Section 7 AAC 57.300 - Qualifications of an administrator(a) The administrator of a child care center, child care group home, or child care home must be at least 21 years of age.(b) An administrator must (1) have an understanding of the development of children;(2) have the ability to care for children; and(3) have the skills to work with children, family members, department staff, community agencies, and, if applicable, staff of the child care facility.(4) have the skills necessary to handle finances and plan and evaluate programs.(c) The administrator of a child care center or child care group home must have the management and supervisory skills necessary to select and supervise personnel, including delegation of responsibility and motivation of staff.(d) The administrator of a child care center shall provide proof of education that is appropriate to the age and development of the children in care. The education requirement in this section includes (1) a System for Early Education Development (SEED) career ladder level 7 certificate or higher;(2) at least 12 semester hours of college credit in early childhood development, child development, child psychology, elementary education, or the equivalent; however, college credit in management may substitute for three of the 12 required hours;(3) a current child development associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition;(4) a Montessori certificate issued by a program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Commission for Teacher Education;(5) a school age child care education certificate or child youth care credential; or(6) another early childhood education certificate or credential approved by the Department.(e) An administrator with a bachelor's degree in early child development, child development, child psychology, elementary education, or the equivalent shall meet the training requirements under 7 AAC 57.350(f). An administrator without a bachelor's degree in early child development, child development, child psychology, elementary education, or the equivalent, in addition to the qualifying education under (d) of this section, shall participate in continuing education by obtaining at least three semester hours of college credit in courses relevant to child care and development every two years. The training hours under 7 AAC 57.350(f) may substitute for the three semester hours required for an administrator without a bachelor's degree in early child development, child development, child psychology, elementary education, or the equivalent.(f) In addition to the requirements of this section, an administrator must meet the applicable caregiver qualifications for the type of child care facility as set out in 7 AAC 57.310.(g) The designated administrator shall submit to the department the names, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of four individuals, at least three of whom are unrelated to the designated administrator, who can provide references attesting to the designated administrator's good character, reputation, interpersonal skills and, if applicable, professional skills.(h) The department will assess the qualifications of the designated administrator. If the review shows that person is not qualified under this section, the department will inform the child care facility that the person may not serve as an administrator and that the facility's license is subject to denial or revocation unless a qualified administrator is designated within 30 days.(i) The administrator of a child care facility must meet the orientation and annual training requirement of 7 AAC 57.350.Eff. 6/23/2006, Register 178; am 5/15/2016, Register 218, July 2016; am 9/30/2018, Register 227, October 2018; am 10/9/2024, Register 252, January 2025Authority:AS 44.29.020
AS 47.05.310
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AS 47.32.010
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