Relates to the appropriate staff/child ratios for family day care homes, group family day care homes, school age day care programs and day care centers

Day care staffing rules gain flexibility

Effective immediately upon enactment, New York's Office of Children and Family Services must set minimum child care standards through regulations. These cover licensed and registered family and group family day care homes, school-age programs, and day care centers. Staff-to-child ratios no longer have to be as strict as the rules in place on January 1, 2000. The law itself sets no new ratios; effects on supervision, care availability, and costs depend on the agency's rules. Required standards cover child development, age-appropriate activities and equipment, supervision, staff qualifications and training, records, and child behavior management. They also cover health, sanitation, infection control, nutrition, building safety, security, first aid, fire safety, evacuation drills, and preventing child abuse. The law provides no new funding.