A Step Above Preparatory South

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight (Recite-Not Met): (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .32(2) - Mixed-ages groups/cap. of 19+: (2) Mixed-Age Groups for Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more children. The Staff:child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the age of the youngest group of children that includes more than twenty (20%) of the total number of children in the mixed-age group .

Rule .31(11) - Other Support Staff to meet rules: (11) Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance and Other Support Staff. The Center shall have qualified and sufficient direct-care, clerical, housekeeping, maintenance and other support staff to ensure full compliance with these rules without neglecting the supervision of the children.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records (Recite-Not Met): (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .15(5) - Menu requirements (Recite-Not Met): (5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parents. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.

Rule .03(5) - Activities-Variety (Recite-Not Met): (5) A variety of activities shall be planned for each group that include, but are not limited to:

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials (Recite-Not Met): (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .03(1) - Activities/teaching methods (Recite-Not Met): (1) The center shall provide a daily planned program of varied and developmentally appropriate activities that promote the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, language and literacy development of each child. Center staff shall use a variety of teaching methods to accommodate the needs of the children’s different learning styles.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight (Recite-Not Met): (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .32(4) - Center Cap. 19+/ Separate ages: (4) For Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more, children under three (3) years of age shall be housed in separate physical areas from older children and cannot be mixed with older children except at the following times and circumstances:

Rule .31(5)(h) - Supervised by Staff with CRC: (h) Must be supervised at all times by a Director or Employee with a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination; and

Rule .30(1)(d) - Arrangement of sleeping and resting equipment (Recite-Not Met): (d) Arrangement of Sleeping and Resting Equipment. All sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged to avoid obstructing access to exit doors, to provide the caregivers access to each child, and to prevent children's access to cords hanging from window treatments and other hazardous objects. To reduce the transfer of airborne diseases, sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged as follows. There shall be a minimum of twenty-four inch (24") corridor between each row of sleeping or resting equipment. There shall be a minimum of twelve inches (12") between each piece of sleeping or resting equipment in each row of equipment. Children shall be placed on cots and mats so that one child's head is toward another child's feet in the same row.

Rule .29(1) - Required Reporting-Child Abuse: (1) Child Abuse, Neglect or Deprivation. Within twenty-four (24) hours or the next work day, the Director or designated person-in-charge shall report or cause to be reported any suspected incidents of child abuse, neglect or deprivation to the local County Division of Family and Children Services in accordance with state law and to the Department, notifying that such a report was made.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground (Recite-Not Met): Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records: (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .17(6) - Garbage (Recite-Not Met): (6) Garbage. Garbage and organic waste shall be stored in containers that are lined with plastic liners and have tight-fitting covers. Trash and garbage shall be removed from the building daily or as often as necessary to maintain the premises in a clean condition.

Rule .15(5) - Menu requirements: (5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parents. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.

Rule .12(4) - Equipment/Furniture-Secured: (4) Equipment and furniture shall be secured if it is of a weight or mass that could cause injury from tipping, falling, or being pulled or pushed over. Potentially unstable equipment and furniture that might injure a child if not secured include, but are not limited to, televisions, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving, cabinets and fish tanks. Examples of items not required to be secured include, but are not limited to, child-sized tables and chairs, rocking chairs, and cribs.

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.

Rule .09(1)(a) - Submit Application and Fingerprints: (1)(a) A Center must ensure that every actual and potential Director, Employee and Provisional Employee of a Child Care Learning Center submit both a Records Check Application to the Department and Fingerprints to an authorized fingerprinting site.

Rule .03(5) - Activities-Variety (Recite-Not Met): (5) A variety of activities shall be planned for each group that include, but are not limited to:

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials (Recite-Not Met): (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .03(1) - Activities/teaching methods: (1) The center shall provide a daily planned program of varied and developmentally appropriate activities that promote the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, language and literacy development of each child. Center staff shall use a variety of teaching methods to accommodate the needs of the children’s different learning styles.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight (Recite-Not Met): (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .32(4) - Center Cap. 19+/ Separate ages: (4) For Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more, children under three (3) years of age shall be housed in separate physical areas from older children and cannot be mixed with older children except at the following times and circumstances:

Rule .31(5)(h) - Supervised by Staff with CRC: (h) Must be supervised at all times by a Director or Employee with a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination; and

Rule .30(1)(d) - Arrangement of sleeping and resting equipment (Recite-Not Met): (d) Arrangement of Sleeping and Resting Equipment. All sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged to avoid obstructing access to exit doors, to provide the caregivers access to each child, and to prevent children's access to cords hanging from window treatments and other hazardous objects. To reduce the transfer of airborne diseases, sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged as follows. There shall be a minimum of twenty-four inch (24") corridor between each row of sleeping or resting equipment. There shall be a minimum of twelve inches (12") between each piece of sleeping or resting equipment in each row of equipment. Children shall be placed on cots and mats so that one child's head is toward another child's feet in the same row.

Rule .29(1) - Required Reporting-Child Abuse: (1) Child Abuse, Neglect or Deprivation. Within twenty-four (24) hours or the next work day, the Director or designated person-in-charge shall report or cause to be reported any suspected incidents of child abuse, neglect or deprivation to the local County Division of Family and Children Services in accordance with state law and to the Department, notifying that such a report was made.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground (Recite-Not Met): Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records: (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .17(6) - Garbage (Recite-Not Met): (6) Garbage. Garbage and organic waste shall be stored in containers that are lined with plastic liners and have tight-fitting covers. Trash and garbage shall be removed from the building daily or as often as necessary to maintain the premises in a clean condition.

Rule .15(5) - Menu requirements: (5) Menus. The Center shall provide a menu listing all meals and snacks to be served during the current week except for School-age Centers where the food may be provided by the Parent(s) by agreement between the School-age Center and the Parents. Substitutions shall be recorded on the posted menu. Menus shall be retained at the Center for six (6) months.

Rule .12(4) - Equipment/Furniture-Secured: (4) Equipment and furniture shall be secured if it is of a weight or mass that could cause injury from tipping, falling, or being pulled or pushed over. Potentially unstable equipment and furniture that might injure a child if not secured include, but are not limited to, televisions, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving, cabinets and fish tanks. Examples of items not required to be secured include, but are not limited to, child-sized tables and chairs, rocking chairs, and cribs.

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.

Rule .09(1)(a) - Submit Application and Fingerprints: (1)(a) A Center must ensure that every actual and potential Director, Employee and Provisional Employee of a Child Care Learning Center submit both a Records Check Application to the Department and Fingerprints to an authorized fingerprinting site.

Rule .03(5) - Activities-Variety (Recite-Not Met): (5) A variety of activities shall be planned for each group that include, but are not limited to:

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials (Recite-Not Met): (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .03(1) - Activities/teaching methods: (1) The center shall provide a daily planned program of varied and developmentally appropriate activities that promote the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, language and literacy development of each child. Center staff shall use a variety of teaching methods to accommodate the needs of the children’s different learning styles.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight: (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .30(1)(d) - Arrangement of sleeping and resting equipment: (d) Arrangement of Sleeping and Resting Equipment. All sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged to avoid obstructing access to exit doors, to provide the caregivers access to each child, and to prevent children's access to cords hanging from window treatments and other hazardous objects. To reduce the transfer of airborne diseases, sleeping and resting equipment shall be arranged as follows. There shall be a minimum of twenty-four inch (24") corridor between each row of sleeping or resting equipment. There shall be a minimum of twelve inches (12") between each piece of sleeping or resting equipment in each row of equipment. Children shall be placed on cots and mats so that one child's head is toward another child's feet in the same row.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground: Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .17(6) - Garbage: (6) Garbage. Garbage and organic waste shall be stored in containers that are lined with plastic liners and have tight-fitting covers. Trash and garbage shall be removed from the building daily or as often as necessary to maintain the premises in a clean condition.

Rule .03(5) - Activities-Variety (Recite-Not Met): (5) A variety of activities shall be planned for each group that include, but are not limited to:

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials (Recite-Not Met): (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .03(9) - Rough play: (9) Staff shall not engage in, or allow children or other adults to engage in, activities that could be detrimental to a child’s health or well-being, such as but not limited to, horse play, rough play, wrestling, and picking up a child in a manner that could cause injury.

Rule .36(7)(a) - Center/Passenger Information: (a) Center and Passenger Information. Each vehicle used to transport children shall contain current information including the full names of all children to be transported, and each child's pick-up location, pick-up time, delivery location, alternate delivery location if a Parent is not at home and name of person authorized to receive each child. In addition, the vehicle shall contain current information identifying the Center's name and telephone number and the name of the driver of the vehicle.

Rule .36(3)(a-b) - Transportation Training: (3) Transportation Training. Child Care Learning Centers that provide any type of transportation shall obtain two (2) clock hours of state-approved or state-accepted transportation training, biannually, for the Director and for each Staff person responsible for or who participates in the transportation of children. The training shall include, but is not limited to, a review of the transportation rules, a review of approved transportation forms and procedures, and instruction on the usage and completion of the forms and procedures. This training may be counted as part of the annual training requirements for Staff. (a) The Director and each Staff person who is responsible for or who participates in the transportation of children shall complete two (2) clock hours of state-approved or state-accepted transportation training on or before June 30, 2015 and at least every two years thereafter. (b) Effective July 1, 2015, the Director and each Staff person who will be responsible for or participate in the transportation of children shall have completed two (2) clock hours of state-approved or state-accepted transportation training prior to assuming any duties related to the transportation of children and at least every two years thereafter.

Rule .31(2)(b)3.(iii) - Professional development plan on file: (iii) This professional development plan must be maintained in the lead teacher's file, and such plan shall be available for inspection and provided to Department Staff upon request.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records: (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .17(7) - Handwashing-Children: (7) Handwashing, Children. Children's hands shall be washed with soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for care; when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after eating meals and snacks, handling or touching food, or playing in water; after toileting and diapering, playing in sand, touching animals or pets, and contact with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .15(3) - Baby Bottles/Formula/Breast Milk: (3) Baby Bottles and Formula. All baby bottles shall be clearly labeled with the individual child's name. Formula or breast milk shall be supplied by the parent daily in bottles. Only the current day's formula or breast milk shall be served. Bottles shall be refrigerated at a temperature of forty (40) degrees Fahrenheit or less. If formula must be provided by the Center, only commercially prepared, ready-to-feed formula shall be used. Refrigerated or frozen breast milk shall only be heated or thawed under warm running water or in a container of warm water.

Rule .03(5) - Activities-Variety: (5) A variety of activities shall be planned for each group that include, but are not limited to:

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials: (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.