Section 19a-79-11 - School age children endorsement(a) The operator of a child care center or group child care home caring for children of school age shall comply with sections 19a-79-1a to 19a-79-9a, inclusive, this section and section 19a-79-13 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(b) A program providing care for school age children shall have a separate school age children endorsement by the Office.(c) The program shall develop and implement a written plan for the daily program that includes a flexible schedule and shall be available to parent(s) and program staff. The program shall provide adequate opportunities for enrichment, recreational, and academic activities as appropriate to meet the individual needs of the children. (1) These activities shall not be a duplication of the child's school day.(2) These activities shall reflect the interests of the children enrolled in the program and shall include the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional needs of the children. These activities shall promote and encourage the development of creativity, personal responsibility, self direction, higher level thinking, and leadership skills.(3) The program shall include: (C) Opportunities for homework assignments;(F) Small group activities;(G) Special events which may include field trips; and(H) Self-concept activities.(d) There shall be at least one qualified program staff person for every fifteen children or fraction thereof.(e) The group size shall not exceed thirty (30) children.(f) Children born in September, October, November and December who are not enrolled in kindergarten but who will turn five by January 1 shall be deemed eligible to enroll as a school age child provided such program receives written authorization from such child's parent and the director to enroll such child in the school age program. The written authorization shall be kept on file at the program and available to the Office upon request.(g) When a program serves school age children only, the designated head teacher shall be on site for sixty percent of the time the child care center or group child care home is in operation on a weekly basis, and shall submit written verification of the following qualifications and experiences: (1) The age of twenty years or older;(2) The personal qualities needed to supervise others;(3) A high school diploma or equivalency certificate and one of the following: (A) Approval by the Office as a head teacher prior to October 30, 2024; or(B) Completion of forty-five hours of school age or elementary education training designated by the Office or a three credit course in school age or elementary education programming from a regionally accredited higher education institution; and(C) At least two hundred and forty hours of documented supervised experience working directly with a group of school age children in a licensed child care program, licensed youth camp program or an equivalent program as determined at the sole discretion of the office.(h) When a program for school age children is located in a public or private school facility currently used as a school, the local health, building and zoning regulations pertaining to school facilities shall apply. Under these circumstances, written verification of building and zoning approval is not required. A fire marshal certificate of approval and written approval from the local director of health are required for the facility pursuant to section 19a-79-2a(b)(2)(D) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 19a-79-11
Effective July 27, 1993; Amended November 6, 2008; amended 10/16/2024