Code of Maine Rules › 05 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › 071 - EDUCATION - GENERAL › Chapter 228 - STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL-BASED CHILD CARE SERVICES AND PARENTING / CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION › Section 071-228-IV - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
School-based child care services and parenting and child
				  development education offered in accordance with Chapter 767, P.L. 1988, shall
				  meet the following requirements:
A.
				COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Instructional Staff
Parenting and child development education courses shall be
				  taught by individuals certified to teach in the areas of Consumer & Home
				  Economics Education, Early Childhood Education or Vocational Child Care.
Note: See 20-A MRSA Chapter 502, Certification of Educational
				  Personnel and DE implementing rules 115 and 115-A.
2. Curriculum
a. The curriculum shall provide for a minimum
				of one semester of theoretical and laboratory instruction in parenting and
				child development for the student parents of the children in the
				program.
b. The curriculum shall be
				developmentally based and provide for sequential instruction encompassing the
				stages of human growth and development physical, intellectual, social and
				emotional.
One example of a satisfactory curriculum may be found in DE
				  Child Care Curriculum Guide which may be obtained from the office of the
				  Vocational Child Care Consultant
c. The program shall provide for supervised
				teen parent/child interactions in conjunction with the parenting and child
				development curriculum.
d.
				Continued attendance or successful completion of a parenting and child
				development education program as described in Section
				III shall be a requirement for the
				receipt of child care services by the teen parent.
3. Materials and Resources
a. Instructional materials and resources
				shall be accurate in content and up-to-date to reflect current parenting/child
				development concepts and practices.
b. Instructional materials and resources
				shall be adequate in quantity and quality for the achievement of the prescribed
				curriculum objectives.
4. Child Care Providers
a. Must be a high school graduate or
				equivalent.
b. Must be at least 18
				years of age.
c. Must meet minimum
				health requirements as promulgated in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing
				of Day Care Homes.
d. Must have a
				minion of three years work experience in licensed day care/nursery school;
or
Possess appropriate credentials/license/ certification in
				  pediatrics, early childhood, home economics, or elementary education.
5. Staff/Child Ratio
				for Child Care Services
a. At a minimum, the
				staff/child ratio identified in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day
				Care Homes shall be adhered to.
b.
				Within the context of this chapter, notwithstanding the requirements of
				paragraph 4 above, the teen parent may be counted as "staff" while providing
				care for his/her own child.
c.
				Within the context of this chapter, notwithstanding the requirements of
				paragraph 4 above, students, other than teen parents, enrolled in child care
				and development training programs may be counted as staff while on site at the
				child care services facility, provided that such students function under the
				direct supervision of a certified teacher.
6. Program Accessiblity: Written Policies
a. The program shall be available on a
				priority basis first to children of students in the school administrative unit
				and second to children of teachers or other employees in the unit;
				and
b. The school administrative
				unit shall enforce local school policies relative to admission, retention,
				dismissal and completion.
7. Record Keeping
The SAU shall adhere to the minimum requirements for record
				  keeping as outlined in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day Care
				  Homes Such records shall be made available for inspection by DE.