Compliance Indicator

The applicable staff-child ratios are met for each age group & program.

Regulations/Reference

Program Instruments: III. Program Quality EED 10 & CCD 10
Welfare & Institutions Code: 10208, 10275, 10275.5
Education Code: 8240 & 1841
Title 5: 17713 - 17715, 17775 & 17776 ,18013[d], 18135, 18290

Monitoring Review Evidence

• Documentation that applicable staff-child ratios are met for each age group (Staff-Child Ratio Schedule: Form CCD-36)

• Classroom observation

Ratios

Title 5 sets stricter adult to child ratios in comparison to the Title 22 licensing regulations. Ratios of adult to children vary depending on the age of the children currently present or in attendance & the number of trained staff members present. The ratios in this lesson are based on Title 5 regulations.

Infant Ratios

For state funded programs, an infant is defined as a child who is from birth to 18 months old.

There must be 1 adult for every 3 infants. This is called a 1 to 3 adult child ratio.

For every 18 infants, 1 of the adults must be a qualified teacher. This is called a 1 to 18 teacher-child ratio.

Photo Example: This classroom has 18 infants, 1 qualified teacher & 5 other adults to be in compliance with the staffing ratio.

Toddler Ratios

For state funded programs, a toddler is defined as a child who is from 18 months to 36 months old.

There must be 1 adult for every 4 toddlers. This is called a 1 to 4 adult child ratio.

For every 16 toddlers, 1 of the adults must be a qualified teacher. This is called a 1 to 16 teacher-child ratio.

Photo Example: This classroom has 16 toddlers, 1 qualified teacher & 3 other adults to be in compliance with the staffing ratios.

Preschool Ratios

For state funded programs, a preschooler is defined as a child who is from 3 years old to enrollment in kindergarten.

There must be 1 adult for every 8 preschoolers. This is called a 1 to 8 adult child ratio.

For every 24 preschoolers, 1 of the adults must be a qualified teacher. Making it a 1 to 24 teacher-child ratio.

Photo Example: This classroom has 24 preschoolers, 1 qualified teacher and 2 other adults to be in compliance with the staffing ratios.

School-Age Ratios

For state funded programs, a school-age child is defined as a child who is enrolled in kindergarten to 13 years of age.

There must be 1 adult for every 14 children making it a 1 to 14 adult to child ratio.

For every 28 school age children, 1 of the adults must be a qualified teacher. Making it a 1 to 28 teacher-child ratio.

Photo Example: This classroom has 28 school age children, 1 qualified teacher and 1 other adult to be in compliance with the staffing ratios.

SPECIAL RATIO NOTES:

Commingled Age-Groups

• YOUNGER AGE GROUP EXCEEDS 50%: Whenever groups of children of 2 age categories are commingled & the younger age group exceeds 50% of the total number of children present, the ratios for the entire group must meet the ratios required for the younger age group.

• YOUNGER AGE GROUP DOES NOT EXCEED 50%: If the younger age group does not exceed 50% of the total number of the children present, the teacher-child & adult-child ratios shall be computed separately for each group

Staffing Ratio Variance

The program may exceed teacher-child & adult-child ratios by 15% of the total number of children in attendance for a period of time not to exceed 120 minutes in any one day.

State Preschool Nap Time

The ratio for full-day CSPP during a scheduled nap period may be a 1:24 teacher-child ratio, provided that the remaining staff necessary to meet the adult-child ratio are immediately available at the center. If one child gets up, additional staff need to be called in immediately to meet the required adult-child ratio.

Staff-Child Ratio Schedule

To ensure the applicable staff-child ratios are met for each age group & program agency must have a staff/child ratio schedule completed at all times.

The department provides the Staff-Child Ratio Schedule: Form CCD 36 to plan for ratios based on the composition of a classroom. 

Contractors may develop their own Child Ratio Schedule form.

No matter what format is used, the ratio schedule can serve as your documentation to show that applicable staff-child ratios are met for each age group.

REMINDER: The ratio schedule must be maintained & updated when there are changes in enrollment.

Head Start Note:

Contractors that also receive funding to operate a federal Head Start program may follow Head Start staffing ratios. If a contractor chooses to follow Head Start staffing ratios, they must also follow Head Start group sizes

After reviewing the video lesson & sketch pad notes, it’s time to check for understanding by completing a Knowledge Check. Note that Individual Knowledge Checks will conclude with a Certificate.

Individual Knowledge Check (ProProfs) >

Group Knowledge Check (Kahoot) >