10A NCAC 09 .0703. GENERAL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

(a) Staff counted toward meeting the staff/child ratio requirements set forth in Rules .0712 and .0713 of this Section shall meet the requirements of G.S. 110-91(8).  No one under 18 years of age shall have full responsibility for or be left in charge of a group of children.

(b) Anyone who is at least 13 years of age, but less than 16 years of age, may work in a child care center on a volunteer basis, as long as he or she is supervised by and works with a required staff person who is at least 21 years of age, and also meets the health standards for volunteers found in Rule .0702 of this Section.  No one younger than 16 years old shall be left alone with children nor counted toward meeting the required staff/child ratio.

(c)  The provisions of G.S. 110-90.2 which exclude persons with certain criminal records or personal habits or behavior which may be harmful to children from operating or being employed in a child care center are hereby incorporated by reference and shall also apply to any person on the premises with the operator's permission when the children are present. This exclusion does not include parents or other persons who enter the center only for the purpose of performing parental responsibilities; nor does it include persons who enter the center for brief periods for the purpose of conducting business with the operator and who are not left alone with the children.

(d)  Within six months of an individual assuming lead teacher or child care administrator duties, each center shall maintain the following information in the individual's staff record:

(1)           a copy of the credential certificate;

(2)           a copy of notification from the Division that the individual meets the equivalency or that the individual does not meet the equivalency and must enroll in coursework;

(3)           a dated copy of the request submitted by the individual to the Division for the assessment of equivalency status or the opportunity to test out of the credential coursework; or

(4)           documentation of enrollment in credential coursework.

(e)  If the individual does not yet meet the staff qualifications required by G.S. 110-91(8) when assuming lead teacher or administrative duties, the individual shall submit the following information to the Division within six months of assuming the duties:

(1)           a request to test out of credential coursework on a form provided by the Division; or

(2)           application for equivalency on a form provided by the Division, with documentation of completion of the coursework or credential to be considered for equivalency as required by the Division.

(f)  For centers with a licensed capacity of three to 12 children, when an individual has responsibility both for administering the child care program and for planning and implementing the daily activities of a group of children, the requirements for lead teacher in this Section shall apply to this individual. If the program has more than one group of children, the requirement regarding lead teacher shall apply to each group of children.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-91(8); 143B-168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2013; October 29, 1998; January 1, 1990; July 1, 1988; January 1, 1987.