Section 1596.956 Of Article 2. Licensure Requirements From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 3.5. >> Article 2.
1596.956
. (a) The department shall develop guidelines and
procedures to authorize licensed child day care centers serving
infants to create a special program component for children between 18
months to three years of age. The optional toddler program shall be
subject to the following basic conditions:
(1) An amended application shall be submitted to and approved by
the department.
(2) A child younger than 18 months of age shall not be moved into
the toddler program. A child who is older than 18 months of age shall
not be required to be in the toddler program.
(3) Parents shall give permission for the placement of their
children in the toddler program.
(4) A ratio of six children to each teacher shall be maintained
for all children in attendance at the toddler program. An aide who is
participating in on-the-job training may be substituted for a
teacher when directly supervised by a fully qualified teacher.
(5) The maximum group size, with two teachers, or one fully
qualified teacher and one aide, shall not exceed 12 toddlers.
(6) The toddler program shall be conducted in areas separate from
those used by older or younger children. Plans to alternate use of
outdoor play space may be approved to achieve separation.
(7) All other infant center regulations shall be complied with.
(b) The toddler program shall be considered an extension of the
infant center license, without the need for a separate license.
(c) The department shall immediately prepare proposed regulations
for public hearing that would consider the foregoing basic conditions
as well as any additional health and safety safeguards deemed
necessary for this age group.
(d) The guidelines in subdivision (a) shall remain in force and
effect only until regulations implementing this section are adopted
by the department.
(e) Commencing January 1, 2016, a day care center with a toddler
program described in this section shall extend the toddler program to
serve children between 18 months and three years of age. It is the
intent of the Legislature to provide continuity of care to California'
s children and parents in the implementation of this subdivision.