Same Age Group Population/Mixed Age Group/Staffing and Child Ratio in Group Programs and Centers 620-01-85-05

(Repealed 8/1/12 ML #3342)

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N.D. Admin. Code §§ 75-03-09-09(2)(g) and (6); 75-03-10-09(2), (4), and (5)

 

In same age groups, one caregiver may only care for the number of children listed in N.D. Admin. Code §§ 75-03-09-09(2)(a-f) and 75-03-10-09(2)(a-f).

 

When there are mixed age groups, subdivision (6) of N.D. Admin. Code § 75-03-09-09 and subdivisions (4) and (5) N.D. Admin. Code §75-03-10-09 apply. For example, N.D. Admin. Code § 75-03-09-09(2)(g) states, “If children in care are of mixed age categories, the staff to child ratio is calculated in accordance with subsection 6.” N.D. Admin. Code § 75-03-09-09(6) states, “The number of children in each age category is multiplied by the corresponding ratio number, converted to decimal form, and carried to the nearest hundredth. To determine the number of caregivers necessary at any given time, numbers of caregivers for all age categories are added, and any fractional caregiver count is then rounded to the next highest whole number whenever the fractional caregiver count amounts to thirty-five hundredths or more. If lower than thirty-five hundredths, the fractional amount is dropped.

 

A mixed age group may contain the maximum number of children per caregiver as described in N.D. Admin. Code §§ 75-03-09-09(2)(a-f) and 75-03-10-09(2)(a-f) (such as four children under eighteen months, five 18-36 months, etc.), and may contain additional older children as long as the mixed age group does not exceed the acceptable ratio described in N.D. Admin Code §§75-03-09-09(6) and 75-03-10-09(5), and, if a center, is in compliance with maximum group size as described in N.D. Admin. Code § 75-03-10-09(4).

 

Listed below are possible scenarios:

 

Child Care Center or Group

4 children under 18 months x .25 = 1.00

 

1 four year old x .10 = .10

 

1 five year old x .08 = .08

 

Total Ratio = 1.18- provider is in compliance with one caregiver, because this is a mixed age group.

 

Child Care Center or Group

5 children under 18 months x .25 = 1.25

 

Total ratio=1.25 Center or provider is not in compliance with one caregiver because this group exceeds the maximum number of children per caregiver.

 

Child Care Center

1 child under 18 months x .25 = .25

 

1 two year old x .20 = .20

 

3 four year olds x .10 = .30

 

5 five year olds x .08 = .40

 

Total ratio=1.15 Center is not in compliance (unless they are grandfathered in and are exempt from maximum group size), because the group size may not exceed the maximum group size for infants and toddlers when there are infants and toddlers in the group.

 

Child Care Center or Group

1 child under 18 months x .25 = .25

 

5 two year old children x .20 = 1.00

 

Total ratio=1.25 Center or group is not in compliance with one caregiver, because if a mixed age group contains the maximum number of children per caregiver in a group, the group may only contain additional older children up to the accepted ratio of 1.34.