10A NCAC 09 .1801. DISCIPLINE POLICY

(a)  The person who conducts the enrollment conference shall provide a written copy of and explain the center's discipline practices to each child's parents, legal guardian, or full‑time custodian at the time of enrollment.  Each parents, legal guardian, or full‑time custodian must sign a statement which attests that a copy of the center's written discipline policies were given to and discussed with him or her.  That statement must bear the child's name, the date of enrollment, and if different, the date the parent, legal guardian, or full‑time custodian signs the statement.  The signed, dated statement must be in the child's record and must remain on file in the center as long as the child is enrolled.  If a center changes its discipline policy at any time, it must give written notice of such a change to the child's parent, guardian, or full‑time custodian 30 days prior to the implementation of the new policy and the parent, guardian, or full‑time custodian must sign a statement that attests that a copy of the new policy was given to and discussed with him or her.  This statement shall be kept in the child's file.

(b)  No child shall be subjected to any form of corporal punishment by the owner, operator, director, or staff of any child care facility.  For purposes of this Rule, "staff" shall mean any regular or substitute caregiver, any volunteer, and any auxiliary personnel, such as cooks, secretaries, janitors, maids, vehicle drivers, etc.:

(1)           No child shall be handled roughly in any way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking.

(2)           No child shall ever be placed in a locked room, closet, or box, or be left alone in a room separated from staff.

(3)           No discipline shall ever be delegated to another child.

(4)           Discipline shall in no way be related to food, rest or toileting:

(A)          No food shall to be withheld, or given, as a means of discipline.

(B)          No child shall ever be disciplined for lapses in toilet training.

(C)          No child shall ever be disciplined for not sleeping during rest period.

(5)           No child shall be disciplined by assigning chores that require contact with or use of hazardous materials, such as cleaning bathrooms or floors, or emptying diaper pails.

(6)           Discipline shall be age and developmentally appropriate.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110‑91(10); 143B‑168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2001; November 1, 1989.