| Child-to-Caregiver
Ratios |
(a)
Except as provided in (f) of this section, a child care home
must have at least one caregiver, and may provide care for no
more than a total of eight children under age 13 years, including
the caregiver’s children under age 12 years. Of the total
children in care, no more than three children may be under the
age of 30 months. Of the total children in care, including children
under the age of 30 months, no more than two may be nonambulatory.
(b) Except as provided in (c) and (f) of this section, a child
care group home must have at least two caregivers and may provide
care for no more than a total of 12 children under age 13 years.
Of the total children in care, no more than five may be under
the age of 30 months, and no more than four may be nonambulatory.
(c) A child care group home requires only one caregiver if
(1) the number of children decreases to no more than a total
of eight and the requirements of (a) of this section are met;
or
(2) the caregiver has completed one year of licensed home child
care or the equivalent, or meets the college credit, CDA credential,
or Montessori credential requirements of 7 AAC 57.300(d), and
there are no more than a total of
(A) 10 children, with no children under the age of 30 months;
or
(B) 12 children who are all school age.
CHILD CARE HOMES
• 1 caregiver required; must be at least 21 years of age
• No more than 5 children younger than 13 years of age, including the caregiver’s own children, without fire safety approval
• No more than 8 children total younger than 13 years of age, including the caregiver’s own children, with fire safety approval
• No more than 3 children under the age of 30 months
• No more than 2 children may be non-ambulatory
• No more than 5 children, including the caregiver's own children under the age of 18 years, are allowed in nighttime care between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., with fire safety approval
CHILD CARE CENTERS
• Administrator and/or Child Care Associates must be at least 21 years of age
• 9 or more children in care, with safety approval The number of caregivers, who are at least 18 years of age, need to meet child-to-caregiver ratios:
• 1 caregiver for every 4 young infants (birth through 11 months)
• 1 caregiver for every 5 older infants (12 months through 18 months)
• 1 caregiver for every 6 toddlers (19 months through 35 months)
• 1 caregiver for every 10 preschool children (3 to 4 year olds)
• 1 caregiver for every 10 kindergarten children (5 to 6 year olds)
• 1 caregiver for every 10 school age children (7 through 12 year olds) See AMC 16.55.170 for allowable maximum group sizes in a center
|
| Except as provided in
(e) and (f) of this section, a child care center shall maintain,
during all hours of operation, the following child-to-caregiver
ratio and the following maximum group size as required by 7 AAC
57.510 |
| Age Range | Ratios For Daycare In Alaska |
| Age of Children | Child- Teacher: Maximum Group Size,
Ratio of Children to Caregivers |
| Through 18 months | 5 - 1 (10:2) - Term for Child’s
Age Group: Infants |
| 19 to 36 months | 6 - 1 (12:2) - Term for Child’s
Age Group: Toddlers |
| 3 and 4 years | 10 - 1 (20:2) - Term for Child’s
Age Group: Preschoolers |
| 5 and 6 years | 14 - 1 (28:2) - Term for Child’s
Age Group: Kindergartners |
| 7 through 12 years | 18 - 1 (36:2) - Term for Child’s
Age Group: School |
(e)
A child care center may maintain a child-to-caregiver
ratio consistent with the age of the majority of the children,
when kindergartners and school-age children are in a mixed age
group. When infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are in a mixed
age group, the child-to-caregiver ratio for the youngest child
applies.
(f) For purposes of meeting the child-to-caregiver
ratio requirements in (a) - (d) of this section, a child in
care who is age 13 or older must be counted as a child under
age 13 who is school age.
(g) In this section,
(1) "nonambulatory" means not physically or mentally
capable of achieving mobility to exit a building without the
aid of another individual;
(2) "total" means the total number of children in
care at any time. |
| Becoming an Approved Child Care Provider |
An approved provider
provides child care services to child care assistance-eligible
children in a private residence as the sole caregiver. Approved
providers must become licensed within one year to continue receiving
child care assistance payments. An approved relative provider
provides child care services only to child care assistance-eligible
children who are their grandchild, reatgrandchild, sibling,
niece, or nephew. Approved relative providers must renew their
status every two years.
To participate in the child care assistance program as an approved
provider or an approved relative provider, you must:
- Submit a completed application;
- Agree to meet basic health and safety requirements;
- Pass a criminal history background check (also any household
member 18 years of age and older)
Approved and approved relative providers may care for no more
than a total of five children under 12 years of age, including
their own children. Of those five children:
- No more than four children may be unrelated to the provider;
and
- No more than two children may be under 30 months of age. - If you reside outside the Municipality of Anchorage, contact
your local child care assistance program administrator/
- If you reside within the Municipality of Anchorage, contact
the Child Care Program Office/ |
| What
is In-Home Care? |
Care is considered “in-home
care” when when it is provided in the child’s own
home.
An in-home child care provider is an individual who provides child
care services in the child’s own home. |
| What
Do I Need to Know? |
- In-home care is affected
by interaction with other laws and regulations in addition to
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
regulations.
- If you have your child care provider come into your home to
provide child care, you are considered their employer. |
| Who Qualifies
to be an In-Home Provider? |
To receive payments through
the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), an in-home provider
must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be employed by the parent(s) of the family
- Pass a criminal history background check
- Provide care only to the CCAP-eligible children residing in
the family’s home |
| What
is the Process? |
- If you choose to hire
a child care provider to care for your own children in your own
home, please contact your local child care
assistance program office. |
