District of Columbia Administrative Code

324 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS ON CHILDREN 324.1 The Child Development Facility shall maintain a record for each enrolled child, and shall retain the record for three (3) years following the termination of that child's enrollment. All records required by this section shall be made av…

325 CHILDREN'S HEALTH RECORDS 325.1 Each child attending a Child Development Facility shall, upon enrollment and prior to admission, submit to the Facility, on forms approved by the Mayor, complete documentation of a comprehensive physical health examination, including age- appro…

326 EXCLUDING AND READMITTING CHILDREN WHO ARE ILL 326.1 A child who exhibits one or more symptoms of illness identified in subsection 326.6 shall not attend the Facility. 326.2 When the Facility staff observes one or more symptoms of illness identified in subsection 326.6, the c…

327 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS ON STAFF OF ALL FACILITIES AND ON PERSONS RESIDING IN HOME FACILITIES 327.1 Each Facility shall maintain, on the Facility premises, the following information for each employee: (a) The full name, gender, social security number, date of birth and home ad…

328 CRIMINAL AND BACKGROUND HISTORY CHECKS 328.1 The Child Development Facility shall inform every applicant for employment of the following requirements: (a) The applicant must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, as required by the Child and Youth, Safety and He…

329 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON DISCIPLINE 329.1 The Facility shall have a written policy describing the philosophy of discipline and the specific methods of discipline that the Facility uses. Discipline shall be constructive and developmentally appropriate, and shall include chil…

330 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON FACILITY OPERATIONS 330.1 The Facility shall develop and implement policies and procedures in the following areas: (a) Admissions and enrollments, including policies related to children with disabilities, illness or other special needs; (b) Ages of …

331 GENERAL PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR CENTERS 331.1 In each Child Development Center, the program shall be managed by a Center Director. The Center Director shall be assisted by teachers, assistant teachers and aides, as further specified in this Chapter, in the case of a Center…

332 CENTER DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS 332.1 The Center Director in a Child Development Center that serves one or more infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers shall meet one of the following qualification requirements: (a) A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or …

333 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CENTER DIRECTORS 333.1 The Center Director shall be physically present in the Facility at least one-half (1/2) of the time during the Center's hours of operation. No less than one-half (1/2) of that time shall be during peak hours of operation. …

334 TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS 334.1 A teacher shall be at least twenty (20) years of age and meet one of the following requirements: (a) An associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in early childhood education or early childhood development; (b) An assoc…

335 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS 335.1 The duties of each teacher in a Child Development Center shall include the following: (a) Assisting the Center Director in ensuring compliance with this Chapter, (b) Providing, and/or overseeing the provision of, adequate supervis…

336 ASSISTANT TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS 336.1 An assistant teacher in a Child Development Center shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall meet one of the following qualification requirements: (a) At least twenty-four (24) credit hours from an accredited college or univ…

337 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ASSISTANT TEACHERS 337.1 The duties of each assistant teacher in a Child Development Center shall include the following: (a) Providing supervision and appropriate care to the children in his or her class or group, under the direct supervision of…

338 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STAFF IN CENTERS 338.1 Each paid employee of a Child Development Center serving infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers whose duties and/or responsibilities include the care of enrolled children shall participate in at least eighteen (18) …

339 AIDES AND VOLUNTEERS 339.1 Each aide or volunteer in a Child Development Center shall work under the direct supervision of a teacher, assistant teacher, group leader, assistant group leader, or Center Director at all times. 339.2 The duties of each aide or volunteer in a cent…

340 INDOOR PROGRAM SPACE IN CENTERS 340.1 For the purposes of this Chapter, "Program Space" is defined as space within the Facility, exclusive of: food preparation areas, kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, offices, staff rooms, corridors, hallways, stairways, closets, lockers, laundry…

341 ADDITIONAL INDOOR PROGRAM SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND YOUNG CHILDREN IN CENTERS 341.1 The indoor program space for infant and toddler activities shall contain a minimum of thirty-five square feet (35 ft2) per child of unencumbered instructional and/or play s…

342 OUTDOOR SPACE, EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY IN CENTERS 342.1 Each Child Development Facility serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers shall provide suitable space for outdoor play. This play space shall be in an enclosed yard on the Facility premises, in a nearby park or playgroun…

343 GROUP SIZE AND ADULT/CHILD RATIOS 343.1 Each Child Development Center shall have at least two (2) staff persons caring for each group at all times. In Centers serving infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers, there shall be a teacher, who may also be the Center Director, and an…

344 GENERAL DAILY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN CENTERS 344.1 Each Child Development Center serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers shall provide time each day for both quiet and active play, suitable to the ages and abilities of the children enrolled at the Facility. 344.2 Each Cent…

345 CENTER DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 345.1 Each Child Development Center that provides out-of-school-time care, either alone or in conjunction with infant, toddler, and/or preschool care, shall have a Center Director. 345.2 The C…

346 GROUP LEADER QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUT OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 346.1 In a Child Development Center that provides both out-of-school-time care and care for infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers, a qualified teacher shall be deemed to meet the qualification r…

347 ASSISTANT GROUP LEADER QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 347.1 In a Child Development Center that provides both out-of-school-time care and care for infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers, a qualified assistant teacher shall be deemed to meet…

348 STAFFING AND GROUP SIZE FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 348.1 Each group in a Child Development Center that provides out-of-school-time care shall be supervised by at least two (2) adults at all times. 348.2 Each group containing one or more children eleven (11) years of age …

349 TRAINING FOR STAFF IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 349.1 Each paid employee of a Child Development Center providing out-of-school-time care whose duties and/or responsibilities include the care of enrolled children shall participate in at least ten (10) hours of training annua…

350 INDOOR SPACE AND PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUT-OF SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS 350.1 Each Child Development Center that provides out-of-school-time care shall comply with the program space requirements for Centers contained in section 340 of this Chapter, with the exception of sub…

351 CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOMES 351.1 A Child Development Home may be licensed to provide care for up to six (6) children, with no more than two (2) children being non-ambulatory or under two (2) years of age. For the purposes of this Chapter, the number of children in the Child Deve…

352 CAREGIVER QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 352.1 Each Child Development Home Caregiver shall meet the following requirements: (a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age; (b) Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development certificate, with the exception that …

353 CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOME INDOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND EQUIPMENT 353.1 Each Child Development Home must obtain approval from the Director for the use of all program space, and may only offer child care in approved space. 353.2 The Caregiver and/or Facility staff shall arrange t…

354 CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOME GENERAL DAILY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 354.1 Each Child Development Home Caregiver shall establish a planned program of activities for the Facility, based on the stage of development of each enrolled child. The Facility must ensure that its daily program shal…

355 CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOME OUTDOOR SPACE, EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY 355.1 In the absence of suitable outdoor space on the premises of the Child Development Home, such as a fenced yard, the Caregiver shall ensure that all enrolled children are given regular opportunities for safe play …

356 HEALTH AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOMES 356.1 Each Child Development Home shall comply with the health and sanitation requirements as set out in sections 370 and 371 of this Chapter, concerning "Handling Diapers, Training Pants and Toys" and "Hand Washi…

357 EXPANDED CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOMES 357.1 Each Expanded Child Development Home may be licensed to provide care for more than six (6) children, up to a maximum of twelve (12) children. 357.2 Each Expanded Child Development Home shall comply with all of the requirements of this Ch…

358 QUALIFICATIONS OF CAREGIVERS IN EXPANDED CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOMES 358.1 Each Caregiver in an Expanded Child Development Home shall comply with the qualification requirements for Caregivers in Child Development Homes contained in this Chapter, except as specifically provided he…

359 ADULT/CHILD RATIOS IN EXPANDED CHILD DEVELOPMENT HOMES 359.1 Each Expanded Child Development Home shall comply with the adult/child ratio requirements contained within section 343 of this Chapter. 359.2 An Expanded Child Development Home may provide care for more than two (2)…

360 24-HOUR FACILITIES 360.1 Each Child Development Facility that offers twenty-four (24) hour care shall comply with all applicable requirements contained in this Chapter, in addition to the specific requirements listed in this section. 360.2 The Facility shall ensure that each …

361 TOILETS AND SINKS 361.1 Each Child Development Center serving preschoolers shall provide at least one (1) flush toilet and one (1) sink for every ten (10) occupants of the Facility, including staff. 361.2 Each Center providing out-of-school-time care to school-age children sh…

362 GENERAL FURNISHINGS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 362.1 Each Child Development Facility shall provide a variety and sufficient quantities of materials, equipment and supplies for indoor and outdoor activities, consistent with the numbers, ages and needs of the infants, toddlers, pr…

363 GENERAL SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE 363.1 All playthings, equipment, materials, and furnishings provided by a Child Development Facility for use by children shall meet the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials, and s…

364 PETS AND ANIMALS 364.1 In the event that a Child Development Facility permits animals on the premises, it shall comply with the following requirements: (a) The Facility shall adhere to all local ordinances governing the keeping and maintenance of animals; (b) The Facility sha…

365 COTS, CRIBS, AND INFANT PLAY 365.1 Each child enrolled in a full-day program at a Child Development Facility child development program shall be provided by the Facility with an individual crib or cot, along with a blanket provided either by the child's family or by the Facili…

366 ROOFTOP PLAY SPACE 366.1 If a Child Development Facility chooses to utilize a rooftop play space, the Facility shall enclose the rooftop play space with a sturdy fence at least six (6) feet high and designed to discourage climbing. 366.2 The Facility shall provide a fire esca…

367 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE AND EQUIPMENT IN ENCLOSED YARDS ON FACILITY PREMISES 367.1 Each Child Development Facility utilizing an outdoor play space on the Facility premises shall enclose the outdoor play space with a fence or natural barrier, which shall be …

368 SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY 368.1 Before an enrolled child may be permitted to swim or otherwise participate in any activity taking place in water two (2) or more feet in depth, the Child Development Facility shall obtain written permission from the child's parent(s) or guardia…

369 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND FIRST AID 369.1 Each Child Development Facility shall have, at all times, on the premises and readily available to administer aid, at least two (2) staff members who possess current certification in First Aid and CPR for children, and the prevention…

370 HANDLING DIAPERS, TRAINING PANTS AND TOYS 370.1 Each Child Development Facility shall locate its diaper-changing area so that it is in close proximity to a source of warm running water and soap, and so that it is not in or near the Facility's kitchen and eating areas. 370.2 E…

371 HAND WASHING PRACTICES 371.1 Each Child Development Facility shall establish and implement a written policy regarding hand washing, which addresses the following areas: (a) When hand washing is required for staff and for children; (b) Specific hand washing procedures; and (c)…

372 FOOD AND NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS 372.1 Each Child Development Facility shall ensure that its planned menus, and the foods that are actually served by the Facility, are: varied, suitable to the ages and developmental levels of the children, and consistent with the meal pattern …

373 MENUS, MEALS AND SERVICE 373.1 Each Child Development Facility shall ensure that its daily menus conform to the current United States Department of Agriculture dietary recommendations for sugar, salt and fat intake. 373.2 Each Facility shall plan and post menus for all foods …