

(4)

The fourth staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an aide as specified in part 9503.0034, subpart 1.

(5)

The fifth staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher as specified in part 9503.0033.

(6)

The sixth staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratios required in subpart 3, items A and B, must have at least the qualifications of an aide as specified in part 9503.0034, subpart 1.

B.

The following minimum staff distribution pattern applies for the supervision of children 30 months and older.

(1)

The first staff person needed to meet the required staff-to-child ratio specified in subpart 3, item C, must meet the qualifications for teachers specified in part 9503.0032.

(2)

The second, third, and fourth staff persons needed to meet the required staff-to-child ratio specified in subpart 3, item C, must have at least the qualifications of an aide as specified in part 9503.0034, subpart 1.

(3)

The fifth staff person needed to meet the staff-to-child ratio required in subpart 3, item C, must have at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher as specified in part 9503.0033.

(4)

The sixth, seventh, and eighth staff persons needed to meet the staff-to-child ratio required in subpart 3, item C, must have at least the qualifications of an aide as specified in part 9503.0034, subpart 1.

(5)

For any additional staff persons needed after the eighth staff person to meet ratio requirements, the pattern of required staff qualifications established in subitems (3) and (4) applies.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 14.386; 14.388; c 245A; 252.28; L 1989 c 282 art 2 s 211

History:

13 SR 173; 14 SR 2533; 30 SR 585

Published Electronically:

October 8, 2007