Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Administration

(a) The operator of the child day care center or group day care home shall be responsible for compliance with the requirements of sections 19a-79-1a through 19a-79-9 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and applicable endorsements in sections 19a-79-10 through 19a-79-12 in such a manner as to ensure the safety, health and development of the children while in the operator's care.

(b) The operator shall be responsible for the overall management and operation of the child day care center or group day care home in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations and shall:

(1) provide and maintain a safely equipped physical plant,

(2) provide programs and services to meet the needs of the children,

(3) employ staff and substitute staff in accordance with section 19a-79-4a of Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies,

(4) submit for the Commissioner's approval the required qualifications and experience of the head teacher on the forms provided,

(5) develop and implement a written organizational chart that establishes a clear line of authority,

(6) define in writing and ensure the performance of the duties and responsibilities of all staff classifications.

(1) Notification of personnel changes shall be made within five (5) business days after the change.

(A) If the change is for a head teacher a plan for interim head teacher coverage shall be submitted to the Department.

(B) A qualified head teacher or a plan approved by the Commissioner shall be in place within thirty (30) days of change of a qualified head teacher.

(2) Notification of changes related to the ownership, location, licensed capacity, fees, services or voluntary closing shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the proposed change.

(1) daily attendance records for both children and staff, recorded daily and kept on file for at least two (2) years, showing the specific hours present;

(2) discipline:

(A) including but not necessarily limited to positive guidance, redirection, setting clear limits, continuous supervision by staff during disciplinary action;

(B) specifically prohibiting abusive, neglectful, corporal, humiliating, or frightening punishment, and physical restraint, unless such restraint is necessary to protect the health and safety of the child or other people;

(3) when a child is not picked up as planned including but not necessarily limited to:

(A) staffing of at least two (2) people on the licensed premise,

(B) time frames (for when the policy will be implemented),

(C) parents or emergency contacts,

(D) alternate pick up person,

(E) notification of police department;

(4) emergencies including but not necessarily limited to:

(A) medical emergencies including but not necessarily limited to a personal emergency, accident or illness, designation of a licensed physician or hospital emergency service to be available, transportation to medical services, and notification of parents;

(B) fire emergencies including but not necessarily limited to identification of means of egress, roles and responsibilities of staff, designated safe location for reconvening, and notification of parents;

(C) weather related emergencies including but not necessarily limited to closings, a safe location for children, resources available, and notification of parents;

(D) evacuation including but not necessarily limited to transportation, location of an alternate shelter, community resources, and notification of parents;

(5) supervision of children including but not necessarily limited to:

(A) group size,

(B) ratio of staff to children,

(C) indoor and outdoor supervision,

(D) nap time,

(E) bathroom areas;

(6) a copy of both section 19a-87a of the Connecticut General Statutes which concerns civil penalties against operators and criminal conviction of an operator or a person employed in a child day care center or group day care home in a position connected with the provision of care to a child receiving child day care services, and section 53-21 of the Connecticut General Statutes which concerns injury or risk of injury, to, or impairing morals of children;

(7) general operating policies including but not necessarily limited to:

(A) admission which includes a health record and the ages of children enrolled

(B) agreements with parents,

(C) parent involvement,

(D) medication policies if applicable,

(E) content and times of meals and snacks,

(F) provisional enrollment period,

(G) days and hours of operation including sick days, holidays and vacations,

(H) withdrawal of children,

(I) access to program and facility;

(8) personnel policies including but not necessarily limited to:

(A) job descriptions;

(B) employee benefits,

(C) supervision of staff,

(D) probationary period of staff,

(E) communication with parents.

1.the license,

2.the fire marshal certificate,

3.the Department complaint procedure,

4.food service certificate as required by the local director of health,

5.menus,

6.emergency plans,

7.no smoking signs at entrances,

8.the most recent Department inspection report posted for thirty (30) of the program's operating days.

(g) The operator shall keep on file for a two (2) year period at the child day care center or group day care home all inspection reports, the current licensing application and correspondence related to licensure which shall be available to parents and the Department on request.

(h) Failure to grant the Department access to the child day care center or group day care home or its records, shall be grounds for suspension or revocation of the license or denial of issuance or renewal of the license.

(i) The operator shall notify each parent, if the Department issues a notice of hearing for the suspension or revocation of the license pursuant to section 19a-84 of the Connecticut General Statutes, of the proceeding and the alleged violation. The notification shall be in writing and sent by United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested not later than ten (10) days before the scheduled hearing date.

The operator shall demonstrate compliance with this subsection at the commencement of the hearing. Inability to do so shall be construed as a substantial failure to comply with the regulations and may constitute an additional basis for suspension or revocation of the license in that proceeding without a new statement of charges.

In addition to the requirements of subsection 19a-79-2a(d)(3) of the regulations of Connecticut State Agencies the operator shall notify each parent in writing of the final decision of the Department if one is rendered, within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of the decision.

(j) The operator shall provide to the Department copies of all service contracts or current agreements with consultants, practitioners and agencies used on a regular or consultative basis in the delivery of services within ten (10) days after execution of said contract or agreement. Any changes in said contracts or agreements shall be reported to the Department within (10) days.

(k) The operator shall enroll only children for whom the center or home is licensed to provide services. No services that require an endorsement shall be provided without the applicable endorsement from the Department. Categories for licensure are:

1.six (6) weeks to three (3) years,

2.preschool (three (3) years to five (5) years),

3.school age (at least five (5) years of age and attending elementary school),

4.evening and night care.

(m) The operator shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable motor vehicle laws when transporting children enrolled in any child day care center or group day care home.

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