Group Day Care licensed facilities include Head Start programs, full day care centers, half day preschool programs, and Early Intervention programs when they are defined as child care centers. All individuals who are potentially interested in starting a child care program are invited to a training by their licensors to assist them in meeting the basic requirements for licensure. All new programs receive a provisional six month license. This allows time to make final decisions on policies and procedures needed to make the program run efficiently. During this time frame providers must come into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
All programs complete a licensing study every two years.
In preparation for the renewal of their license, providers are invited to training meetings where regulation and policy are explained and reviewed. All group day care programs should be a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for every child who attends. The Office completes unannounced visits to investigate complaints of a regulatory nature at these programs. In addition, all programs are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure the health and safety of the children enrolled. All classroom staff and administrators are required to attend a minimum of twenty hours of training each year in the field of early childhood education.