214 R.I. Code R. 214-RICR-40-00-1.11

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 214-RICR-40-00-1.11 - Staff Qualifications and Ongoing Professional Development

A. Criminal Record Background Checks and Clearance of Agency Activity

1. All individuals who are responsible for the direct supervision of children, and are to be included in staff/child ratio are required to be cleared and approved in accordance with the Department's policies on Criminal Records Check and Clearance of Agency Activity checks, prior to the assignment of child care duties, and every five years thereafter.

a. Within 30 days of receipt of written notification of disqualifying information, the applicant or staff may appeal the finding of the Criminal Records Checks and/or the Clearance of Agency Activity check.

B. Program Leadership

1. Child Care Administrator

a. The Child Care Administrator is responsible for the operation of the child care program to ensure compliance with these regulations.

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one of the following options may assume the role of Child Care Administrator:

(1) Option 1: In conjunction with a full-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have a High School diploma, and one year of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and one year of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(2) Option 2: In conjunction with a part-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have successfully completed at least 12 credits in early childhood education at the post-secondary level, and two years of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and two years of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

2. School Age Administrator

a. The School Age Administrator is responsible for the operation of the school age program to ensure compliance with these regulations.

b. A person who has experience in school-age care may assume the role of School Age Administrator.

3. Education Coordinator

a. The Education Coordinator is responsible for the execution of the Learning and Development section of these regulations;

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one of the following options may assume the role of Education Coordinator:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds a current RI Department of Education teacher certification for grades pre-kindergarten to second grade and has three months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(2) Option 2: The individual holds a current RI Department of Education teacher certification for early childhood special education, which includes early childhood certification, and has three months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood education, and has three months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(4) Option 4: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to early childhood education such as child development, elementary education or special education, and 24 credits in early childhood education from an accredited institution of higher education, and has three months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(5) Option 5: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to early childhood education such as child development, elementary education or special education, and 12 credits in early childhood education from an accredited or approved institution of higher education, and has one year of supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(6) Option 6: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to early childhood education such as child development, elementary education or special education, and RIELDS Certification: Implementing a Standards-Based Program, and has one year of supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

4. School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator

a. The School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator is responsible for the execution of the applicable Learning and Development section of these regulations.

b. A person who is at least 21 years of age and meets all the qualifications in one of the following options may assume the role of School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds an associate's degree or 60 college credit hours, with 18 of them in a field related to education, child development, human services or recreation from an approved and accredited institution of higher education, and has two years supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(2) Option 2: The individual holds an associate's degree in a field related to education, child development, human services or recreation from an accredited or approved institution of higher education, and has one year supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to education, child development, human services or recreation from an accredited or approved institution of higher education, and has three months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(4) Option 4: The individual holds a master's degree in a field related to education, child development, human services or recreation from an accredited or approved institution of higher education.

C. Classroom Staff

1. Teacher

a. The classroom Teacher works under the supervision and guidance of the Education Coordinator and is responsible for:

(1) the creation and execution of the classroom level curriculum;

(2) the development and implementation of a nurturing environment for the children; and

(3) communication with families.

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one of the following options may assume the role of Teacher:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds a high school diploma with a vocational concentration in child care, and has two years supervised experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(2) Option 2: The individual holds a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, and has three years supervised experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a CDA, and has one year supervised experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(4) Option 4: The individual has completed 12 credits in early childhood education or field related to early childhood education from an accredited institution of higher education, and has at least three months supervised experience in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(5) Option 5: The individual holds an associate's degree or higher in a field related to early childhood education, child development, human services or recreation from an accredited institution of higher education.

2. Teacher Assistant

a. The Teacher Assistant is responsible for supporting the Teacher.

b. An individual must be at least 18 years of age, and hold a High School Diploma or a GED certificate to assume the role of Teacher Assistant.

3. School Age Staff

a. The school age staff are responsible for supporting the School Age Site Coordinator.

b. An individual must be at least 18 years of age, hold a High School Diploma or a GED certification, and have had either:

(1) formal training related to child or youth development; or

(2) at least one year of supervised experience working with school age children in a group setting to assume the role of school age staff.

4. Substitutes

a. Short-term substitutes meet the same qualifications as a Teacher Assistant.

b. Long-term substitutes meet the staff qualifications relevant to the position for which they are providing coverage.

D. Auxiliary Staff

1. Auxiliary staff must meet qualifications consistent with the skills needed to perform the respective job.

2. Consultants and resource staff must meet the professional qualifications or certifications required to perform the respective job.

E. Staff Orientation

1. All new staff and volunteers are oriented by Program Leadership during their first week in the program.

2. The orientation includes information regarding:

a. DCYF Child Care Center and School Age Program Regulations for Licensure;

b. state law governing child abuse and neglect, and reporting procedures; and

c. program policies, procedures, and operations, as documented in the Staff Handbook.

3. Within 90-days of hire, all new staff must complete Department approved health and safety preservice training modules.

a. This preservice training may count towards the individual's required hours of professional development.

F. Professional Development

1. All Program Leadership and classroom staff, are required to complete 20 hours of training annually aligned with the Workforce Knowledge and Competencies relevant to their role.

2. As part of the required 20 hours, 10 of these hours must be approved through a process as determined by the Department.

3. Approved hours are documented through a transcript or completion certificate and an approval code.

4. Hours that are not approved are documented through a completion certificate and self-alignment form.

5. Professional development hours are completed annually based on the calendar year.

a. Required hours may be prorated if an individual is hired within the calendar year.

6. Program Leadership is responsible for developing and overseeing an individualized training plan, aligned with the applicable Workforce Knowledge and Competencies, for each staff person.

7. CPR/First Aid certification may be counted for no more than three professional development hours each calendar year.

8. Staff meetings, staff orientation, and other meetings regarding program specific knowledge, do not count towards professional development hours.

9. Any staff member who prepares and serves meals must complete eight hours of training per year relevant to their position, including food safety and CACFP nutrition standard.

10. For any Infant program, the Education Coordinator and all staff that work with Infants, must complete an annual Department approved in-service professional development relating to Infants..

11. For any new Infant program, the Education Coordinator and all staff that work with Infants must, prior to the approval of the program, complete Department approved preservice professional development, related to this age group.

214 R.I. Code R. 214-RICR-40-00-1.11