Child Care Center Director Qualifications and Duties

101215.1

(a) In addition to Section 101215, the following shall apply:

(b) All child care centers shall have a director.

(1) Only one director shall be required in a combination center.

(c) The child care center director shall be responsible for the operation of the center, for compliance with regulations, and for communications with the Department; and has the authority to acknowledge receipt of deficiency notices and to correct deficiencies that constitute immediate threats to children's health and safety.

(1) There shall be a clear written statement of the administrative responsibility and authority delegated to the child care center director.

(A) A copy of this written statement shall be given to the child care center director and shall be made available to the Department upon request.

(d) The child care center director, or the substitute director as specified in (f) below, shall be on the premises during the hours the center is in operation.

(1) The child care center director shall not accept outside employment that interferes with the duties specified in this chapter.

(e) A child care center that offers an evening and/or nighttime program shall employ a director for each such program, as well as for the day program.

(f) When the child care center director is absent from the center, arrangements shall be made for a fully qualified teacher as specified in Section 101216.1(c) to act as substitute. This substitute child care center director shall be aware of center operations, including total enrollment; shall be trained in program operation; and shall be designated as an authorized person to correct operational deficiencies that constitute immediate threats to children's health and safety.

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(1) If the child care center director is absent for more than 30 consecutive calendar days, the substitute director shall meet the qualifications of a director.

(g) A licensee who is responsible for two or more centers may serve as the child care center director of one of the centers provided that he/she meets the qualifications specified in

(h) below, or may serve as the executive director of all of the centers provided that a qualified child care center director is employed for each individual center. (h) Child care center directors shall have completed one of the following prior to employment:

(1) High school graduation or GED; completion, with passing grades, of 15 semester or equivalent quarter units as specified in (h)(1)(A) and (h)(1)(B) below at an accredited or approved college or university; and at least four years of teaching experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

(A) Three of the 15 units required in (h)(1) above shall be in administration or staff relations.

(B) Twelve of the 15 units required in (h)(1) above shall include courses that cover the general areas of child growth and development, or human growth and development; child, family and community, or child and family; and program/curriculum.

(2) An associate of arts degree from an accredited or approved college or university with a major or emphasis in early childhood education or child development; and at least two years of teaching experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

(A) Three semester or equivalent quarter units shall be in administration or staff relations.

(3) A bachelor's degree from an accredited or approved college or university with a major or emphasis in early childhood education or child development and at least one year of teaching experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

(A) Three semester or equivalent quarter units shall be in administration or staff relations.

(4) A Child Development Site Supervisor Permit or a Child Development Program Director Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

(i) Approved schools, colleges or universities, including correspondence courses offered by the same, means those approved/authorized by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, or by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

(j) Accredited schools, colleges or universities, including correspondence courses offered by the same, means those accredited by any one of the following recognized accrediting agencies:

(1) Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.

(2) Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(3) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

(4) Association of Independent Colleges and Schools.

(5) National Association of Trade and Technical Schools.

(k) Units earned through correspondence courses from approved or accredited schools, colleges or universities shall be accepted for meeting educational requirements as specified in (h) above.

(l) Each year of experience required in (h)(1), (h)(2) or (h)(3) above shall be verified as having been performed satisfactorily, at least three hours per day for a minimum of 100 days in a calendar year, as a teacher under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a director under this chapter.

(m) A child care center director shall complete 16 hours of health and safety training if necessary pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866.

Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866 provides in part:

(a)(1) In addition to any other required training, at least one director or teacher at each day care center...shall have at least 15 hours of health and safety training, and if applicable, at least one additional hour of training pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2).

(2) The training shall include the following components:

(A) Pediatric first aid

(B) Pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

(C)(i) A preventative health practices course or courses that include instruction in the recognition, management, and prevention of infectious diseases, including immunizations, and prevention of childhood injuries.

(ii) For licenses issued on or after January 1, 2016, at least one director or teacher at each day care center…shall have at least one hour of childhood nutrition training as part of the preventive health practices course or courses.

(3) The training may include instruction in sanitary food handling, emergency preparedness and evacuation, and caring for children with special needs…

(d) Completion of the training required pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be demonstrated, upon request of the licensing agency by the following:

(1) A current pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation card issued either by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or by a training program that has been approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority pursuant to Section 1797.191.

(2) A current pediatric first aid card issued either by the American Red Cross or by a training program that has been approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority pursuant to Section 1797.191.

(3) A certificate of completion of a course or courses in preventive health practices as defined in subdivision (a) or certified copies of transcripts that identify the number of hours and the specific course or courses taken for training in preventative health practices as defined in subdivision (a).

(e) The training required under subdivision (a) shall not be provided by a home study course. This training may be provided through on-the-job training, workshops, or classes.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 1596.81, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1596.72, 1596.73, 1596.866, 1596.87, 1597.05 and 1597.055, Health and Safety Code.