8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.808

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024

Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.808 - CHILD CARE CENTER SUBSTITUTE QUALIFICATIONS

A. Must meet requirements found in rule sections 2.806 and 2.807; and

B. Must meet the current minimum education and experience requirements for the position in which the substitute is providing child care.

C. Large child care center director: the educational requirements for the director or substitute director of a large center must be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following. Official college transcripts must be submitted to the Department for evaluation of qualifications.

1. A Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education from a regionally accredited Colorado college or university.

2. A current Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

3. A Master's Degree with a major emphasis in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education.

4. Completion of all of the following three (3) semester hour courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas:

a. Introduction To Early Childhood Professions;

b. Introduction To Early Childhood Lab Techniques;

c. Early Childhood Guidance Strategies For Children;

d. Early Childhood Health, Nutrition, And Safety;

e. Administration Of Early Childhood Care And Education Programs;

f. Administration: Human Relations For Early Childhood Professions or Introduction To Business; Early Childhood Curriculum Development;

g. Early Childhood Growth and Development;

h. The Exceptional Child; and

i. Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice; or the Department approved Expanding Quality Infant/Toddler training;

5. Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes course content listed at rule section 2.807(A)(4), and documented experience.

6. Department approved alternative pathway or credential.

7. The experience requirements for the director of a large center must be met by completion of the following amount of work experience in a child development program, which includes working with a group of children in such programs as a preschool, child care center, kindergarten, or Head Start program:

a. Persons with Bachelor's or Master's degree with a major emphasis in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or an Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education; no additional experience is required.

b. Persons with a 2-year college degree in Early Childhood Education must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.

c. Persons with a Bachelor's degree and completion of courses specified in rule section 2.214(B)(1) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, and must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.

d. Persons who have no degree but have completed the thirty (30) semester hours specified in rule section 2.214(B)(2) in the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, must have twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.

e. Verified experience acquired in a licensed Colorado Family Child Care Home or School-Age Child Care Center may count for up to half of the required experience for director qualifications. To have Colorado Family Child Care Home experience considered, the applicant must be or have been the licensee. The other half of the required experience must be working directly with children in a child development program;

f. Experience with five (5) year olds must be verified as follows:

i. If experience caring for five (5) year old children occurs in a child care center classroom, the hours worked shall be counted as preschool experience; or

ii. If experience caring for five (5) year old children occurs in an elementary school program, the hours worked shall be counted as school-age experience.

D. The small center director qualifications must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. A current professional teaching license issued by the Colorado Department of Education with an endorsement in the area of Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Special Education;

2. A current Early Childhood Professional Credential Level III version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education;

3. Three (3) years' satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age (5,460 hours) and at least two (2) 3-semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two-year, four-year, or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas in early childhood education; one of the courses must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies;

4. Two (2) years' college education (sixty semester hours) at a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two-year, four-year, or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with at least two (2) 3-semester-hour courses in early childhood education; one (1) of which must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies; and one (1) year (1,820 hours) of satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age;

5. Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department approved credential;

6. A two (2) year college degree in Child Development Or Early Childhood Education from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two-year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas that must include at least one (1) 3- semester hour course in either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies and six (6) months (910 hours) satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age; and

7. Department approved alternative pathway or credential.

E. The Early Childhood Teacher qualification must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in one of the following areas:

a. Early Childhood Education;

b. Elementary Education;

c. Special Education;

d. Family And Child Development; or

e. Child Psychology.

2. A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in any area other than those listed in rule section 2.808(C)(4), and additional two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses with one course being either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies:

a. Current Early Childhood Professional Credential Level III version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education;

b. A 2-year college degree, sixty (60) semester hours, in early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, which must include at least two (2) three-semester hour courses, one of which must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies; and at least six (6) months (910 hours) of satisfactory experience;

c. Completion of twelve (12) semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two-year, four-year, or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas in early childhood education and one of the three (3) semester hour courses must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies, plus nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual;

d. Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in Child Growth and Development plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual;

e. Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department-approved credential;

f. Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children in a child growth and development program plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual;

g. Twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a Colorado family child care home; a teacher's aide or teacher in a child care center, preschool, or elementary school, plus either:

(1) A current Colorado level I credential; or

(2) Two (2) three-semester hour Early Childhood Education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two-year, four-year, or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with one course being either Introduction to Early Childhood Education or Guidance Strategies.

j. Department approved alternative pathway or credential.

3. All college course grades toward Early Childhood Teacher qualifications must be "C" or better.

F. The assistant early childhood teacher qualification must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. Completion of one of the Early Childhood Education courses listed in rule section 2.216(A)(1) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, with a course grade of "C" or better and twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age, who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a Family Child Care Home; a teacher's aide in a center, preschool or elementary school. Assistant Early Childhood Teachers must be enrolled in and attending the second (2nd) Early Childhood Education class which will be used as the basis for their qualification for the position of Early Childhood Teacher;

2. Persons having completed two (2) of the Early Childhood Education classes referenced in rule section 2.216(A)(1) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, with a course grade of "C" or better and no experience; or

3. A current Early Childhood Professional Credential level I version 1.0 or 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

G. The Staff Aide qualification must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. Staff Aides must be at least sixteen (16) years of age and must work directly under the supervision of the Director or an Early Childhood Teacher.

2. Infant Staff Aides must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

3. Staff Aides, without supervision from an Early Childhood Teacher or Director, may supervise no more than two (2) preschool age children while assisting the children with diapering or toileting.

H. The Kindergarten teacher qualifications must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. Each teacher of a kindergarten class must have the same qualifications as a director for a large center (see rule section 2.216(D) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers), be state certified or licensed as an elementary teacher by the Colorado Department of Education, or have a four (4) year degree from a regionally accredited college or university in Elementary or Early Childhood Education.

2. A current Early Childhood Professional credential level iii version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

I. The Infant Program Supervisor qualifications must be met by satisfactory completion of:

1. A Registered Nurse, with an active license from the Colorado State Board of Nurings, with a minimum of six (6) months of experience in the care of infants.

2. A Licensed Practical Nurse, with an active license from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, with twelve (12) months of experience in the care of infants.

3. An adult who holds a certificate in Infant and Toddler Care from a regionally accredited college or university with completion of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting.

4. An adult who is currently certified as a Child Development Associate (CDA) and has completed the Department approved Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Development Course of training.

5. An adult who:

a. Holds a current Early Childhood Professional credential level III version 2.0, as determined by the Colorado Department of Education;

b. Has completed one three-semester-hour class in infant/toddler development; or

c. Has completed the Department-approved "Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Development" and holds twelve months of verifiable full-day experience working with infants and/or toddlers.

6. An adult who:

a. Is at least nineteen (19) years of age,

b. Is qualified as an Early Childhood Teacher,

c. Has a minimum of twelve (12) months of verifiable full-day experience in the group care of infants or toddlers; and

d. Has completed at least two (2) three (3)-semester hour college courses from a regionally accredited college or university on the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting, one (1) of which must be infant/toddler development or the Department approved Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Development course of training.

7. The Infant Program Early Childhood Teacher qualifications must be met by satisfactory completion of:

a. Eight (8) hours of orientation in the infant program from the Infant Program Supervisor including, but not limited to, the following topics: toys and equipment, appropriate activities for infants and toddlers, appropriate sleep positions for infants and toddlers, the safe and appropriate diaper change technique;

b. At least six (6) months of experience in the care of infants or toddlers; and

c. Meet qualifications for an Early Childhood Teacher found in rule section 2.216(A) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers, or be qualified as an infant program supervisor.

8. The Infant Program Staff Aide must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation as listed above, at the infant program and must work under the direct supervision of an Infant Early Childhood Teacher.

9. Substitutes for infant program staff must hold a current Department-approved first aid and safety certificate that includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for all ages of children.

10. The toddler program Early Childhood Teacher qualifications must be met by satisfactory completion of:

a. A Registered Nurse, with an active license from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, with a minimum of six (6) months of experience in the care of infants and/or toddlers;

b. An adult who holds a certificate in Infant and Toddler Care from a regionally accredited college or university with completion of at least thirty (30) semester hours or equivalent in such courses as Child Growth and Development, Nutrition, and Care Practices with children birth to three (3) years of age;

c. An adult who is certified as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or certified Child Care Professional (CCP) or holds another Department-approved certificate;

d. A Licensed Practical Nurse with at least twelve (12) months of verifiable experience in the care of children less than three (3) years of age;

e. An adult who meets the education and experience requirements for Early Childhood Teacher of a large center pursuant to rule section 2.216(A) of the Rules Regulating Child Care Centers); or

f. A current Early Childhood Professional Credential level II version 1.0 or level III version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

J. The Toddler Program Staff Aide must be at least sixteen (16) years of age, must work directly under the supervision of the director or a toddler Early Childhood Teacher, and must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation at the toddler program.

1. Substitutes for toddler program staff must hold a current Department-approved first aid and safety certificate that includes CPR for all ages of children.

2. Substitutes placed in an infant and toddler program affiliated with a teen parent programs that are operated by accredited public-school systems on school premises must meet the following staff requirements by:

a. Director qualifications may be met by a certified teacher with a major in Home Economics Education or a vocationally credentialed teacher in Consumer and Homemaking or Early Childhood Occupations. The Director must complete at least three (3) semester hours in administration of a child care center.

b. The Director must be present in the infant program classroom or adjacent teen parent classroom at least sixty percent (60%) of any day the center is open.

c. If the Director cannot be present sixty percent (60%) of any day, an individual who meets director qualifications must substitute for the Director.

d. Infant Staff Aides must be at least fifteen (15) years of age and may be parents-to-be, parents of enrolled infants, or students enrolled in a child care related course with the sponsoring school system.

e. Substitutes for infant program staff must be from the sponsoring school system's list of approved substitute staff members. Substitutes who do not meet minimum staff qualifications can work no more than ten (10) consecutive business days per assignment.

f. Substitutes for infant program staff must hold a current Department-approved first aid and safety certificate that includes CPR for all ages of children.

8 CCR 1402-1-2.808

46 CR 22, November 25, 2023, effective 12/15/2023