Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care

Improve Center Ratios and Group Sizes

Policy Ideas

What policies can states use to move toward this recommendation?

To move toward this recommendation, states may use multiple policy levers, starting from different points. Potential state policies include the following:

Licensing

Require in state licensing standards that infants in center-based programs are cared for in groups no larger than six, with ratios of one child care provider to no more than three infants, and that toddlers are cared for in groups no larger than eight, with ratios of one provider to no more than four toddlers.
Expand the state licensing definition of an infant to include children through 12 months and the definition of a toddler to include children from 13 months through 30 months, to increase the number of children in low-ratio settings.
Allow mixed-age groups in licensing regulations, so that centers have the flexibility to provide continuity of care for children birth to age 3, and require that mixed groups apply the provider-to-child ratio appropriate to the age of the youngest child in the group.

Subsidy

Implement direct contracts with center providers that are tied to requirements that centers care for infants in groups no larger than six, with ratios of one child care provider to no more than three infants, and that centers care for toddlers in groups no larger than eight, with ratios of one provider to no more than four toddlers. Provide payment rates to cover the associated costs of maintaining an adequate number of child care providers to implement these ratios and group sizes.
Raise child care subsidy payments for centers caring for low-income infants and toddlers to sustain the staff salaries needed to care for infants in groups no larger than six, with ratios of one child care provider to no more than three infants, and to care for toddlers in groups no larger than eight, with ratios of one provider to no more than four toddlers.

Quality Enhancement

Ensure that the standards, design, and incentives of state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) specifically address and encourage low group sizes and high provider-to-child ratios for infants and toddlers in center-based child care, so that the highest level requires groups of infants no larger than six and ratios of one child care provider to no more than three infants, and groups of toddlers no larger than eight, with ratios of one provider to no more than four toddlers.

Related Project Recommendations

Visit page: http://www.clasp.org/babiesinchildcare/recommendations?id=0006