and able to respond. When the licensee or primary staff person is the only supervisor, the assistant or volunteer may be in visual or auditory range for brief periods of time while the licensee or primary staff person attends to their personal needs on the premises. 170-296A-1950-Assistants and volunteers minimum age The minimum age to be an assistant or volunteer is fourteen years of age. 170-296A-1900-Primary staff Person minimum age A primary staff person must be a minimum of eighteen years of age. 170-296A-1975-Licensee/staff qualifications and requirements table The following table summarizes the licensee and staff qualifications and requirements found in WAC through , and . An "X" indicates a requirement. Chart 170-296A-1875-Primary Staff Person Other than the licensee, only an individual meeting all the qualifications of a primary staff person is qualified to be left to child ratio. If we request it, you must provide documentation of the twenty hours or more a week on site supervisory duties for the program supervisor. (2) If the director does not meet the minimum requirements in WAC the director must have had at least one three credit college class in early childhood education or development. (3) One person may be both the director and the program supervisor when qualified for both positions. The director or program supervisor must be on the premises for the majority of the hours that care is provided. If temporarily absent from the center, the director or program supervisor must leave a competent, designated staff person in charge who meets the qualifications of a lead staff person. (4) The director or program supervisor may also serve as child care staff when that role does not interfere with Licensees who fulfill the role of Center Director in their early learning program must complete all trainings and requirements for Center Directors. Weight #1 Center Directors or Assistant Directors manage the early learning program and set appropriate program and staff expectations. The Center Director or Assistant Director must meet the following qualifications: (i) Be at least 18 years old; (ii) Have an ECE State Certificate or equivalent, as approved and verified in the electronic workforce registry by the department, within three years of the date this section becomes effective or from being employed at any licensed early learning program or licensed; (iii) Have two years of experience as a teacher of children in the age group(s) enrolled in the center and six months of experience in administration or management; and (iv) Complete the applicable pre-service requirements and
twelve months prior to submitting a license application. WAC 170-296A-1175 Basic STARS training. A license applicant must complete the basic STARS training prior to an initial license being granted by the department. 170-296A-1800 (1) The licensee and each primary staff person must complete ten hours of department approved ongoing training each year. The training may include: (a) Licensee's or primary staff person's choice; and (b) Department directed training to include infant safe sleep training when licensee is licensed to care for infants. (2) The licensee must complete the ongoing training requirement each year prior to continuing a nonexpiring full license. (3) A primary staff person must complete the ongoing training requirement each year beginning from the date of initial employment. (4) A licensee who exceeds the ten-hour ongoing training requirement in any year may carry over up to five hours of ongoing to operate a child care center? (b) The applicant, director and program supervisor must attend the orientation programs that we provide, arrange or approve; 170-295-1060 What initial and ongoing state training and registry system (STARS) training is required for child care center staff? The director, program supervisor and lead teachers must register with the STARS registry and complete one of the following trainings within the first six months of employment or of being granted an initial license: (1) Basic training approved by the Washington state must complete the applicable training requirements of this section within three months of the date this section becomes effective unless otherwise indicated. Early learning providers hired after the date this section becomes effective must complete the training requirements of subsections (5) through (11) of this section prior to working in an unsupervised capacity with children. An early learning provider must implement training skills and knowledge as soon as possible. Weight #1 License applicants and early learning providers must register with the electronic workforce registry prior to being granted an initial license or working with children in an unsupervised capacity. Weight #1 License applicants and early learning providers must record and update completed trainings and other applicable requirements of this chapter in the electronic workforce registry. Weight #1 License applicants, Center Directors, Assistant Directors, Program Supervisors, Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and Instructional Aides must complete the department Child Care Basics training: Prior to being granted a license; Prior to working with children; or
(a) Complete annual infant safe sleep training as required in WAC ; WAC 170-296A-6275 Abuse and neglect—Protection and training. (2) The licensee must provide training for staff, volunteers and household members on: (a) Prevention of child abuse and neglect as defined in RCW ; and (b) Mandatory reporting requirements under RCW . (d) Work for a company that specializes in first aid and CPR training. (3) First aid and CPR training must be updated as required on the card or certificate received by you or your staff person. The first aid and CPR cards or certificates must have a date of expiration. 170-295-1110 Who must have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and bloodborne pathogen training? (1) Every employee who is included in the staff to child ratio must have written proof of HIV/AIDS and bloodborne pathogen training that includes prevention, transmission, treatment Early learning providers involved in serving food to children at an early learning program must obtain a current Food Worker card prior to serving food. Food Worker cards must: (a) Be obtained online at or through the local health jurisdiction; and (b) Be renewed prior to expiring. Weight #6
and Practices WAC 170-295-1070 What continuing state training and registry system (STARS) training is required for child care center staff? (1) The director, program supervisor and lead teachers must complete ten clock hours or one college credit of continuing education yearly after completing the initial training required in WAC . (2) The director and program supervisor must have five of the ten hours in program management and administration for the first two years in their respective positions. Each additional year, three of the ten hours required must be in program management and administration. 170-300-0107 In-service training. (1) Family Home Licensees, Center Directors, Assistant Directors, Program Supervisors, Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and Instructional Aides must complete in-service training requirements of this section. An early learning provider must implement in-service training skills and knowledge as soon as possible. Weight #4 (2) The department Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (EQEL) training must be completed within 24 months of being hired in a licensed facility after completing Child Care Basics pursuant to WAC 170-300-0106. During the time the EQEL is being completed, EQEL hours count towards the 10 hours of in-service training required each year. Weight #4 In-service training (10 hours total) must be completed every 12 months based on the start date of employment after an early learning provider completes the EQEL training required in subsection (2) of this section. The department determines how many hours of the 10 hours total are required per Core Competency and how many hours are elective. In-service training: Must include one or more of Washington State’s Core
District Standards and Practices WAC 170-295-1080 What topics must my new staff orientation include? You must have an orientation system in place to train each new employee and volunteer about program policies, practices, philosophies and goals. This training must include, but is not limited to, the program policies and practices listed in this chapter such as: (1) Minimum licensing requirements; (2) Planned daily activities and routines; (3) Child guidance and behavior management methods; (4) Child abuse and neglect prevention, detection, and WAC 170-300-0108 Program-based new staff orientation. (1) An early learning provider must develop and deliver a new staff orientation specific to the early learning program and premises. Providers must be orientated prior to working with children. Weight #5 (2) Orientation topics must include, but are not limited to: (a) Those portions of the staff handbook listed in WAC (b) Chapter 43.215 RCW, Chapters and 170-06 WAC; (c) Curriculum philosophy; (d) Child active supervision; (e) Planned daily activities and routines; (f) Developmental screening, when applicable; (g) Positive behavior management; (h) Child abuse and neglect prevention, detection, and reporting policies and procedures; (i) Health and safety policies and procedures; (j) Contagious disease recognition and prevention;
reporting policies and procedures; (5) Health policies and procedures; (6) Contagious disease recognition and prevention; (7) Bloodborne pathogens; (8) Fire prevention, disaster plan and safety procedures; (9) Special health and developmental needs of the individual child; (10) Infant safe sleep practices when licensed to care for infants; (11) Personnel policies, when applicable; (12) Limited restraint techniques; (13) Cultural relevancy; and (14) Age and developmentally appropriate practices and expectations for the age group the staff will work with. (k) Prevention of exposure to blood and body fluids; (l) Emergency preparedness procedures; (m) Special health and developmental needs of the individual child; (n) Safe sleep practices when licensed to care for infants or toddlers; (o) Personnel policies, when applicable; (p) Equity and cultural responsiveness; (q) Non-discrimination policies; (r) Age and developmentally appropriate practices; and (s) Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) mandates and changes. CCDF is a federal program designed to help families get high quality child care and support high quality child development services. Weight #5
First, staff policies must now include a plan for keeping staff records current in the electronic registry. This requirement provides a more efficient method for tracking and monitoring qualifications and training required by licensing protocols. Second, job descriptions must be readily available to all personnel. Third, a provider must have and follow professional development support plans. These plans support the focus of these proposed regulations, as well as the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 and its implementing regulations at 28 C.F.R. §98.44. The implementation regulations point to the need for ongoing professional development that provides for a progression and addresses career pathways and professional development. Fourth, a provider must retain basic information about attendance, conduct, pay and benefits. This requirement is needed as that information is needed for early learning professionals to understand their responsibilities and remuneration. Lastly, a provision is added to address vaping policies to adapt to change in the broader society. Supervision of staff Family Home WAC Center WAC Proposed WAC revisions; Concerns; Suggested Alternate Language Conflicts with ECEAP, Head Start, Schools District Standards and Practices WAC 170-296A-1925 Assistants and volunteers—Supervision (1) Assistants and volunteers are the individuals who help in the licensed child care but are supervised by the licensee or primary staff person at all times. (2) The licensee or primary staff person must be within visual or auditory range of an assistant or volunteer sixteen years old or older, and must be available and able to respond. (3) The licensee or primary staff person must be within visual and WAC 170-300-0111 Supervision of staff. (1) When an early learning provider is supervising staff, he or she must be: (a) Aware of what staff are doing; (b) Dependably available and able to respond if the need arises to protect the health and safety of children in care; and (c) Dependably available and able to respond in an emergency situation. Weight #6 Assistant Teachers, Instructional Aides, Aides, and Volunteers are individuals who help in an early learning program but are supervised by the Family Home Licensee,
auditory range of an assistant or volunteer fourteen years to sixteen years old, and must be available and able to respond. When the licensee or primary staff person is the only supervisor, the assistant or volunteer may be in visual or auditory range for brief periods of time while the licensee or primary staff person attends to their personal needs on the premises. WAC 296A-5750 Supervising staff (12)When the licensee or primary staff person is supervising staff, be: (a) Aware of what staff are doing; and (b) Available and able to respond if the need arises to protect the health and safety of children in care. (13) See WAC 170-296A-1925 for additional supervision requirements for assistants and volunteers. WAC 170-296A-2350 Policies (1) The licensee must have written policies for: (b) Program and staff. (2) The licensee must submit all policies and revisions of policies to the department. Center Director, Assistant Director, Program Supervisor or Lead Teacher at all times. Weight NA The Family Home Licensee, Center Director, Assistant Director, Program Supervisor or Lead Teacher must be within visual and auditory range of an Instructional Aide, Aide, or Volunteer. The early learning program staff who is supervising must be available and able to respond at any time. Weight #6 When the Family Home Licensee, Center Director, Assistant Director, Program Supervisor, or Lead Teacher is the only supervisory staff, the Assistant Teacher, Instructional Aide, Aide, or Volunteer may be out of visual or auditory range for brief period of time while the supervisory staff attends to their personal needs on the premises. Weight #5 An early learning provider must have and follow a policy for observing and evaluating early learning program staff. The purpose is to provide meaningful feedback to the provider about how well staff is performing their duties and to inform decisions regarding professional development. Observations, evaluations and feedback must be kept confidential and in the staff member’s employment file. Weight #4
If the licensee hires staff or uses volunteers, the licensee must have written (2) Plan for keeping staff records current including: (a) Completed background check forms and department clearances; (b) First aid and CPR certification; (c) TB test results; (d) Required training and professional development for primary staff persons; and (e) Training that the licensee must provide to staff that includes infant safe sleep if applicable; (5) The licensee must keep documentation of all staff training on policies. (viii) Child abuse and neglect. (e) Documentation of the results of tuberculosis (TB) testing by the Mantoux skin test prior to starting work. (7) You must keep the following information on file for the owner of the facility: (a) If the center is solely owned by you: (i) A photocopy of your Social Security card that is valid for employment or verification of your employer identification number (EIN); and (ii) A photocopy of your photo identification issued by a government entity. (b) If the center is owned by a corporation, verification of the corporation's EIN. (8) Training documentation must (b) Social Security Number or a statement that the provider does not possess one; (c) Emergency contact information; (d) Federal tax documents, EIN if program employs staff; (e) Completed employment application; (f) Professional development support plan; (g) Observation and evaluation information; and (h) A document confirming orientation to early learning policy and procedures. Weight #4 An early learning provider must meet all requirements of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries in the filing and retention of documents. Weight NA