Section 17-892.1-17 - Staff training, experience, and personal qualifications(a) Each caregiver shall be qualified through training, experience, and personal qualities for the age group with which the person works.(b) Staff growth and development shall be encouraged. The director shall make information about workshops, seminars, training sessions or courses available to all staff and volunteers.(c) Applicants and employees shall be of reputable and responsible character and shall not have a criminal history record, employment history or child abuse/neglect history which poses a risk to children in care as specified in section 17-892.1-3.(d) Directors, teachers, assistant teachers, and aides employed in a licensed facility on January 25, 1982, shall be deemed to have adequate minimum qualifications for the type of staff position occupied and to maintain this status when shifting employment to another licensed facility.(e) The age requirements for staff shall be as follows:(1) All staff in positions other than child care aide, volunteer, or maintenance personnel shall be at least eighteen years old; and(2) A child care aide shall be at least sixteen years old to be counted in the staff-child ratio.(f) The director of a facility licensed for six or more children shall have the following qualifications: (1) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university preferably with courses in early childhood education, child development, or related fields, and two years of experience working with children; or(2) Combination of two years of college education or child development associate (CDA) certification and four years of experience in work with children; and(3) In either case, at least one year of experience shall be with children of the appropriate age for the child care center being directed.(g) A teacher shall meet one of the following qualifications: (1) A degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or university, and six months working experience in an early childhood program; or(2) Post secondary credential in child development associate program or organized two-year (sixty credit) college program and certificate in early childhood education, plus one year supervised teaching experience in an early childhood program; or(3) Baccalaureate (bachelor's degree) in elementary education from an accredited college or university plus six months working in an early childhood program, plus six credit -semester or equivalent approved child development or early childhood training courses, (may be included as part of bachelors of arts or bachelors of science degree); or(4) Baccalaureate (bachelor's degree) in any-field from an accredited college or university plus six months working in an early childhood program, plus twelve credits--semester or equivalent approved child development or early childhood training courses, (may be included as part of bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree).(h) An assistant teacher shall meet one of the following qualifications: (1) Post secondary credential in child development associate program or associate of arts degree and certificate in early childhood education, and six months experience working in an early childhood program; or(2) Two years (sixty credits) of post secondary education plus six months working in an early childhood program and nine credits--semester equivalent approved child development or early childhood training courses.(i) Waivers for teacher or assistant teacher , positions may be granted by the department if there are no qualified applicants available for the position, provided: (1) The position vacancy has been advertised in the classified ad section of the largest newspaper in the county;(2) The prospective employee meets the requirement for the next lower position;(3) There is a written plan presented to the department's division administrator oh the steps to be taken to bring the employee up to the proper qualifications for the position; and(4) Approval for a waiver has been received prior to the hiring of the non-qualified teacher or assistant teacher.(j) A child care aide shall meet one of the following qualifications: (1) High school vocational child care training course; or(2) Orientation training course in the center.(k) Volunteers shall: (1) Participate in an orientation to the program; or(2) Be a participant in a high school program which includes child care training; and(3) Meet the requirements of regular staff members to be counted in the staff-child ratio. (l) Temporary hires shall meet qualifications of positions for which hired.(m) Substitutes for teachers and assistant teachers shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall have participated in an orientation program of the facility. The curriculum, lesson plans, and daily activities assigned to the substitute shall be closely supervised by the center's director.(n) Substitutes for director shall meet qualifications for director.(o) Substitutes for aides shall meet the qualifications of an aide.(p) Substitutes may be granted an extension to serve in the same position for more than ten consecutive days upon consultation with and approval of the department.Haw. Code R. § 17-892.1-17
[Eff 4/11/92; am and comp DEC 19 2002] (Auth: § 346-162) (Imp: HRS § 346-162; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2002, 2005, 5751, 9833 )