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Staffing Flexibility for Group Child Care Programs

The Health Department is updating staffing requirements for group child care (center-based) programs. These changes are effective immediately and offer more flexibility for Education Directors (EDs) and Group Teachers.


New Flexibility for Education Directors

Education Director hours and coverage requirements are changing as follows:

Shorter Required Hours

  • Education Directors now only need to be onsite during “core hours.” Core hours are defined by your program and must include at least 8 hours per day of educational activities, experiences, and routines that promote learning.

Education Director Designees

  • More options for Education Director coverage by expanding the pool of Group Teachers that can serve as an Education Director Designee.
    • A preschool Group Teacher can serve as the Education Director Designee for their preschool or an infant toddler program if they have:
      • A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study and valid certification issued by the State Education Department or
      • A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study and two years of experience in a preschool program.
    • The Education Director Designee for an infant or toddler program can also be a Group Teacher who has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field of study and at least one year of experience teaching children less than 24 months old.
  • The Education Director Designee can cover during:
    • Non-core hours
    • Temporary absences (up to a total of 60 days in a 12 month period)
    • Personal leave such as vacation or doctor’s appointments
  • The Education Director Designee can continue their teaching duties while covering for the Education Director, regardless of the number of children in attendance.
  • Program Education Director Designee(s) and core hours must be listed in your Safety Plan. Complete the Safety Plan Worksheet (PDF) to update your Safety Plan

If your Education Director leaves:

  • The Education Director Designee can serve up to 60 consecutive days.
  • You must notify staff and the Health Department within 5 days and keep a record of the staff notice.

Important Requirements

  • The current requirements for coverage apply when two programs operate at one location (a co-located infant/toddler and a preschool program), you can:
    • have a preschool program’s Education Director Designee cover both programs but they cannot teach while covering for the Education Director or
    • have an Education Director Designee for each program and they both can teach while covering for the Education Director
  • An Education Director or Education Director Designee must be onsite whenever a child is present.
  • An Education Director Designee must have completed the comprehensive background check and cleared to work for your program.

Have a unique staffing situation? Contact your Early Childhood Education Consultant.


Group Teacher Changes

Updated coverage and qualification requirements for Group Teachers are as follows:

  • More flexible coverage for Group Teachers
    • Assistant Teachers and Teacher’s Aides can now cover for a Group Teacher in a classroom for up to 5 days (previously 3 days) to maintain ratios during personal leave. An assistant teacher needs to be in the classroom. The other staff can be either another assistant teacher or a teacher’s aide.
  • Expanded Group Teachers qualifications

More Information