Alaska Administrative Code › Title 7 - Health and Social Services › Part 3 - Public Assistance and Medical Assistance › Chapter 41 - Child Care Assistance Program › Article 2 - Provisions for Providers › 7 AAC 41.211 - Ratios and program requirements

Current through May 31, 2024
(a) A licensed
				  child care provider described in
				  7 AAC 41.200(a)(1) shall meet the ratio
				  requirements of 7 AAC 57. A provider described in
				  7 AAC 41.200(a)(2), (3), or (4) shall
				  meet the ratio requirements of the accrediting, certifying, or approving
				  agency.
(b) A provider described in
				  7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall ensure that
				  the number of children does not exceed the maximum of five children, younger
				  than 13 years of age, and that no more than two children are younger than 30
				  months of age. Each child younger than 13 years of age receiving care,
				  regardless of the hours in care, must be counted in the maximum number of
				  children allowed, including the provider's own children or other children
				  residing in the provider's home. A child who reaches 13 years of age while
				  receiving authorized care, must be counted in determining the maximum number of
				  five children receiving care.
(c) A
				  provider described in
				  7 AAC 41.200(a)(5) shall provide
				  structure and daily activities designed to promote a child's individual
				  physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development. To satisfactorily
				  comply with this subsection the provider shall
(1) provide direct care and supervision of
				  children at all times;
(2) ensure
				  that each child receives responsible supervision that is appropriate to the
				  child's age and developmental needs and that is adequate to prevent
				  injury;
(3) demonstrate respect for
				  each child in care and the child's family;
(4) support behavior of children with
				  positive guidance and set clear and consistent limits to promote the children's
				  ability for self-discipline;
(5)
				  provide children with a variety of age-appropriate learning and social
				  experiences;
(6) demonstrate a
				  positive attitude toward bottle weaning, diapering, toilet learning, and
				  individual needs of children;
(7)
				  respond appropriately to a child's needs, including responding to a baby's cry
				  as promptly and effectively as possible;
(8) prevent exposure of children to high-risk
				  situations, including exposure to physical hazards and encounters with
				  individuals or animals posing a possible danger;
(9) use strategies to prevent a child's
				  aggressive behavior and to de-escalate volatile situations;
(10) act as a positive role model for
				  children, especially with regard to respecting the feelings and rights of
				  others;
(11) provide an environment
				  that respects the gender, culture, ethnicity, family composition, and special
				  emotional, cognitive, and developmental needs of each child;
(12) have a schedule and daily plan of
				  activities for each age group; the schedule and plan must provide a balance of
				  quiet and active activities and group and individual activities and must
				  include time for meals, snacks, sleep, toileting according to individual needs,
				  and indoor and outdoor play; for purposes of this paragraph the schedule and
				  plan need not be written, except that a typical daily schedule and plan must be
				  presented with the application for approval;
(13) provide opportunities for
(A) individual self-expression and
				  imaginative play;
(B) at least 20
				  minutes of vigorous physical activity for every three hours the provider is
				  open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and daily supervised outdoor
				  activity when weather and the individual child's tolerance permit;
(C) each child to foster
				  independence;
(D) intellectual and
				  social development through use of a variety of activities and materials such as
				  games, toys, books, crafts, puzzles, and blocks; and
(E) language development, including
				  encouraging children to talk and read books; and
(14) limit screen viewing time, including
				  television, computer, and hand-held devices as follows:
(A) prohibit screen-viewing time for children
				  under two years of age; and
(B) for
				  children over two years of age, only allow up to one hour of screen-viewing
				  time in a 24-hour period, except for special occasions, and ensure that
(i) any screen-viewing time is for physical
				  or educational use that is specifically designed for the interest and benefit
				  of the child; and
(ii) children not
				  be required to participate in screen-viewing activities; alternative activities
				  shall be offered as an option for children during those times.