Tracking #2010-00010
FA/P 3/5/10, eff. 5/1/10

I:/09051303.rtf
[I:/09051303.doc]

(12 CCR 2509-8)

[Instructions: Statement of basis and purpose is incorporated with Tracking #2010-00015 (09051301.rtf).] 

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[Instructions: replace lines 1130404 through 1130471.] 
7.702.52  Director Qualifications - Large Child Care Center [Rev. eff. 5/1/10]
A.  The educational requirements for the director or substitute director of a large center must be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following. (All course hours are given in semester hours, but equivalent quarter hours are acceptable.) Official college transcripts must be submitted to the Department for evaluation of qualifications.
1.  All individuals with a Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major emphasis in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education and all other individuals submitting official transcripts for evaluation and/or completing necessary college coursework to become qualified as a director of a large center must complete a three (3) semester hour course from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas: 
a.  Introduction to early childhood professions; 
b.  Introduction to early childhood lab techniques; 
c.  Early childhood guidance strategies for children; 
d.  Early childhood health, nutrition, and safety; 
e.  Administration of early childhood care and education programs; 
f.  Administration: human relations for early childhood professions or introduction to business; 
g.  Early childhood curriculum development; 
h.  Early childhood growth and development. 
Effective May 31, 2011, the following two (2) three (3) semester hour college courses, in addition to the courses listed in Section 7.702.52, A, 1, must be taken from a regionally accredited college or university at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas for a total of thirty (30) semester hours: 
a.  The exceptional child;
b.  Infant/toddler theory and practice; or the Department approved expanding quality infant/toddler training. 
2.  Completion of a course of training approved by the State Department that includes course content listed at Section 7.702.52, A, 7, and experience listed at Section 7.702.52, B. 
3.  Completion of the Advanced Credential Assessment (formerly called the Challenge Test) through the Colorado Office of Professional Development with a score of eighty percent or better; in addition, experience listed at Section 7.702.52, B, is required.
B.  All individuals holding a valid approval letter for director qualifications from the Department of Human Services that matches official Department records are required to take, or have taken, the following five (5) three (3) semester hour courses. 
1.  One course must be taken every two (2) years from a regionally accredited college or university at either a two year, four year or graduate level in each of the following subject or content areas: 
a.  Early childhood guidance strategies; 
b.  Early childhood health, nutrition and safety or child nutrition; 
c.  The exceptional child; 
d.  Infant/toddler theory and practice; or expanding quality in infant and toddler training; 
e.  Administration: human relations for early childhood professions. 
2.  Official transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university of the one (1) or more of the five (5) courses shall be submitted to the State Department within thirty days of completing each course until all five (5) courses have been completed. The first course must be completed by May 31, 2012. 
Directors of public school preschools must attend a Department-approved course of training in nutrition and implementation of rules regulating child care. 
3.  All college course grades for large or small child care center director qualification must be a “C” or better. 
C.  The experience requirements for the director of a large center must be met by completion of the following amount of work experience in a child development program, which includes working with a group of children in such programs as a preschool, child care center, kindergarten, or Head Start program:
1.  Persons with Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a major emphasis in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education, no additional experience is required. 
2.  Persons with a 2-year college degree in early childhood education must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
3.  Persons with a Bachelor's degree and completion of courses specified in Sections 7.702.52, A, 1-2, must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
4.  Persons who have no degree but have completed the twenty-four (24) semester hours specified in Section 7.702.52, A, 1-2, must have twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
5.  Verified experience acquired in a licensed family child care home or school-age child care center may count for up to half of the required experience for director qualifications. To have family child care home experience considered, the applicant must be or have been the licensee. The other half of the required experience must be working directly with children in a child development program. 
6.  Experience with five (5) year olds must be verified as follows: 
a.  If experience caring for five year old children occurs in a child care center classroom, the hours worked shall be counted as preschool experience; 
b.  If experience caring for five year old children occurs in an elementary school program, the hours worked shall be counted as school-age experience.
D.  At all times, every large child care center must have a substitute director that meets all of the requirements for director as listed at Section 7.702.52, A, 1 or 7.702.52, A, 2. When the director of the large child care center cannot be present sixty percent (60%) of any day the center is in operation, the equally qualified substitute director must substitute for the director. In an emergency situation, when the equally qualified director substitute cannot be present, an individual that does not meet all of the director educational and experience requirements may substitute for the director for a maximum of two (2) weeks per calendar year if they meet one or more of the following requirements: 
1.  At least one year of experience as an early childhood teacher at the center.
2.  A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in the human services field.
3.  Qualification as an early childhood teacher and completion of at least half of the required coursework for director qualifications including the two (2) administration classes; administration of early childhood care and education programs and administration; human relations for early childhood professions. 
E.  Whenever the director of a drop-in child care center cannot be present fifty percent (50%) of any day the center is in operation, a substitute that meets one of the following qualifications must be present: 
1.  At least one (1) year of experience as a qualified early childhood teacher at the drop-in child care center;
2.  18 months experience as a qualified early childhood teacher with children under 12 years of age and at least six (6) months experience at the drop-in child care center;
3.  A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university in the human services field; or,
4.  Qualification as an early childhood teacher and completion of at least half of the required coursework for director qualifications, including one of the administration classes. 
7.702.53  Director Qualifications - Small Child Care Center [Rev. eff. 5/1/10]
A.  The director or substitute director of a small center must have completed one of the following: 
1.  Three (3) years' satisfactory experience in the group care of children under six (6) years of age (5460 hours) and at least two (2) 3-semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas in early childhood education; one of the courses must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies; or,
2.  Two (2) years' college education (sixty semester hours) at a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with at least two (2) 3-semester-hour courses in early childhood education; one of which must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies; and one (1) year (1820 hours) of satisfactory experience in the group care of children under six (6) years of age; or, 
3.  Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) or other Department-approved credential; or,
4.  A two (2) year college degree in child development or early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas that must include at least one 3-semester hour course in either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies and six (6) months (910 hours) satisfactory experience in the group care of children under six (6) years of age. 
B.  Satisfactory experience includes all options listed at Section 7.702.52, A, 5. 
7.702.54  Qualifications for Other Staff Members [Rev. eff. 5/1/10]
A.  Early Childhood Teacher 
1.  An early childhood teacher, assigned responsibility for a single group of children and working under the supervision of a director, must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and must meet at least one of the following qualifications: 
a.  A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Effective May 1, 2010, the major area of study for each Bachelor's degree shall be in one of the following areas: 
1)  Early childhood education; 
2)  Elementary education; 
3)  Special education; 
4)  Family and child development; 
5)  Child psychology. 
b.  Effective May 31, 2011, a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in any area other than those listed at Section 7.702.54, A, 1, a, must have two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses with one course being either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies, and at least six (6) months (910 hours) of satisfactory experience. 
c.  A 2-year college degree, sixty (60) semester hours, in early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, which must include at least two (2) three-semester hour courses, one of which must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies; and at least six (6) moths (910 hours) of satisfactory experience. 
d.  Completion of two (2) years of college education, sixty (60) semester hours, from a regionally accredited college or university with at least one (1) three-semester hour college course in early childhood education, plus six (6) months (910 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. This option to be early childhood teacher qualified will not be available after May 31, 2011. 
e.  Completion of twelve (12) semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas in early childhood education.  By May 31, 2012, one of the three (3) semester hour courses must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies, plus nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. 
f.  Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. 
g.  Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) or other Department-approved credential. 
h.  Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children in a child growth and development program plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. 
i.  Thirty-six months (5,460 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. This option to be qualified as an early childhood teacher will not be available after May 1, 2010. 
j.  Twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual plus either: 
1)  A current Colorado Level I credential; or, 
2)  Two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with one course being either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies. 
2.  Verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a family child care home; a teacher's aide or teacher in a child care center, preschool, or elementary school. 
3.  All college course grades toward early childhood teacher qualifications must be "C" or better. 
B.  Kindergarten Teacher
Each teacher of a kindergarten class must have the same qualifications as a director for a large center (see Section 7.702.52) or be state certified or licensed as an elementary or early childhood teacher.
C.  Staff Aide
Staff aides must be at least 16 years of age and must work directly under the supervision of the director or an early childhood teacher. 
Infant staff aides must be at least 18 years of age.
D.  Volunteers (see also Section 7.702.43, G)
1.  Volunteers must have qualifications suitable to the tasks they are assigned.
2.  Volunteers must be supervised and given instruction as to the center's policies and procedures.
7.702.55  Required Staff and Supervision [Rev. eff. 5/1/10]

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[Instructions: replace lines 1130498 through 1130526.] 
D.  Substitutes
1.  Qualified staff must be available to substitute for regularly assigned staff that are sick, on vacation, or otherwise unable to be on duty.
2.  In the absence of the director of a small center, an individual who meets director qualifications for a small center must substitute for the director.
3.  If the director of a large center cannot be present sixty percent (60%) of any day, a center staff member or other individual who meets director qualifications as listed at Section 7.702.52 for a large center must substitute for the director.
4.  When there is a director vacancy, a director-qualified substitute must be present at the center at least sixty percent (60%) percent of any day the center is open until a new director is appointed.
5.  Substitutes for directors of part-day public school preschools may be from the sponsoring school system's list of approved substitutes. Substitutes who do not meet director qualifications must consult with a qualified director on administering the center in accordance with early childhood principles and practices and licensing rules. 
7.702.56  Infant Nursery Staff [Rev. eff. 5/1/10]
A.  Staff Requirements
1.  If a center operates solely as an infant nursery, there must be a director who meets the qualifications for a director of either a small center or a large center (Sections 7.702.52 and 7.702.53), depending upon the number of children for which the infant center is licensed.
2.  The infant nursery must have an infant nursery supervisor who has verified training and experience in one of the following: 
a.  A registered nurse, licensed to practice in Colorado, with a minimum of 6 months of experience in the care of infants. 
b.  A licensed practical nurse, licensed to practice in Colorado, with twelve (12) months of experience in the care of infants. 
c.  An adult who holds a certificate in infant and toddler care from an accredited college or university with completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours in the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting. 
d.  An adult who is currently certified as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) and has completed the Department approved expanding quality in infant and toddler development course of training by May 31, 2012. 
e.  An adult who: 
1)  Is at least 19 years of age, and,
2)  Is qualified as an early childhood teacher (Section 7.702.56, A, 4), and,
3)  Has a minimum of 12 months of verifiable full-day experience in the group care of infants or toddlers; and,
4)  Has completed at least two (20 3-semester hour college courses from a regionally accredited college or university on the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting, one (1) of which must be infant/toddler development or the Department approved expanding quality in infant and toddler development course of training by May 31, 2012. 
f.  An adult who: 
1)  Is at least 19 years of age, and
2)  Is qualified as an early childhood teacher (Section 7.702.56, A, 4), and
3)  Has at least two (2) years of verifiable full-day experience in the group care of infants or toddlers, and
4)  Will complete within the first 6 months of employment two (2) three-semester hour college courses from a regionally accredited college or university with one of the courses being infant/toddler development or the Department approved expanding quality in infant and toddler development by May 31, 2012. 
3.  An infant nursery early childhood teacher must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation in the infant nursery from the infant nursery supervisor including, but not limited to, the following topics: 
a.  Toys and equipment, appropriate activities for infants and toddlers, appropriate sleep positions for infants and toddlers, the safe and appropriate diaper change technique; and, 
b.  At least 6 months of experience in the care of infants or toddlers; and, 
c.  Meet qualifications for an early childhood teacher found at Section 7.702.54, A, or be qualified as an infant nursery supervisor. 
4.  The infant nursery staff aide must be at least eighteen (18) years old, must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation as listed above, at the infant nursery and must work under the direct supervision of an infant early childhood teacher.
5.  There must be at least one (1) staff member on duty in each infant room at all times who holds a current Department-approved First Aid and Safety certificate that includes CPR for all ages of children.

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