Arkansas Arkansas

Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

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APPENDIX A: Definitions

 

  1. "Act" means the Child Care Facility Licensing Act as amended.

  1. "Child Care Center" means any Child Care Facility conducted under public or private auspices on a profit or nonprofit basis providing direct care and protection for children. Any facility that is open more than five (5) hours during any 24 hour period or more than a total of ten (10) hours during a seven (7) day period is considered a Child Care Center and shall be subject to the provisions of the Child Care Facility Licensing Act. Those facilities meeting the above definitions but operating no more than three weeks are not required to comply with the licensing requirements, i.e.: Summer Bible Schools and Day Camps.

A public or private school which operates a Kindergarten in conjunction with grades one and above, or for grades one and above only and provides short-term custodial care (not to exceed 20 hours weekly) prior to and/or following classes for those students, not required to comply with licensing requirements for the short-term custodial care is provided.

  1. "Child Care Facility" means any facility defined by Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-202(4).

  1. "Child Care Licensing Unit" means the unit within the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, that inspects and investigates any proposed or operating Child Care Center and any personnel connected with the center to determine if the facility will be or is being operated in accordance with the Child Care Facility Licensing Act and the Licensing Requirements for the Child Care Centers.

  1. "Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check" means a check of the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry for any record of founded child abuse and neglect or maltreatment.

  1. "Criminal Record Check" means a statewide criminal record check conducted by the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police.

  1. "Criminal FBI Check" means a nationwide criminal record check conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that conforms to the applicable federal standards and includes the taking of fingerprints. Application for a nationwide criminal check shall be made to the Identification Bureau of the Department of the Arkansas State Police.

  1. "Day Care Centers" means child care for children age 2 1/2 or 30 months and above.

  1. "Department" means the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

  1. "Division" means the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education.

  1. "Employee" means all full or part-time employees who perform services under the direction and control of the Child Care Facility.

  1. "Evening and Night Care" means child care provided between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

  1. "Infant Center" means child care for children from birth to age 18 months.

  1. "Kindergarten" means a school based program offered for children five (5) years of age during the school year prior to their entry into the first grade.

  1. "Operator" means any person or entity exercising any measure of supervision or control over a Child Care Facility.

  1. "Owner" means any person who assumes the legal responsibility for operation of a child care facility.

  1. "Part-time Care" means child care provided no longer than four (4) hours per day or not to exceed a maximum of 20 hours per week. These types of programs may include, but are not limited to, half day kindergarten, mother's day out programs, play schools and some nursery schools.

  1. "Personnel" is defined as the facility owner or operator, employee or volunteer.

  1. "Program" is defined as all activities that comprise the child's day at the center.

  1. "Toddler Center" means child care for ages 18 to 36 months.

  1. "School Age Care" means child care for children who are in kindergarten and above. School age child care includes before and after school care and extended care during school holidays and summer day camps. School age programs, which operate with children arriving and leaving voluntarily for scheduled classes, activities, practices, games and meetings, shall not be considered as meeting this definition.

  1. "Sick Care" is defined as a separate service providing care for children who are too sick to attend day care as stated in Section 1000 but who do not exhibit any of the excludable diseases as defined in Section 1500. The primary objective of this service is to insure that children in care receive the required attention necessary for moderately ill children.

  1. "Substantial Compliance" means compliance with all essential standards necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the children attending the Child Care Center. Essential standards include but are not limited to those relating to issues involving fire, health, safety, nutrition, discipline, staff/child ratio and space.

  1. "Swimming Pool" means any pool of water in excess of 12 inches deep. This does not include natural pools of water such as lakes, ponds and rivers.

  1. "Volunteer" means a person who provides services to a Child Care Facility at no cost to the facility.


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