State of Kansas Licensing Regulations
for Child Care Centers & Homes

• Child Care Centers

  Licensing requires a minimum of one annual visit by Health Department Staff for observation of the child care center's compliance with safety, health, nutrition, space, equipment, teacher/child ratios, in-service training, personnel management, program plan, program operation and parent involvement. The Health Department Staff also investigates complaints regarding child care centers.

  Child care center licensing requirements are listed as maximum teacher: child ratios in a classroom for each age group:
  

  Number	Ages	Requirement
  9 infants	birth-12 months & walking	1 teacher for each 3 children
  10 toddlers	12 months/ walking-2 1/2 yrs	1 teacher for each 5 children
  14 toddlers	2-3 years	1 teacher for each 7 children
  20 preschoolers	2 1/2-3 years	1 teacher for each 10 children
  24 preschoolers	3 years-kindergarten	1 teacher for each 12 children

  
  35 square feet per child is considered MINIMUM space allowed in determining the number of children a room is able to serve.

• Registered Family Day Care Homes

  Registration requires annual completion of a safety self-evaluation form by the provider. A MAXIMUM of 6 children are allowed in care at any one time including provider's own children under 12 years. 3 of six may be under 18 months. Registered family day care homes are NOT visited by the Health Department Staff unless a complaint is received.

• Licensed Family Day Care Homes
  Licensing requires a minimum of one annual visit by Health Department Staff for observation of the child care provider’s compliance with safety and health regulations. The Health Department also investigates complaints regarding licensed day care homes.

  Family Day Care Homes are licensed for a maximum of:

  Number	Ages	Restriction 1	Restriction 2
  10	0-11	no more than 6 under kindergarten age	1 may be under 18 months
  9	0-11	no more than 6 under kindergarten age	2 may be under 18 months
  8	0-11	no more than 6 under kindergarten age	3 may be under 18 months
  The maximum numbers include the provider’s own children.

• Group Care Homes
  Licensing requires a minimum of one annual visit by Health Department Staff for observation of the child care provider’s compliance with safety and health regulations. The Health Department also investigates complaints regarding licensed day care homes.

  Group day care homes with one adult are licensed for a maximum of:

  Number	Ages
  12	kindergarten to 11
  10	3 to 11
  9	2-1/2 to 14

  Group day care homes with two adults are licensed for a maximum of:

  Number	Restriction 1	Restriction 2
  12	9 under kindergarten age	not more than 3 under 18 months

Note:  The Child Care Licensing Coordinator for our area is Melanie Stehno who works out of the Cloud County Health Department.  Her telephone number is (785) 243-8140 and Email address is mstehno@cloudcountyks.org.

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Our thanks to the Douglas County Child Development Association for letting us use this page from their web site.