Section 7.57.505. Child-to-caregiver ratios.

	(a)  For child care homes,  
		(1) the home shall have at least one caregiver, who may also be the administrator, and may provide care for not more than a total of eight children younger than 13 years of age, including the caregiver's children younger than 13 years of age; and  
		(2) of the total children in care, not more than three of the total may be younger than 30 months of age, and not more than two of the total may be nonambulatory.  
	(b)  For child care group homes,  
		(1) except as provided under (3) of this subsection, a child care group home shall have at least two caregivers, one of which must be the administrator, and may provide care for not more than a total of 12 children younger than 13 years of age, including the caregiver's children;  
		(2) of the total children in care, not more than five of the total may be younger than 30 months of age, and not more than four of the total may be nonambulatory;  
		(3) only one caregiver is required if  
			(A) the caregiver is either the administrator or the administrator's designee, with one year of licensed home child care or the equivalent, or if the credential requirements of 7 AAC 57.300(d) are met; and  
			(B) the total number of children in care  
				(i) consists only of children of school age, including the caregiver's children younger than 13 years of age; or  
				(ii) is 10 or fewer, including the caregiver's children younger than 13 years of age, none of the total is younger than 30 months of age, and not more than two of the total are nonambulatory;  
		(4) notwithstanding (3) of this subsection, if on any given day a child care group  home is caring for eight or fewer children younger than 13 years of age, including the caregiver's children, if not more than three of the total are younger than 30 months of age, and if not more than two of the total are nonambulatory, the child care group home may staff the facility with one caregiver.  
	(c)  For a child care center,  
		(1) during all hours of operation, the following child-to-caregiver ratio and maximum group size shall be maintained:  
 Age of Children  Number of  Term for Child's  Number of  Maximum Group Size
                   Children      Age Group    Caregivers Ratio of Children to
                                                         Caregivers
Through 18 months     5           Infants          1             10:2
19 to 36 months       6          Toddlers          1             12:2
3 and 4 years         10       Preschoolers        1             20:2
5 and 6 years         14      Kindergartners       1             28:2
7 through 12
years                 18        School age         1             36:2
		(2) maximum group size must be consistent with the requirements of 7 AAC 57.510;  
		(3) the child-to-caregiver ratios must be consistent with the age of the majority of the children when kindergartners and school-age children are in a mixed age group; and  
		(4) the child-to-caregiver ratios for the youngest child apply when infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are in a mixed age group.  
	(d)  For purposes of meeting the child-to-caregiver ratio requirements in this section for all facility types, a child in care who is 13 years of age or older must be counted as a child younger than 13 years of age who is school age.  
	(e)  In this section,  
		(1) "nonambulatory" means not physically or mentally capable of achieving mobility to exit a building without the aid of another individual;  
		(2) "school age " means 7 through 12 years of age;  
		(3) "total" means the total number of children in care at any time.  

Authorities

44.29.020;47.32.010;47.32.030

Notes

Reference

4 AAC 60.035
7 AAC 57.320
7 AAC 57.500
7 AAC 57.510
7 AAC 57.805
7 AAC 57.810

Authority

AS 44.29.020 AS 47.32.010 AS 47.32.030

History

Eff. 6/23/2006, Register 178; am 5/15/2016, Register 218