Subdivision 1. Staffing requirements. During hours of operation, a certified center must have a director or designee on site who is responsible for overseeing implementation of written policies relating to the management and control of the daily activities of the program, ensuring the health and safety of program participants, and supervising staff and volunteers.

Subd. 2. Director qualifications. The director must be 18 years of age or older and have completed at least 16 hours of training in any of the following topic areas: child development and learning; developmentally appropriate learning experiences; relationships with families; assessment, evaluation, and individualization; historical and contemporary development of early childhood education; professionalism; and health, safety, and nutrition.

Subd. 3. Staff qualifications. A staff person must be 16 years of age or older before providing direct, unsupervised care to a child.

Subd. 4. Maximum group size. (a) For a child six weeks old through 16 months old, the maximum group size shall be no more than eight children.

(b) For a child 16 months old through 33 months old, the maximum group size shall be no more than 14 children.

(c) For a child 33 months old through prekindergarten, a maximum group size shall be no more than 20 children.

(d) For a child in kindergarten through 13 years old, a maximum group size shall be no more than 30 children.

(e) The maximum group size applies at all times except during group activity coordination time not exceeding 15 minutes, during a meal, outdoor activity, field trip, nap and rest, and special activity including a film, guest speaker, indoor large muscle activity, or holiday program.

Subd. 5. Ratios. (a) The minimally acceptable staff-to-child ratios are:

(b) Kindergarten includes a child of sufficient age to have attended the first day of kindergarten or who is eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months.

(c) For mixed groups, the ratio for the age group of the youngest child applies.

History: 1Sp2017 c 6 art 16 s 50,68