General Requirements and Child Care Regulations Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, licensing rules, personnel requirements, staff-to-child supervision ratios, transportation standards, and legal mandates from the Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations lecture notes.

License Renewal Application Deadline

The requirement that licensed child care programs submit an annual application approved by the Department at least 45 days prior to the expiration of the current license.

Chapter 120 Rights

The legal right of a child care license applicant to appeal if their license application is denied by the Department.

Child Care Facility Operator Age Requirement

The rule requiring the operator of a child care facility to be at least 21 years old, and requiring a staff person who is at least 21 years old to be in charge on the premises at all times during operating hours.

Independent Child Care Employee Age Requirement

The rule requiring employees at a child care facility to be at least 16 years old to work independently; employees under 16 years old must be directly supervised at all times and excluded from the staff-to-child ratio.

Provisional Status License

A licensing status issued for a period not to exceed six months (and renewable one time) when a child care program is not in full compliance due to circumstances beyond its control.

Probationary Status License

A licensing status issued during renewal when a child care program's license is in jeopardy of being revoked or not renewed due to violations of licensing standards.

Unannounced Licensing Inspections

Inspections conducted by the Department or local licensing agency during regular business hours a minimum of three times per year, as well as to re-inspect noncompliance or investigate complaints.

Staff-to-Child Ratio

A calculation of the maximum number of children one caregiver can be responsible for while children are in care, based on the ages of the children.

Standard Staff-to-Child Ratios Table

The maximum ratio table setting caregiver limits: Infants (Birth to 1 Year) = 4; 1-year-olds = 6; 2-year-olds = 11; 3-year-olds = 15; 4-year-olds = 20; 5-year-olds or older = 25.

Daily Attendance Records Retention

The requirement that daily attendance records documenting the exact entry and departure times for each child be maintained and kept by child care personnel for 12 months.

Unscheduled Absence Communication Timeline

The rule requiring child care personnel to communicate with a parent or guardian within one hour of a child's scheduled arrival time if the child does not arrive and no prior notice was received.

Direct Supervision

Actively watching and directing children's activities within the same room or outdoor play area, and during transportation and field trips, with the ability to actively respond to the needs of the children.

Touch Supervision

Active water supervision requiring an adult caregiver to remain within an arm's reach and in sight of all children one year of age and above while in the water.

Water Activity Lifeguard Requirement

The mandate that a certified lifeguard must be present and on duty whenever a child care program allows children in a swimming pool deeper than three feet, or uses a beach or lake.

Water Activity Staff-to-Child Ratios Table

Minimum supervision ratios during swimming or wading: Infants (Birth to 1 year) = 1; Toddlers (1 to 3 years) = 1; Preschoolers (3 to 5 years) = 4; School-Age (5 years and older) = 10; Mixed Age Groups = based on the age of the youngest child present.

Transportation Vehicle Temperature Standard

The requirement that the interior of vehicles used to transport children must be kept at comfortable temperatures between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit ($65^{\text{o}}\text{F}$ to $82^{\text{o}}\text{F}$).

Transportation Log Retention

The requirement that a completed transportation log documenting departure/arrival times and staff signatures be retained on file at the program for 12 months.

Child Enrichment Service Provider

An individual who provides specific enrichment activities (such as gymnastics or music instruction) to specific children during a specific time with written parental consent, but is not part of the regular child care program.

Field Trip Advance Notification

The requirement to notify parents or guardians at least two days in advance of a field trip with the date, time, and location posted or sent home, and obtain written permission retained for at least 12 months.

Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Statutes

Florida legal requirements under Chapter 39, F.S. or Chapter 827, F.S. that mandate child care personnel to report any suspected acts or omissions of child abuse or neglect.