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State Requirements for Child-Staff Ratios and Maximum Group Sizes for Child Care Centers in 2007
Licensing is a process administered by State governments that sets a baseline of requirements below which it is illegal for facilities that provide child care services to operate, unless the facility is legally exempt from licensing. States have regulations that include the requirements child care facilities must comply with and policies to support enforcement of those regulations. Additional information about licensing is available on NCCIC’s Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/topics/topic/index.cfm?topicId=2 . A directory of all State child care licensing agencies is available on NCCIC’s Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=licensing .
The following table includes information about States’ child-staff ratio and maximum group size requirements for child care centers in 2007. These data are preliminary results from The 2007 Child Care Licensing Study (in press), by the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) and NCCIC. Final study materials will be posted on NARA’s Web site at www.naralicensing.org. NCCIC does not endorse any organization, publication, or resource.
| States1 | Age of Children | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | 9 months | 18 months | 27 months | 3 years |
4 years |
5 years |
6 years |
7 years |
8 & 9 years |
10 years & older |
|
| Alabama | 5:1 NR |
5:1 NR |
7:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
21:1 NR |
21:1 NR |
21:1 NR |
22:1 NR |
22:1 NR |
| Alaska | 5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
14:1 28 |
14:1 28 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
| Arizona | 5:1/11:2 NR |
5:1/11:2 NR |
6:1/13:2 NR |
8:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| Arkansas* | 6:1 12 |
6:1 12 |
9:1 18 |
9:1 18 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
18:1 36 |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| California | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
6:1 12 |
6:1 12 |
12:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
| Colorado | 5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
7:1 14 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Connecticut | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
| Delaware | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
| District of Columbia | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
8:1 16 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 25 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Florida | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
11:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
| Georgia | 6:1 12 |
6:1 12 |
8:1 16 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
18:1 36 |
20:1 40 |
25:1 50 |
25:1 50 |
25:1 50 |
25:1 50 |
| Hawaii* | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
6:1 12 |
8:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| Idaho | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL |
| Illinois | 4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
5:1 15 |
8:1 16 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
20:1 20 |
20:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
| Indiana | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Iowa | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| Kansas | 3:1 9 |
3:1 9 |
5:1 10 |
7:1 14 |
12:1 24 |
12:1 24 |
14:1 28 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
| Kentucky* | 5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
14:1 28 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
20:1 30 |
| Louisiana* | 6:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
25:1 NR |
| Maine | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1/5:1 12/10 |
4:1/5:1 12/10 |
8:1/10:1 24/20 |
8:1/10:1 24/20 |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
| Maryland* | 3:1 6 |
3:1 6 |
3:1 9 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Massachusetts* | 3:1/7:2 7 |
3:1/7:2 7 |
4:1/9:2 9 |
4:1/9:2 9 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Michigan* | 4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
10:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
| Minnesota | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
7:1 14 |
7:1 14 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Mississippi | 5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
9:1 10 |
12:1 14 |
14:1 14 |
16:1 20 |
20:1 20 |
20:1 20 |
20:1 20 |
20:1 20 |
25:1 25 |
| Missouri | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
8:1 16 |
10:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
16:1 NR |
| Montana | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
14:1 NR |
| Nebraska | 4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
6:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
| Nevada* | 4:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
| New Hampshire | 4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
5:1 15 |
6:1 18 |
8:1 24 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| New Jersey | 4:1 12 |
4:1 12 |
6:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 20 |
15:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| New Mexico | 6:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
12:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
15:1 NR |
| New York | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 12 |
5:1 12 |
7:1 18 |
8:1 21 |
9:1 24 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
| North Carolina | 5:1 10 |
5:1 10 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 25 |
15:1 25 |
25:1 25 |
25:1 25 |
25:1 25 |
25:1 25 |
25:1 25 |
| North Dakota | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 10 |
7:1 14 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
| Ohio* | 5:1/2:12 10 |
5:1/2:12 10 |
7:1 14 |
7:1 14 |
12:1 24 |
14:1 28 |
14:1 28 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
18:1 36 |
| Oklahoma | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
6:1 12 |
8:1 16 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
| Oregon | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 10 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| Pennsylvania* | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 10 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
12:1 24 |
12:1/15:1 24/30 |
15:1 30 |
| Rhode Island | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
6:1 12 |
6:1 12 |
9:1 18 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
| South Carolina | 5:1 NR |
5:1 NR |
6:1 NR |
9:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
21:1 NR |
23:1 NR |
23:1 NR |
23:1 NR |
23:1 NR |
| South Dakota | 5:1 20 |
5:1 20 |
5:1 20 |
5:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 20 |
15:1 20 |
15:1 20 |
15:1 20 |
| Tennessee | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
6:1 12 |
7:1 14 |
9:1 18 |
13:1 20 |
16:1 20 |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| Texas | 4:1 10 |
4:1 10 |
9:1 18 |
11:1 22 |
15:1 30 |
18:1 35 |
22:1 35 |
26:1 35 |
26:1 35 |
26:1 35 |
26:1 35 |
| Utah | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
7:1 14 |
12:1 24 |
15:1 30 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
20:1 40 |
| Vermont | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
5:1 10 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
13:1 NR |
| Virginia* | 4:1 NR |
4:1 NR |
5:1 NR |
8:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
10:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
18:1 NR |
20:1 NR |
| Washington | 4:1/3:1 8/9 |
4:1/3:1 8/9 |
7:1 14 |
7:1 14 |
10:1 20 |
10:1 20 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
15:1 30 |
| West Virginia | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 12 |
8:1 16 |
10:1 20 |
12:1 24 |
12:1 24 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
16:1 32 |
| Wisconsin | 4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
4:1 8 |
6:1 12 |
10:1 20 |
13:1 24 |
17:1 32 |
18:1 32 |
18:1 32 |
18:1 32 |
18:1 32 |
| Wyoming* | 4:1 10 |
4:1 10 |
5:1 12 |
8:1 18 |
10:1 24 |
12:1 30 |
12:1 30 |
18:1 40 |
18:1 40 |
18:1 40 |
18:1 40 |
Notes:
For the purposes of this document, a licensed program is required to have permission from the State to operate and must meet specified child care center standards. Several States have county or city licensing regulations, which may supersede State requirements; this table does not include such regulations.
1 States includes the District of Columbia for a total of 51 entities. Back
* Arkansas: Group size is limited to two times the number of children allowed with one staff member. This does not apply to periodic or special group activities or to school-age children, K–5th grade and older. Back
* Hawaii: Children younger than 2 years of age are prohibited from mixed centers. Hawaii has a separate set of regulations for infant and toddler programs. Ratios and group size requirements for 6-week-olds, 9-, and 18-month-olds shown in table are the maximum allowed in infant and toddler programs. The State allows the following as well:
| Age | Ratio and Maximum Group Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | |
| 6 weeks to 12 months | 3:1 | 4:1 | ||
| 12 months to 24 months | 3:1 | 4:1 | 5:1 | 4:1 |
| 18 months to 36 months | 5:1 | 6:1 | ||
* Kentucky: In part-day programs for school-age children, the ratio for children 7 years of age and older is 25:1, with a maximum group size of 30. Back
* Louisiana: Louisiana regulates two types of centers: Class A and Class B. Ratio and group size information is reported for Class B centers that provide care for more than 11 children. Class A centers require more stringent ratios. Back
* Maryland: For children 6 weeks to 2 years of age, the maximum group size is nine if up to two infants are in the group, or six if three or more infants are in the group. Back
* Massachusetts: The ratio of 10:1 and group size of 20 applies to 3- and 4-year-old children attending full-day programs; a ratio of 12:1 and group size of 24 applies to 3- and 4-year-old children attending part-day programs. For school-age children in preschools, the ratio is 15:1, with a maximum group size of 30. For school-age children in school-age programs, the ratio is 13:1, and the group size is not limited. Back
* Michigan: For school-age children ages 13 to 17 years, the child-staff ratio is 30:1. Back
* Nevada: Ratios reported in the table were calculated based on the maximum number of children allowed to one caregiver. Center classrooms with children older than 2 years of age but younger than 3 years of age are required to have a child-staff ratio of 10:1. Requirements for children age 2 years and older are based on the total number of children in care as follows:
| Number of Children in Care | Number of Caregivers Required |
|---|---|
| 1–6 | 1 |
| 7–20 | 2 |
| 21–35 | 3 |
| 36–50 | 4 |
| 51–65 | 5 |
| 66–80 | 6 |
| 81–93 | 7 |
For every additional 13 children above 93, 1 more caregiver is required. Back
* Ohio: Child-staff ratios for 5- to 10-year-olds in school/kindergarten is 18:1, with a group size requirement of 36. The ratio requirement for 11- to 14-year-olds is 20:1, with a maximum group size of 40. Back
* Pennsylvania: For children in preschool (those older than 37 months) to entry into first grade, the child-staff ratio is 10:1, and maximum group size is 20. For children in first grade through third grade, the child-staff ratio is 12:1 and maximum group size is 24. For children in forth grade to 15 years of age, the child-staff ratio is 15:1, and the maximum group size is 30. Back
* Virginia: The 5-year-old ratio is based on school eligibility. If a child is 5 years old by September 30th, then the 18:1 ratio applies. If the child turns 5 after September 30th, then the 10:1 ratio applies. Back
* Wyoming: A child-staff ratio of 18:1, 32:2, or 40:3 is required for children 6 to 12 years. Back
Updated October 2008
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