Florida's Office of Early Learning
RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6M-4.620 Health and Safety Checklists
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 42 No. 228, November 23, 2016 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
The following changes have been made:
6M-4.620 Health and Safety Inspections and Checklists
(1) through (4) No change.
(5) The following documents and forms are also incorporated by reference as part of this rule:
(a) through (l) No change.
(m) Department of Children and Families Training Rule 65C-22.003, Florida Administrative Code (August 2013) [https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?title=CHILD CARE STANDARDS&ID=65C-22.003].
(n)(m) No change.
No changes are made to Forms OEL-SR 6201, OEL-SR-6203, OEL-SR-6205, OEL-SR-6207 and OEL-SR-6208.
Form OEL-SR 6202, School Readiness Program Health and Safety Standards Handbook for Licensed, License-Exempt, and School-Age Center-based Programs has the following changes:
On page 11 under 1.1 Indoor Floor Space, delete footnote number 2 after the first sentence.
On pages 15 and 16 under 4 Group Size, the following changes are made:
1. For infants from birth up to 12 months of age, group size may not exceed twelve (12) children in a single classroom. There must be two designated lead teachers Ffor infant classrooms operating with 9 to 12 children, and two of the three program personnel assigned to that classroom and necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor infant classrooms operating with 5 to 8 children, and one of the two program personnel assigned to that classroom and necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to an infant classroom operating with 4 or less children.
2. For children age 1 year up to 24 months of age, group size may not exceed twelve (12) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 7 to 12 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 6 or less children.
3. For children age 2 years up to 3 years of age, group size may not exceed twenty-two (22) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 12 to 22 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 11 or less children.
4. For children age 3 years up to 4 years of age, group size may not exceed thirty (30) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 16 to 30 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 15 or less children.
5. For children age 4 years up to 6 years of age, group size may not exceed forty (40) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 21 to 40 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 20 or less children.
6. For school-age children age 6 years and older, group size may not exceed fifty (50) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 26 to 50 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 25 or less children.
7. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children one year of age but under two years of age are included, the group size for the youngest population present within the group applies.
On page 43 under 18.2 Training Courses, numbers 1a. and 1b., the following changes are made:
1.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health, Safety and Nutrition;
ü Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect;
ü Child Growth and Development; and
ü Behavioral Observation and Screening; and
ü Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
b. One of the following:
ü Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices;
ü Preschool Appropriate Practices;
ü School-Age Appropriate Practices; or
ü Special Needs Appropriate Practices.
On page 44 under 18.2 Training Courses, numbers 2a. and 2b., the following changes are made:
2.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health and Sanitation;
ü Safety of the Environment;
ü Precautions in Transporting Children (if applicable);
ü Safe Sleep Practices (not required for school-age only programs);
ü Child Safety and Prevention;
ü Planning for Emergencies; and
ü Preventiong of Child Abuse and Supporting Children in Trauma.
b. One of the following developmentally appropriate practices modules:
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers;
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Preschool/School-age Children; or
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Mixed-age Group Care.
On page 44 under 18.2 Training Courses, delete number 3 and renumber accordingly.
On page 45 under 18.5 Training Exemptions, the following changes are made:
The office shall exempt personnel from training requirements in accordance with Rule 65C-22.003(3)(b), F.A.C.with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or related field from the following course requirements specific to each training option:
1. Department courses – Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Behavioral Observation and Screening, Child Growth and Development, and Health, Safety and Nutrition course requirements.
2. ELFL modules – Health and Sanitation, Safety of the Environment, Transporting Children, Safe Sleep Practices, Child Safety and Prevention, Planning for Emergencies, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices module requirements.
Form OEL-SR 6204, School Readiness Health and Safety Standards Handbook for Public and Non-public School Programs has the following changes:
On page 10 under 1.1 Indoor Floor Space, delete footnote number 2 after the first sentence.
On pages 14 and 15 under 4 Group Size, the following changes are made:
1. For infants from birth up to 12 months of age, group size may not exceed twelve (12) children in a single classroom. There must be two designated lead teachers Ffor infant classrooms operating with 9 to 12 children, and two of the three program personnel assigned to that classroom and necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor infant classrooms operating with 5 to 8 children, and one of the two program personnel assigned to that classroom and necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to an infant classroom operating with 4 or less children.
2. For children age 1 year up to 24 months of age, group size may not exceed twelve (12) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 7 to 12 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 6 or less children.
3. For children age 2 years up to 3 years of age, group size may not exceed twenty-two (22) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 12 to 22 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 11 or less children.
4. For children age 3 years up to 4 years of age, group size may not exceed thirty (30) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 16 to 30 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 15 or less children.
5. For children age 4 years up to 6 years of age, group size may not exceed forty (40) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 21 to 40 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 20 or less children.
6. For school-age children age 6 years and older, group size may not exceed fifty (50) children in a single classroom. There must be one designated lead teacher Ffor classrooms operating with 26 to 50 children, and one of the two program personnel necessary to meet ratio requirements for this age group must possess at a minimum an active credential pursuant to s. 402.305(3), F.S., as recognized by the Department. An active credential is not required for the staff member assigned to a classroom operating with 25 or less children.
7. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children one year of age but under two years of age are included, the group size for the youngest population present within the group applies.
On page 39 under 18.2 Training Courses, numbers 1a. and 1b., the following changes are made:
1.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health, Safety and Nutrition;
ü Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect;
ü Child Growth and Development; and
ü Behavioral Observation and Screening; and
ü Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
b. One of the following:
ü Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices;
ü Preschool Appropriate Practices;
ü School-Age Appropriate Practices; or
ü Special Needs Appropriate Practices.
On page 40 under 18.2 Training Courses, numbers 2a. and 2b., the following changes are made:
2.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health and Sanitation;
ü Safety of the Environment;
ü Precautions in Transporting Children (if applicable);
ü Safe Sleep Practices (not required for school-age only programs);
ü Child Safety and Prevention;
ü Planning for Emergencies; and
ü Preventiong of Child Abuse and Supporting Children in Trauma.
b. One of the following developmentally appropriate practices modules:
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers;
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Preschool/School-age Children; or
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Mixed-age Group Care.
On page 40 under 18.2 Training Courses, delete number 3 and renumber accordingly.
On page 41 under 18.5 Training Exemptions, the following changes are made:
The office shall exempt personnel from training requirements in accordance with Rule 65C-22.003(3)(b), F.A.C.with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or related field from the following course requirements specific to each training option:
1. Department courses – Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Behavioral Observation and Screening, Child Growth and Development, and Health, Safety and Nutrition course requirements.
2. ELFL modules – Health and Sanitation, Safety of the Environment, Transporting Children, Safe Sleep Practices, Child Safety and Prevention, Planning for Emergencies, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices module requirements.
Form OEL-SR 6206, School Readiness Program Health and Safety Standards Handbook for Licensed/Registered Family Child Care Homes and Informal Providers has the following changes:
On page 32 under 17.2 Training Courses, numbers 1a. and 1b., the following changes are made:
1.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health, Safety and Nutrition;
ü Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect;
ü Child Growth and Development; and
ü Behavioral Observation and Screening; and
ü Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
b. One of the following:
ü Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices;
ü Preschool Appropriate Practices;
ü School-Age Appropriate Practices; or
ü Special Needs Appropriate Practices.
On page 33 under 17.2 Training Courses, numbers 2a. and 2b., the following changes are made:
2.
a. Each of the following:
ü Health and Sanitation;
ü Safety of the Environment;
ü Precautions in Transporting Children (if applicable);
ü Safe Sleep Practices (not required for school-age only programs);
ü Child Safety and Prevention;
ü Planning for Emergencies; and
ü Preventiong of Child Abuse and Supporting Children in Trauma.
b. One of the following developmentally appropriate practices modules:
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers;
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Preschool/School-age Children; or
ü Supporting the Social-Emotional Development of Mixed-age Group Care.
On page 33 under 17.2 Training Courses, delete number 3 and renumber accordingly.
On page 34 under 17.5 Training Exemptions, the following changes are made:
The office shall exempt personnel from training requirements in accordance with Rule 65C-22.003(3)(b), F.A.C.with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or related field from the following course requirements specific to each training option:
1. Department courses – Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Behavioral Observation and Screening, Child Growth and Development, and Health, Safety and Nutrition course requirements.
2. ELFL modules – Health and Sanitation, Safety of the Environment, Transporting Children, Safe Sleep Practices, Child Safety and Prevention, Planning for Emergencies, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices module requirements.
