Providing child care can be a rewarding career.
It is against the law in Kansas for anyone to operate a child care center for children under the age of 16 unless that center is properly licensed through the state's Health and Environment office. Whether it is an in-home daycare or a child care facility, there are rules and regulations that must be adhered to.
Ratios
The state of Kansas mandates caregiver to child ratios that vary depending on the type of care center, and the age of the children in care. For example in a child care center setting the ratio ranges from one adult to three children in infant care to one adult to 10 children when the children are of school age. In an in-home setting there are varying age combinations allowed depending on the children's ages; however, the maximum allowable number for licensing is 10 children being cared for at one time. For example, the allowable ratio if there is a child 18 months or younger, is one child up to 18 months, five children between 18 months and kindergarten age and four children that are school-aged.
Requirements
Each caregiver will be subjected to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation criminal background check. In addition, any person residing in the daycare home or volunteering at the home or center will submit to the same background check. No child care center is allowed to operate if anyone residing, working or volunteering there has been convicted of a felony against people or a felony involving the sale, trafficking or possession of drugs.
Fees for licensing range from $75 to $87 depending on the type of facility. There is also a $1 per child fee added to the total.
Inspections
Kansas law requires that every daycare facility in the state receive an annual inspection. During the inspection, questions will be asked about who lives, works and volunteers at the center. Supplies, available space and ratios will be noted. Paperwork will be checked to make sure the license is up to date. Minor infractions will be given time for correction with a return inspection. Major infractions or any infraction deemed to put the children at risk can shut the center down until a hearing is held and the provider can show proof of compliance.
Infectious Workers
Kansas law also prohibits the operation of a child care facility where someone with an infectious disease lives, works or volunteers.
Lexi's Law
Lexi's Law mandates that all child care facility licenses will be publicly displayed and will include the license expiration date. The expiration date is in the form of a sticker provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and is given at the time of passed inspection. This is intended to help parents make informed child care decisions and makes it difficult for centers to display out-of-date or revoked licenses.
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