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 Child Care Center Licensing Regulations (October 2006):
Child:Staff Ratios and Maximum Group Size Requirements

States 1

Age of Children

6
weeks

9
months

18 months

27 months

3
years

4
years

5
years

6
years

7
years

8 & 9 years

10 years & older

Alabama

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

6:1
NR

7:1
NR

10:1
NR

16:1
NR

16:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

Alaska

5:1
10

5:1
10

5:1
10

6:1
12

10:1
20

10:1
20

14:1
28

14:1
28

18:1
36

18:1
36

18:1
36

Arizona

5:1/11:2
NR

5:1/11:2
NR

6:1/13:2
NR

8:1
NR

13:1
NR

15:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

Arkansas*

6:1
12

6:1
12

9:1
18

9:1
18

12:1
24

15:1
30

18:1
36

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

California

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

6:1
12

6:1
12

12:1
NR

12:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

Colorado

5:1
10

5:1
10

5:1
10

7:1
14

10:1
20

12:1
24

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Connecticut

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

Delaware

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

7:1
NR

10:1
NR

12:1
NR

15:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

District of Columbia

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

8:1
16

10:1
20

15:1
25

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Florida

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

6:1
NR

11:1
NR

15:1
NR

20:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

Georgia

6:1
12

6:1
12

8:1
16

10:1
20

15:1
30

18:1
36

20:1
40

25:1
50

25:1
50

25:1
50

25:1
50

Hawaii*

4:1
8

4:1
8

6:1
12

8:1
NR

12:1
NR

16:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

Idaho

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

NL

Illinois

4:1
12

4:1
12

5:1
15

8:1
16

10:1
20

10:1
20

20:1
20

20:1
30

20:1
30

20:1
30

20:1
30

Indiana

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
10

5:1
10

10:1
20

12:1
24

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Iowa

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

6:1
NR

8:1
NR

12:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

20:1
NR

Kansas

3:1
9

3:1
9

5:1
10

7:1
14

12:1
24

12:1
24

14:1
28

16:1
32

16:1
32

16:1
32

16:1
32

Kentucky*

5:1
10

5:1
10

6:1
12

10:1
20

12:1
24

14:1
28

15:1
30

15:1
30

20:1
30

20:1
30

20:1
30

Louisiana*

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

8:1
NR

12:1
NR

14:1
NR

16:1
NR

20:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

25:1
NR

Maine

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1/5:1
12/10

7:1
21

8:1/10:1
24/20

8:1/10:1
24/20

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

Maryland*

3:1
6

3:1
6

3:1
9

6:1
12

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Massachusetts*

3:1/7:2
7

3:1/7:2
7

4:1/9:2
9

4:1/9:2
9

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Michigan*

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

10:1
NR

12:1
NR

12:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

Minnesota

4:1
8

4:1
8

7:1
14

7:1
14

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Mississippi

5:1
10

5:1
10

9:1
10

12:1
14

14:1
14

16:1
20

20:1
20

20:1
20

20:1
20

20:1
20

25:1
25

Missouri

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

8:1
16

10:1
NR

10:1
NR

16:1
NR

16:1
NR

16:1
NR

16:1
NR

16:1
NR

Montana

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

8:1
NR

8:1
NR

10:1
NR

10:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

14:1
NR

Nebraska

4:1
12

4:1
12

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

10:1
NR

12:1
NR

12:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

Nevada*

4:1
NR

6:1
NR

8:1
NR

10:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

New Hampshire

4:1
12

4:1
12

5:1
15

6:1
18

8:1
24

12:1
24

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

New Jersey

4:1
12

4:1
12

6:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

12:1
20

15:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

New Mexico

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

10:1
NR

12:1
NR

12:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

15:1
NR

New York

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
12

5:1
12

7:1
18

8:1
21

9:1
24

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

North Carolina

5:1
10

5:1
10

6:1
12

10:1
20

15:1
25

15:1
25

25:1
25

25:1
25

25:1
25

25:1
25

25:1
25

North Dakota

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
10

7:1
14

10:1
20

12:1
24

18:1
36

18:1
36

18:1
36

18:1
36

Ohio*

5:1/2:12
12

5:1/2:12
12

7:1
14

7:1
14

12:1
24

14:1
28

14:1
28

18:1
36

18:1
36

18:1
36

18:1
36

Oklahoma

4:1
8

4:1
8

6:1
12

8:1
16

12:1
24

15:1
30

15:1
30

20:1
40

20:1
40

20:1
40

20:1
40

Oregon

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
10

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

Pennsylvania*

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
10

6:1
12

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

12:1
24

12:1
24

12:1/15:1
24/30

15:1
30

Rhode Island

4:1
8

4:1
8

6:1
12

6:1
12

9:1
18

10:1
20

12:1
24

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

South Carolina

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

6:1
NR

10:1
NR

13:1
NR

18:1
NR

21:1
NR

23:1
NR

23:1
NR

23:1
NR

23:1
NR

South Dakota

5:1
20

5:1
20

5:1
20

5:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
20

15:1
20

15:1
20

15:1
20

Tennessee

4:1
8

4:1
8

6:1
12

7:1
14

9:1
18

13:1
20

16:1
20

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

20:1
NR

Texas

4:1
10

4:1
10

9:1
18

11:1
22

15:1
30

18:1
35

22:1
35

26:1
35

26:1
35

26:1
35

26:1
35

Utah

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

7:1
14

12:1
24

15:1
30

20:1
35

20:1
35

20:1
35

20:1
35

20:1
35

Vermont

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

5:1
10

10:1
20

10:1
20

10:1
20

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

13:1
NR

Virginia*

4:1
NR

4:1
NR

5:1
NR

8:1
NR

10:1
NR

10:1
NR

18:1
NR

18:1
NR

18:1
NR

18:1
NR

20:1
NR

Washington

4:1/3.1
8/9

4:1/3.1
8/9

7:1
14

7:1
14

10:1
20

10:1
20

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

15:1
30

West Virginia

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
12

8:1
16

10:1
20

12:1
24

12:1
24

16:1
32

16:1
32

16:1
32

16:1
32

Wisconsin

4:1
8

4:1
8

4:1
8

6:1
12

10:1
20

13:1
24

17:1
32

18:1
32

18:1
32

18:1
32

18:1
32

Wyoming*

4:1
10

4:1
10

5:1
12

8:1
18

10:1
24

12:1
30

12:1
30

18:1
40

18:1
40

18:1
40

18:1
40

Key:
NL = Not Licensed
NR = Not Regulated
U = Unspecified

Notes:

For the purposes of this document, a licensed program is required to have permission from the State to operate and must meet specified child care center standards. Several States have county or city licensing regulations which may supercede State requirements; this table does not include such regulations.

1States includes the District of Columbia for a total of 51 entities. Back to data table

*Arkansas: Group size is limited to two times the number of children allowed with one staff member. This does not apply to periodic or special group activities or to school-age children, K—5th grade and older. Back to data table

*Hawaii: Children younger than 2 years of age are prohibited from mixed centers. Hawaii has a separate set of regulations for infant and toddler programs. Ratios and group size requirements for 6-week-olds, 9-, and 18-month-olds shown in table are the maximum allowed in infant and toddler programs. The State allows the following as well:

Age
Maximum Group Size

6

8
10
12
6 weeks to 12 months
3:1
4:1
 
 
12 months to 24 months
3:1
4:1
5:1
4:1
18 months to 36 months
 
 
5:1
6:1

Back to data table

*Kentucky: In part-day programs for school-age children, the ratio for children 7 years of age and older is 25:1 with a maximum group size of 30. Back to data table

*Louisiana: Louisiana regulates two types of centers: Class A and Class B. Ratio and group size information is reported for Class B centers that provide care for more than 11 children; Class A centers require more stringent ratios. Back to data table

*Maryland: For children 6 weeks to 2 years of age, the maximum group size is nine if up to two infants are in the group, or six if three or more infants are in the group. Back to data table

*Massachusetts: The ratio of 10:1 and group size of 20 applies to 3- and 4-year-old children attending full-day programs; a ratio of 12:1 and group size of 24 applies to 3- and 4-year-old children attending part-day programs. For school-age children in preschools, the ratio is 15:1 with a maximum group size of 30; for school-age children in school-age programs, the ratio is 13:1 and the group size is not limited. Back to data table

*Michigan: For school-age children ages 13 to 17 years, the child:staff ratio is 30:1. Back to data table

*Nevada: Ratios reported in the table were calculated based on the maximum number of children allowed to one caregiver. Center classrooms with children over 2 years of age but less than 3 years of age are required to have a child:staff ratio of 10:1. Requirements for children age 2 and older are based on the total number of children in care as follows:

Number of Children in Care

Number of Caregivers Required

1-6 1
7-20 2
21-35 3
36-50 4
51-65 5
66-80 6
81-93 7

For every additional 13 children above 93, one more caregiver is required. Back to data table

*Ohio: Child-staff ratios for 5- to 10-year-olds in school/kindergarten is 18:1 with a group size requirement of 36; ratio requirements for 11- to 14-year-olds are 20:1 with a maximum group size of 40. Back to data table

*Pennsylvania: For children in preschool (those older than 37 months) to entry into 1st grade, the child-staff ratio is 10:1 and maximum group size is 20. For children in 1st grade through 3rd grade is the child-staff ratio is 12:1 and maximum group size is 24. For children in 4th grade to 15 years of age the child-staff ratio is 15:1 and maximum group size is 30. Back to data table

*Virginia: The 5-year-old ratio is based on school eligibility; if a child is 5 years old by September 30th, then the 18:1 ratio applies, if the child turns 5 after September 30th, then the 10:1 ratio applies.
Back to data table

*Wyoming: A child to staff ratio of 1:18, 32:2, or 40:3 is required for children ages 6 to 12 years. Back to data table



Source: Compiled by Sarah LeMoine and Sheri Azer from licensing regulations posted on the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education's Web site at http://nrc.uchsc.edu on October 5, 2006.
Original methodology developed by Gwen Morgan.

For more information please contact NCCIC, 10530 Rosehaven St., Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030
Ph: (800) 616-2242; Fax: (800) 716-2242; TTY: (800) 516-2242; E-mail: info@nccic.org; Web site: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov

The document is for informational purposes only. No official endorsement of any practice, publication, program, or individual by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Child Care Bureau, or the National Child Care Information Center is intended or is to be inferred. For additional information on this or related topics, please contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or info@nccic.org.

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