218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-70-00-1.12

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 218-RICR-70-00-1.12 - Staff Qualifications and Ongoing Professional Development

A. Comprehensive Background Checks

1. All individuals working or engaging directly with children who are employed or act as a volunteer in the program, must complete all requirements of a comprehensive background check as outlined here: https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/child-care/child-care-providers/background-checks prior to the assignment of child care duties, and every five (5) years thereafter.

a. Any volunteer or staff under the age of eighteen (18), is required to be cleared through a Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Check prior to participating in child care duties. BCI or fingerprints are not processed for those under eighteen (18) years of age.

b. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notification of disqualifying information, the applicant or staff may appeal the finding of the comprehensive background check.

B. Program Leadership

1. Administrator

a. The Administrator is responsible for the operation of the child care and/or School Age program to ensure compliance with these Regulations.

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of Administrator:

(1) Option 1: In conjunction with a full-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have a High School diploma, and one (1) year of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and one (1) year of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(2) Option 2: In conjunction with a part-time Education Coordinator, the program Administrator must have successfully completed at least twelve (12) credits in early childhood education at the post-secondary level, and two (2) years of professional experience in administration and/or business management, and two (2) years of experience working in a licensed/approved early childhood program.

(3) Option 3: (In School-age programs only), the Administrator must have a High School diploma, and one (1) year of professional experience working with school-age children.

2. Education Coordinator

a. The Education Coordinator is responsible for the execution of the Learning and Development of this Part;

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of Education Coordinator:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds a current Rhode Island Department of Education teacher certification for grades prekindergarten to second grade and has three (3) months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(2) Option 2: The individual holds a current Rhode Island Department of Education teacher certification for Early Childhood Special Education, which includes Early Childhood Certification, and has three (3) months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education and has three (3) months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(4) Option 4: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to Early Childhood Education such as Child Development, Elementary Education or Special Education, and twenty-four (24) credits in Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution of higher education and has three (3) months supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(5) Option 5: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to Early Childhood Education such as Child Development, Elementary Education or Special Education, and twelve (12) credits in Early Childhood Education from an accredited or approved institution of higher education and has one (1) year of supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(6) Option 6: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to Early Childhood Education such as Child Development, Elementary Education or Special Education, and RIELDS Certification: Implementing a Standards-Based Program and has one (1) year of supervised teaching experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program (student teaching may fulfill this requirement).

(7) Option 7: The individual holds a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field or an associate's degree in a field related to Early Childhood Education AND is actively participating in a DHS-approved ECE program to receive twenty-four (24) ECE credits, promoted from within the program after one (1) year of employment.

3. School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator

a. The School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator is responsible for the execution of the applicable Learning and Development of this Part.

b. A person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of School Age Site Coordinator and/or Night Time Care Coordinator:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds an associate's degree or sixty (60) college credit hours, with eighteen (18) of them in a field related to Education, Child Development, Human Services or Recreation from an approved and accredited institution of higher education And has been employed at least one (1) year within the program.

(2) Option 2: The individual holds an associate's degree in a field related to Education, Child Development, Human Services or Recreation from an accredited or approved institution of higher education.

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to Education, Child Development, Human Services or Recreation from an accredited or approved institution of higher education.

C. Classroom Staff

1. Teacher

a. The classroom Teacher works under the supervision and guidance of the Education Coordinator and is responsible for:

(1) The creation and execution of the classroom level curriculum;

(2) The development and implementation of a nurturing environment for the children; and

(3) Communication with families.

b. A person who meets all the qualifications in one (1) of the following options may assume the role of Teacher:

(1) Option 1: The individual holds a High School Diploma with a vocational concentration in child care and has two (2) years supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program.

(2) Option 2: The individual holds a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate and has three (3) years supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program.

(3) Option 3: The individual holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) and has one (1) year supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program.

(4) Option 4: The individual has completed twelve (12) credits in Early Childhood Education or field related to Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution of higher education and has at least three (3) months supervised experience in a licensed/approved Early Childhood Program.

(5) Option 5: The individual holds an associate's degree or higher in a field related to Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Services or Recreation from an accredited institution of higher education.

2. Teacher Assistant

a. The Teacher Assistant is responsible for supporting the Teacher.

b. An individual must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and hold a High School Diploma or a GED certificate to assume the role of Teacher Assistant.

3. Teacher Aide

a. The Teacher Aide is responsible for supporting the Teacher and the Teacher Assistant in the classroom.

b. An individual must be at least sixteen (16) years of age to assume the role of a Teacher Aide.

c. A Teacher Aide must always be accompanied by staff person over the age of eighteen (18) when they are with a group of children.

4. School Age Staff

a. The School Age staff are responsible for supporting the School Age Site Coordinator.

b. An individual must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, hold a High School Diploma or a GED certification, and have had either:

(1) Formal training related to child or youth development; or

(2) At least one (1) year of supervised experience working with School Age children in a group setting to assume the role of School Age staff.

c. Staffing in school age programs may also include teachers, teacher's assistants and teacher's aides who meet the qualifications listed in § 1.12 of this Part.

5. Substitutes

a. Short-term substitutes meet the same qualifications as a Teacher Assistant.

b. Long-term substitutes meet the staff qualifications relevant to the position for which they are providing coverage.

D. Auxiliary Staff

1. Auxiliary staff must meet qualifications consistent with the skills needed to perform the respective job.

2. Consultants and resource staff must meet the professional qualifications or certifications required to perform the respective job.

E. Staff Orientation

1. All new staff and volunteers are oriented by Program Leadership during their first (1st) week in the program.

2. The orientation includes information regarding:

a. The DHS Child Care Center and School Age Program Regulations for Licensure;

b. State law governing child abuse and neglect, and reporting procedures; and

c. Program policies, procedures, and operations, as documented in the Staff Handbook.

d. Proof of this orientation must be kept in an employee's file, signed and dated by the employee and a member of the leadership team.

3. Within ninety (90) days of hire, all new staff must complete Department approved health and safety preservice training modules.

4. This preservice training may count towards the individual's required hours of professional development.

F. Professional Development

1. All Program Leadership, classroom staff, and substitutes are required to complete annual Professional Development training relevant to their role.

a. Year-round programs - All Program Leadership and classroom staff are required to complete twenty-four (24) hours of Professional Development training per year, approximately two (2) hours per month.

b. Partial year programs - All Program Leadership and classroom staff are required to complete two (2) hours of Professional Development training per month of operation.

c. Staff members who were hired to work less than twenty (20) hours per week and/or anyone listed as a substitute are required to complete twelve (12) professional development hours per year, regardless of the program's operating schedule.

2. The required Professional Development Training must be approved through a process as determined by the Department or on the approved list provided by the PDTA Hub.

a. Four (4) of the required hours of training must be in one (1) of the following topics related to health and safety requirements:

(1) Prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization)

(2) Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and use of safe sleep practices

(3) Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent

(4) Prevention and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions

(5) Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic

(6) Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment

(7) Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a man-caused event (such as violence at a child care facility)

(8) Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants

(9) Appropriate precautions in transporting children (if applicable)

(10) Pediatric First-Aid and CPR

(11) Recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

3. Approved hours are documented through a transcript or completion certificate and an approval code.

4. Professional development hours are completed annually based on the calendar year or school year

5. Required hours may be prorated if an individual is hired within the calendar year.

a. Prorated hours will equal two (2) hours per month when calculating for staff hired mid-year.

6. Program Leadership is responsible for developing and overseeing an individualized training plan, aligned with the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP), for each staff person.

a. The IPDPs need to be updated yearly and should be accessible at all times for review.

7. CPR/First Aid certification may be counted for no more than three (3)professional development hours each calendar year.

8. Staff meetings, staff orientation, and other meetings regarding program specific knowledge, do not count towards professional development hours.

9. Any staff member who prepares and serves meals must complete eight (8) hours of training per year relevant to their position, including food safety and CACFP nutrition standard.

10. For any Infant program, the Education Coordinator and all staff that work with Infants, must complete an annual Department approved in-service professional development relating to Infants.

11. For any new Infant program, the Education Coordinator and all staff that work with Infants must, prior to the approval of the program, complete Department approved preservice professional development, related to this age group.

218 R.I. Code R. 218-RICR-70-00-1.12

Adopted effective 10/28/2019
Amended effective 4/19/2021
Amended effective 2/2/2022
Amended effective 11/2/2022
Amended effective 11/29/2023