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A New Approach to Group, School-Age and Family Child Care Regulations

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Board provides input on alignment approach
EEC develops draft regulations
Intensive informal external review process
Revisions to draft
Board votes to send out for public comment
Public Hearings
Revisions to draft
Provide resources for the field
Board votes to promulgate in January
Technical assistance/training
New regulations are promulgated (take effect)
Licensors evaluate compliance and offer resources
Dec.2005-Jan. 2006
Jan. 2006-March 2007
May-August 2007
August - October 2007
November 2007
February 2008
March-August 2008
Fall 2008 to Fall 2009
March-April 2009
Spring 2009 and ongoing
January 2010
Ongoing

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Informal Review: May through August 2007
21 Meetings across the State; over 1,000 attendees
On-line Survey: 389 submitted
E-mail: more than 130 *
Letters: 86*
Formal Public Comment: February 2008
12 Hearings across the State: 480 attended;
180 testified
E-mail: 86*
Letters: 45*
*some with multiple signatures

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Every comment recorded and discussed by
EEC’s Regulation Review Committee.
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Comments reviewed by weighing potential impact on Quality, Affordability and Access.
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Some regulations were changed or clarified.

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A 1:15 staff to child ratio had been proposed for school age children. Overwhelming comments stated the ratio should stay 1:13.
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Programs had many concerns about requiring that children brush their teeth. This will be addressed through technical assistance instead.
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Many family child care providers were concerned by the cost of installing fall zones under their outdoor equipment. Instead, EEC will continue helping providers find safe alternatives and activities.
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Many concerns about the cost of requiring a second adult whenever infants and toddlers are transported.
Instead, this will be suggested as a best practice.

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Most requirements remain the same. For example:
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Staff to child ratios
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Current groupings
Activity space
Materials and equipment
Staff qualifications
The proposed regulations won’t require programs to make big changes but clarify existing requirements and offer more flexibility in several areas.

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Family child care and center-based regulations will be in one comprehensive set.
New regulations in several key areas:
• Program types
• Definitions
• Family child care location
• Administration
• Interactions
• Groupings
• Curriculum and progress reports
• Professional development
• Health and safety

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Family Child Care Up to 10 children, infants to school-age, in a residence
(includes FCC, FCC+, and LFCC under one license type).
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NEW!
Small Group and School Age Care
Up to 10 children but not in a residence.
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Large Group and School Age Care
11+ children includes both group and school age under one license type.

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Educator –new umbrella term for all early education and care staff
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Includes all Family,
Group, and School Age staff.
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Makes it easier to read the regulations.
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It's what staff do every day.
Individual titles are still used when a requirement (like qualifications) pertains to a specific type of educator.
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Lead Teacher
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Teacher
Assistant Teacher
• Director I, II
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Program
Administrator
Site Coordinator
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Group Leader
Assist. Group Leader
Family Child Care
Provider
Certified FCC
Assistant
Regular FCC
Assistant

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NEW! Small Group and School Age Child Care
EEC has developed a hybrid!
• Combines elements of family child care and group/school age child care.
• It creates new options for the care of a small number of children.
Community Services
The proposed regulations:
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Will allow 10 or fewer children to receive care in a non-residence, such as a church, community center, or clinic
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Are less restrictive than group child care to reflect nature of a smaller group
Works well for a provider whose home may not be suitable for family child care
Works well for a community agency that needs a small on-site program for staff or clients

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Family Child Care
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Continue to allow family child care in an occupied residence.
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Continue to allow family child care in a building attached to the residence of the licensee (garage).
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NEW!
Allow family child care in an unattached building on the land of the licensee’s primary residence.
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Allow family child care in a vacant unit in a duplex if the licensee resides in the other unit of the residence.
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NEW!
Allow family child care in an unoccupied apartment in a residence of up to three stories (three separate dwelling units) if the licensee lives in one of the units.

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NEW!
Develop a plan to avoid suspension and termination of children
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Parent meetings
Referrals
Supports (consultant, training, staffing)
Behavioral intervention plans

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NEW!
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Based on recent research in brain development and interactions
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Emphasizes and institutionalizes existing "best practice"
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Aligns Massachusetts standards with other national quality standards

Read with all children daily
60 minutes of physical activity daily
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Planned, organized and flexible transitions
Progress reports for all children in care, regardless of age or setting

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Qualifications will not change
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In development:
• competency-based qualifications
• system for on-going professional development
• NEW!
EEC Registry and annual registration

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Professional Development Hours
• Family Child Care: 10 hours per year professional development
• Small and Large Group: 5, 12 or 20 hours per year, depending on work schedule
• At least 25% must address diverse learners
 NEW!
Mandatory Orientation to the Field
• Highlighting the importance of the profession
• Professional development supports
• Content recommended by the MA Early Education and Care and Out of School Time Workforce
Development Task Force

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Changes based on type of group and ages of children:
• Multi Age Groups
• infant thru school age
• Fixed Age Groups
• all the same age
• Mixed Age Groups
• infant/toddler
• toddler/preschool
• preschool/school age

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NEW OPTION!
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Group assignment can be based on developmental factors not just age.
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Decisions for group assignment must consider factors like the child’s age, where the child is developmentally and parental input.
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Up to two children may be placed in a fixed age group on this basis.
Programs may choose whether to do this or not.

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Supervision appropriate to ages, development, behaviors and activities of children
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Supports growing independence
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Protects children

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NEW!
Administration of Medication
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Training in the “5 Rights” of medication administration
Training by a licensed health care practitioner
Trained educator always on premises
All educators trained to recognize side effects
NEW! Individual Health Care Plans for
Children with Chronic Conditions

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To Minimize the Risk of SIDS…
• Back to Sleep…always!
• No pillows, comforters, stuffed animals
• Update program policy
• Train Staff
• Inform Parents
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Providers may care for no more than 12 hrs. in 24.

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A Measured Approach
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Ensure that programs and educators have the resources and tools they need to comply.
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Ensure EEC staff have the resources and tools they need to provide assistance and evaluate compliance.
Incremental Improvements in Quality
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Short term: Small, practical, achievable steps related to each regulation change
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Long term: lasting quality improvement based on real, available, meaningful supports and resources.

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Communicate promulgation timeline
Web, newsletter, email
Develop, translate, and post resources
Training for EEC staff*
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At all provider renewal meetings offer:
Overview of regulatory changes/timeline
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Focus on new requirements*
Additional meetings for other providers
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In each region for FCC & GCC/SA
Large group overview
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Small workgroups on specific requirements.*
Regulations go into effect
Technical assistance provided on site visits
Topic specific training on new requirements *
Start Mar. 2009
Ongoing
June-Oct. 2009
Start June 2009
Nov.-Dec. 2009
January 2010
Ongoing
Ongoing
*Interactions, Curriculum, Progress Reports, Medication Administration,
Developmental Placement, Multi-Age Grouping, EEC Provider Orientation, etc

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Resource Packet: Positive Interactions
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A Technical Assistance Paper on the importance of positive interactions in promoting children's growth.
A Self-Evaluation and Supervisory Observation Tools
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A List of Internet Resources for more information on interactions.
Resource Packet: Progress Reports
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Progress Reports Power Point
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Progress Reports how progress reports help plan activities to meet the child’s needs, and partner with parents.
Documenting Progress with Portfolios.
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Progress Reports for School Age Children.
Communicating with Parents
The Importance of Developmental Milestones.
A List of Internet Resources
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5 Sample Progress Report Forms
Resource Packet: Curriculum
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Quiet Activities for children who do not sleep
Field Trip Planning with Checklist
Coming soon: Medication Administration, Multi-age Groupings and more!
http://www.eec.state.ma.us/licensingRegulations.aspx

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These new regulations will:
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Give educators more flexibility to support quality and accountability;
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Help all educators grow as the field of early education and care evolves;
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Align care for children across all settings and developmental stages; and
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Give educators more ways to improve access and continuity for children and families.
Thank you !