La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CLXI-1509

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 3, March 20, 2024

Section CLXI-1509 - Policies

A. An early learning center shall establish in writing, prominently post or show parent's signature of receipt, implement, and adhere to the following policies:

1. child abuse and neglect policy:

a. as mandated reporters, all staff and owners shall report any allegation or suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child to the Louisiana Child Protection Statewide Hotline (855) 4LA-KIDS [(855) 452-5437];

b. an early learning center shall not delay the reporting of suspected abuse or neglect to the Child Protection Statewide Hotline in order to conduct an internal investigation to verify the abuse or neglect allegations; and

c. an early learning center shall not require staff to report suspected abuse or neglect to the center or management prior to reporting it to the Child Protection Statewide Hotline;

2. non-discrimination policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, handicap, ancestry or whether a child is being breastfed;

3. admissions policy that includes admission criteria;

4. disclosure of information policy that provides notice to parents of the licensing authority of the department and the availability of licensing surveys/inspections, regulations and information regarding early learning centers from the departments website;

5. complaint policy:

a. parents shall be advised of the licensing authority of the department along with the current telephone number and email address. Parents shall also be advised that they may call or write the department should they have significant, unresolved licensing complaints;

6. parental access policy:

a. parents shall be allowed to visit the center anytime during its regular hours of operation and when children are present;

7. parental involvement policy:

a. parents shall be offered a minimum of two opportunities for involvement each year, which may include but are not limited to, an open house, parent education session, parent and staff conference, family pot luck dinner, holiday party or parent or grandparents day;

8. behavior management policy:

a. each center shall develop and implement a written behavior management policy describing the methods of behavior guidance and management that shall be used at the center;

b. the behavior management policy shall prohibit children from being subject to any of the following:

i. physical or corporal punishment which includes but is not limited to yelling, slapping, spanking, yanking, shaking, pinching, exposure to extreme temperatures or other measures producing physical pain, putting anything in the mouth of a child, requiring a child to exercise, or placing a child in an uncomfortable position;

ii. verbal abuse, which includes but is not limited to using offensive or profane language, telling a child to "shut up", or making derogatory remarks about children or family members of children in the presence of children;

iii. the threat of a prohibited action even if there is no intent to follow through with the threat;

iv. being disciplined by another child;

v. being bullied by another child;

vi. being deprived of food or beverages;

vii. being restrained by devices such as high chairs or feeding tables for disciplinary purposes; and

viii. having active play time withheld for disciplinary purposes, except timeout may be used during active play time for an infraction incurred during the playtime;

c. time out:

i. the behavior management policy shall address the center's use of time out, if the center uses time out, including the minimum requirements and shall not be used for children under age two;

ii. a time out shall take place within sight of staff;

iii. the length of each time out shall be based on the age of the child and shall not exceed one minute per year of age;

iv. for children over age six, a time out may be extended beyond one minute per year of age, if a signed and dated statement, including a maximum time limit, from the parent granting such permission, is on file at the center;

d. the behavior management policy shall establish steps for addressing behaviors identified by the site as dangerous and/or out of control behaviors. Suspension or expulsions should only be considered as a final action after the implementation of behavior support strategies, including at a minimum:

i. engaging parents by written communication and/or parent conference; and

ii. providing a referral to Early Steps, Child Search, and/or mental health consultant if appropriate.

9. electronic devices policy that provides that all activities involving electronic devices, including but not limited to television, movies, games, videos, computers and hand held electronic devices, shall adhere to the following limitations:

a. electronic device activities for children under age two are prohibited; and

b. time allowed for electronic device activities for children ages two and above shall not exceed two hours per day, with the exception that television, DVD, or video viewing shall be limited to no more than one hour per day;

10. computer practices policy that requires computers that allow internet access by children to be equipped with monitoring or filtering software that limits access by children to inappropriate websites, e-mail, and instant messaging;

11. programs, movies and video games policy:

a. programs, movies, and video games with violent or adult content, including but not limited to soap operas, television news, and sports programs aimed at audiences other than children, shall not be permitted in the presence of children;

b. all television, video, DVD, or other programming shall be suitable for the youngest child present;

c. "PG" programming or its television equivalent shall not be shown to children under age five;

d. "PG" programming shall only be viewed by children age five and above and shall require written parental authorization;

e. any programming with a rating more restrictive than "PG" is prohibited;

f. all video games shall be suitable for the youngest child with access to the games:

i. "E10+" rated games shall be permitted for children ages 10 years and older;

ii. "T" and "M" rated games are prohibited.

12. monitoring policy for provisionally employed staff members:

a. each center shall develop and implement a written policy describing the monitoring procedures that shall be used at the center when staff members are employed on a provisional basis due to an incomplete CCCBC-based determination of eligibility for child care purposes;

b. the monitoring policy shall include all requirements for the monitoring of provisionally employed staff members set forth in §1811 D;

c. the center shall post a copy of the policy in the center in a place visible to all parents and staff;

d. the center shall provide copies of the written policy to each parent/legal custodian of enrolled children, center staff member and provisionally employed staff member, and the center shall obtain signed documentation from each that a copy of the policy has been received.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CLXI-1509

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 41629 (April 2015). effective 7/1/2015, Amended LR 44250 (2/1/2018), effective 3/1/2018, Amended LR 441864 (10/1/2018), Amended LR 471276 (9/1/2021), Amended LR 491712 (10/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6 and 17:407.40(A)(1).