Iowa Administrative Code

QRIS, a registered child development home shall certify that it meets the applicable criteria as defined in rules 441—118.33(237A) through 441—118.37(237A). The following program requirements apply: 1. For Category C homes operating with an approved coprovider, both providers mus…

homes. To be rated at Level 1, an eligible registered child development home must satisfy all of the criteria in each of the six designated categories listed in Level 1 or complete all of the criteria designated in its respective specialized tracks for Levels 1 and 2. 118.33(1) N…

homes. To be rated at a Level 2, an eligible registered child development home must satisfy all of the criteria in each of the six designated categories listed in Levels 1 and 2 or complete all of the criteria designated in its respective specialized tracks. 118.34(1) Nutrition a…

homes. To be rated at a Level 3, an eligible registered child development home must satisfy all of the criteria in each of the six designated categories listed in Levels 1, 2 and 3 or complete all of the criteria designated in its respective specialized tracks for Levels 1, 2 and…

homes. To be rated at Level 4, an eligible registered child development home must satisfy all of the criteria in each of the six designated categories listed in Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 or complete all of the criteria designated in its respective specialized tracks for Levels 1, 2, 3…

118.10(2) Application for IQ4K. All applications must be accessed, completed and submitted to the applicant’s designated CCR&R representative through the IQ4K database located at iq4k.stateofiowadhs.org/login. [ARC 6277C, IAB 4/6/22, effective 6/1/22]

118.38(1) The facility shall display Form 470-5681: IQ4K QRIS rating certificate in a conspicuous place. 118.38(2) Achievement bonuses may be awarded as funds are available. [ARC 6277C, IAB 4/6/22, effective 6/1/22]

118.39(1) An eligible applicant shall be notified of the right to appeal the rating decision in accordance with 441—Chapter 7. 118.39(2) A participant’s quality rating shall be revoked if the facility no longer meets the definition of eligible applicant. [ARC 6277C, IAB 4/6/22, e…

applications submitted under subrule 118.2(1), to participate in the quality rating system, a child development home provider shall certify that the home meets the applicable criteria as defined in subrule 118.4(1). 118.4(1) Criteria for each rating level. a. To be rated at Level…

the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school. To participate in the quality rating system, a child care center, preschool, or program operating under the authority of an accredited school district or nonpublic school applying under subrule 118.2(2) shall cer…

system, a child development home provider applying under subrule 118.2(2) shall certify that the home meets the applicable criteria as defined in subrule 118.6(1). 118.6(1) Criteria for each rating level. a. Level 1. To be rated at Level 1, the home must be a registered child dev…

118.7(1) The facility shall display Form 470-4230, Quality Rating Certificate, in a conspicuous place. 118.7(2) Achievement bonuses may be awarded as funds are available. 118.7(3) Participants may request another quality rating for the purpose of increasing their rating no sooner…

118.8(1) An eligible applicant must be notified of the right to appeal the rating decision in accordance with 441—Chapter 7. 118.8(2) A participant’s quality rating shall be revoked if the facility no longer meets the definition of “eligible applicants.” 118.8(3) Form 470-4230, Q…

“Action plan” means a written, detailed sequence of steps taken or activities performed to reach one or more goals. “All staff” means program administrator or director, assistant program administrator or assistant director, on-site supervisor, lead teacher and staff counted as pa…

“Deferred judgment” means deferred judgment as defined in Iowa Code section 907.1 and is considered an admission of committing an act. Under this chapter, the admission of committing an act must be considered a conviction for purposes of public protection. “Department” means the …

119.2(1) Record check evaluations on prospective employees and students. A requesting entity shall request a record check evaluation prior to employment or enrollment of a person whose background check indicates a criminal or dependent adult abuse or child abuse record. Any defer…

119.3(1) Required documentation. The requesting entity and the prospective employee or student shall complete and submit Form 470-2310 to the department to request an evaluation. The requesting entity shall submit the form and required documentation to the Department of Human Ser…

119.4(1) Considerations. The department shall consider the following when conducting a record check evaluation: a. The nature and seriousness of the crime or founded child or dependent adult abuse in relation to the position sought or held. b. The time elapsed since the commissio…

with the department requesting an appeal of the record check evaluation decision within 30 days of the date of the notice of the results of the record check evaluation in accordance with 441—Chapter 7. [ARC 1263C, IAB 1/8/14, effective 3/1/14] These rules are intended to implemen…

“Adult” means a person 18 years of age or older. “Child” means either of the following: 1. A person 12 years of age or younger. 2. A person 13 years of age or older but younger than 19 years of age who has a developmental disability, as defined under the federal Developmental Dis…

120.10(1) Prior to the issuance of a provider agreement, the provider shall complete minimum health and safety trainings, approved by the department, in all of the following content areas: a. Prevention and control of infectious disease, including immunizations. b. Prevention of …

Form 470-3871, Child Care Assistance Provider Agreement, when an applicant meets all requirements for a child care home. The department shall maintain a current list of child care homes as a referral service to the community. 120.11(1) A provider agreement shall be denied or canc…

received. 120.12(1) After each complaint visit, the department shall document whether the child care home was in compliance with requirements. 120.12(2) The written documentation of the department’s conclusion as to whether the child care home was in compliance with requirements …

person or program from involvement with child care, that person or program shall not provide child care as a nonregistered child care home provider. [ARC 2648C, IAB 8/3/16, effective 10/1/16] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 237A.12. [Filed ARC 2648C (Notic…

Payment Application for Nonregistered Providers, provided by the department’s local office or on the department’s website. The provider shall also use Form 470-2890 to inform the department of any changes in circumstances that would affect the provider. [ARC 2648C, IAB 8/3/16, ef…

be completed every 24 months. To request renewal, a provider shall submit Form 470-2890, Payment Application for Nonregistered Providers, and training completion evidence either through certificates or as updated in Iowa’s early childhood and school age professional workforce reg…

annually to check for compliance with health, safety, and fire standards. Completed evaluation checklists shall be placed in agency files. [ARC 2648C, IAB 8/3/16, effective 10/1/16]

people caring for their children during the normal hours of operation or whenever their children are in the care of the child care home, unless parental contact is prohibited by court order. [ARC 2648C, IAB 8/3/16, effective 10/1/16]

following standards: 120.6(1) Limit. No more than five children shall receive care at any one time in the single-family residence. 120.6(2) Children counted. To determine the number of children cared for at any one time in a child care home, each child present in the child care h…

120.7(1) Provider. The provider shall: a. Give careful supervision at all times. b. Exchange information with the parent of each child frequently to enhance the quality of care. c. Give consistent, dependable care and be capable of handling emergencies. d. Be present at all times…

provider shall certify that the child care home meets the following minimum standards. 120.8(1) Facility requirements. a. The home shall have a nonpay, working landline or mobile telephone with emergency numbers posted for police, fire, ambulance, and the poison information cente…

120.9(1) An individual file for each child shall be maintained and updated annually or when the provider becomes aware of changes. 120.9(2) The file shall contain: a. Identifying information including, at a minimum, the child’s name and birth date; the parent’s name, address and …

“Community partners” means individuals, early childhood service providers, and staff of other programs or agencies who communicate, coordinate and collaborate with an area board. “Designation” means the status awarded by the state board to an early childhood Iowa area meeting the…

121.2(1) The state board will provide leadership and coordination for the development of Iowa’s early care, health and education system in cooperation with area boards, community partners and other state agencies. 121.2(2) The state board will: a. Develop and implement a process …

department will provide fiscal oversight of the early childhood Iowa initiative. The fiscal oversight measures are defined in 441—Chapter 122. [ARC 9150C, IAB 4/30/25, effective 7/1/25]

121.4(1) The state board will approve early childhood Iowa area boundaries and the creation of area boards. Minimum criteria for areas and approval of area boards are set forth in Iowa Code section 256I.6. 121.4(2) The state board may waive any of the minimum criteria referenced …

“Agreement” means a contract between the area boards, state board, department, and state agencies to which funding is allocated. “Audit” means a financial review by area boards of early childhood Iowa funds. Area boards that receive federal funds shall complete an audit of the fu…

122.2(1) In consultation with the state board, the department has adopted policies to oversee the fiscal responsibilities of area boards. 122.2(2) The department will: a. Review the internal controls of all disbursements of early childhood Iowa funding; b. Approve the process for…

“Long-term (acute) care hospital” means a hospital that has been approved to participate in the Title XVIII (Medicare) program as a long-term care hospital-prospective payment system (LTCH-PPS) hospital in accordance with 42 CFR Part 412 as amended to August 1, 2025. “Radiation t…

123.10(1) A request by an applicant for an extension of a certificate of need will be filed with the department using the form available on the certificate of need website no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the certificate of need. 123.10(2) When an extension has be…

123.11(1) Once a project has been approved by the department, no changes that vary from or alter the number of approved beds, the approved services or the approved cost by an amount indicated in subrule 123.11(2) may be made unless requested by the applicant and approved by the d…

section 135.72 will be conducted in accordance with 441—Chapter 7. [ARC 0320D, IAB 5/27/26, effective 7/1/26] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 135.61 through 135.78. [Filed ARC 0320D (Amended Notice ARC 0175D, IAB 4/1/26; Notice ARC 9796C, IAB 12/10/25), I…

123.2(1) Before applying for a certificate of need, the sponsor of a proposed new institutional health service or changed institutional health service will electronically submit a letter of intent meeting the criteria noted in Iowa Code section 135.64(1). 123.2(2) The department …

request for a determination of reviewability as to whether the project requires a certificate of need. 123.3(1) If it is determined that a certificate of need is required, the department will notify the sponsor and the request for nonreviewability will be considered the letter of…

123.4(1) Application form. a. A sponsor of a proposed project for a new or changed institutional health service will submit to the department an application for certificate of need using the appropriate application form found on the certificate of need website. All information re…

123.5(1) The department will evaluate the application against the criteria specified in Iowa Code section 135.63. 123.5(2) Public comments on an application. a. The department will receive written public comments on an application during a time frame prescribed by the department …

pursuant to Iowa Code section 135.66. An applicant requesting a summary review will abide by the following procedures: 123.6(1) An applicant will electronically submit a written request for summary review and a copy of the application and all attachments. An applicant is not requ…

123.7(1) A formal review of an application for a certificate of need pursuant to Iowa Code section 135.65 may be extended by the department on the basis of any of the following criteria: a. In order to review competing applications simultaneously; b. In the case of technologicall…

123.8(1) An applicant or any affected person who has participated or sought unsuccessfully to participate in the formal review procedure prescribed in Iowa Code section 135.65 may, for good cause shown, file an application for rehearing in writing with the department stating the …