Chapter DCF 251

DCF 251.05(3)(f)2. 2. A person who is a child care teacher shall meet all of the following conditions:

DCF 251.05(3)(f)2.a. a. Be at least 18 years of age.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)2.b. b. Have completed high school or its equivalent, as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)2.c. c. Have at least 240 hours of experience as an assistant child care teacher in a group child care center, as a licensed family child care provider, or in another approved early childhood setting.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3. 3. Prior to assuming the position, a person hired to be a child care teacher shall complete or obtain one of the following:

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.a. a. Four credits in early childhood education or its equivalent.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.b. b. Two non-credit department-approved courses in early childhood education.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: The non-credit courses approved by the department to meet the entry level training requirements for a child care teacher are Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher or the assistant child care teacher or child care teacher training programs approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.bm. bm. Two credits in early childhood education and one noncredit department-approved course in early childhood education.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.c. c. A certificate from the Wisconsin Registry indicating that the person is qualified as a child care teacher.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.d. d. The Registry Preschool Credential.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.e. e. The Registry Infant Toddler Credential.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.f. f. Forty-eight credits from an institution of higher education with at least 3 credits in early childhood education or its equivalent.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.g. g. A one-year child care diploma in child care or early childhood education from an institution of higher education.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.h. h. An associate degree in early childhood education or child care from an institution of higher education.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.i. i. A Child Development Associate credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.j. j. Certificate from American Montessori Society, Association Montessori International, or Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.k. k. A license issued by the Wisconsin department of public instruction or the appropriate authority in another state to be a pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or early childhood regular or special education teacher. The license may not be a one-year license with stipulations (formerly known as an emergency license); a 3-year, short-term substitute license; or a 5-year long-term substitute license, as defined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: Information on how to obtain or renew a Wisconsin department of public instruction teacher license is available on the DPI website, http://dpi.wi.gov/tepdl.

DCF 251.05(3)(f)3.L. L. A certificate from the department of workforce development, bureau of apprenticeship standards, as a child development specialist.

DCF 251.05(3)(g) (g) Assistant child care teacher.

DCF 251.05(3)(g)1. 1. An assistant child care teacher shall work under the supervision of a child care teacher with a group of children.

DCF 251.05(3)(g)2. 2. Except as provided under subd. 3., a person hired to be assistant child care teacher shall be qualified in one of the following ways:

DCF 251.05(3)(g)2.a. a. Be at least 18 years old and have satisfactorily completed 2 credits in early childhood education or its equivalent within 6 months after assuming the position.

DCF 251.05(3)(g)2.b. b. Be at least 18 years old and have satisfactorily completed one, non-credit department-approved course in early childhood education within 6 months after assuming the position.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: Introduction to the Child Care Profession is the non-credit course that is approved by the department to meet the entry level training requirements for a child care assistant teacher. Information on agencies offering the department-approved course is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 251.05(3)(g)2.c. c. Be at least 17 years of age and have satisfactorily completed an assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction, 2 credits in early childhood education or its equivalent, or a noncredit department-approved course in early childhood education.

DCF 251.05(3)(g)3. 3. A parent serving as an assistant child care teacher in a center operated by a parent cooperative is exempt from the training requirements under subd. 2.

DCF 251.05(3)(gm) (gm) Program aide. A program aide shall work under the direction and supervision of a child care teacher.

DCF 251.05(3)(gm)2. 2. A person who is a program aide shall be at least 16 years of age.

DCF 251.05(3)(gm)3. 3. A person hired as a program aide shall have satisfactorily completed at least one of the following no later than 6 months after assuming the position:

DCF 251.05(3)(gm)3.a. a. An assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.

DCF 251.05(3)(gm)3.b. b. A noncredit department-approved course in early childhood education.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: Introduction to the Child Care Profession is the noncredit course approved by the department to meet the entry-level training requirements for a program aide.

DCF 251.05(3)(gm)4. 4. A program aide may not be counted in the required staff-to-child ratios under Table DCF 251.055.

DCF 251.05(3)(gr) (gr) Meal preparation personnel. Personnel who help prepare meals shall meet all of the following conditions:

DCF 251.05(3)(gr)1. 1. Be at least 17 years of age.

DCF 251.05(3)(gr)2. 2. Participate in the orientation under sub. (4) (a).

DCF 251.05(3)(gr)3. 3.

DCF 251.05(3)(gr)3.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 3. b., complete and document at least 4 hours of training in kitchen sanitation, food handling, and nutrition prior to beginning work, and one hour of training in kitchen sanitation, food handling, and nutrition annually thereafter.

DCF 251.05(3)(gr)3.b. b. Staff in a school-age program who help prepare meals shall complete one hour of annual training in kitchen sanitation, food handling, and nutrition.

DCF 251.05(3)(h) (h) Non-credit course criteria. Non-credit courses offered to meet the non-credit course requirements specified in this subsection shall contain the components prescribed by the department and shall be approved by the department before being offered. The department may at any time withdraw its approval of a non-credit course. Instructors of non-credit department-approved courses shall be approved by the department prior to teaching a course.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: Information on the process for obtaining department approval for noncredit courses may be obtained from the Wisconsin Registry at https://www.wiregistry.org or 608-222-1123. A list of agencies approved to offer noncredit department-approved courses is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 251.05(3)(i) (i) Substitutes.

DCF 251.05(3)(i)1. 1. When a regular required staff member is absent from a center, there shall be a substitute who is at least 18 years of age.

DCF 251.05(3)(i)2. 2. A substitute who is employed by the same licensee for more than 240 hours shall complete at least 2 credits or one noncredit, department-approved course in early childhood education before completing 240 cumulative hours of work as a substitute.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: The course for credit called Health, Safety and Nutrition offered by a Wisconsin technical college or the department-approved, non-credit course called Introduction to the Child Care Profession may be used to meet this requirement and if taken after July 1, 2005, also contains the department-approved training on preventing abusive head trauma. Information on agencies offering the department-approved course is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 251.05(3)(i)3. 3. The center director or designee shall maintain a record of the days and hours worked by each substitute.

DCF 251.05(3)(j) (j) Volunteers and student teachers.

DCF 251.05(3)(j)1. 1. Volunteers and student teachers shall participate in the orientation required under sub. (4) (a).

DCF 251.05(3)(j)2. 2. A volunteer who is used to meet a center’s required staff-to-child ratios under s. DCF 251.055 shall complete at least 2 credits or one noncredit, department-approved course in early childhood education before completing 240 cumulative hours of work as a volunteer.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: The 3-credit course called Health, Safety and Nutrition offered by a Wisconsin technical college or the department-approved, noncredit course called Introduction to the Child Care Profession may be used to meet this requirement and if taken after July 1, 2005, also contain the department-approved training in shaken baby syndrome prevention. Information on agencies offering the department-approved course is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.

DCF 251.05(3)(j)3. 3. A volunteer who is not included in determining the center’s required staff-to-child ratios under s. DCF 251.055 shall have training in child care programming and procedures before working with children in care. The training shall include the responsibilities of the volunteer, general child supervision techniques, a review of the daily schedule and general health and safety practices including meal or snack preparation, dishwashing, toileting, personal hygiene and emergency evacuation procedures. This includes volunteers working in a center operated by a parent cooperative.

DCF 251.05(3)(j)4. 4. The center director or designee shall coordinate the volunteer program and keep on file documentation of the hours worked by volunteers who are used to meet staff-to-child ratios.

DCF 251.05(3)(j)5. 5. A volunteer used to meet the required staff-to-child ratios under s. DCF 251.055 shall be at least 18 years of age.

DCF 251.05(3)(k) (k) Provider health.

DCF 251.05(3)(k)1. 1. No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor, or other person with symptoms of serious illness that presents a safety or health risk to children or a communicable disease that is reportable under ch. DHS 145 and transmitted through normal contact may be in contact with children in care.

DCF 251.05(3)(k)2. 2. No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor, or other person whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of children may be in contact with the children in care.

DCF 251.05(3)(k)3. 3. The department may require a licensee, employee, or other person in contact with the children whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of children to submit to an examination by a licensed mental health professional as a condition of licensure or employment.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: See also s. DCF 251.11 (1) (f), which requires a written statement from a physician or licensed mental health professional when there is reason to believe that the physical or mental health of a person may endanger children in care.

DCF 251.05(3)(k)4. 4. No person with a health history of typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, or other diarrheal disease may work in a center until it is determined by appropriate tests that the person is not a carrier of the disease.

DCF 251.05(4) (4) Staff development.

DCF 251.05(4)(a) (a) Orientation. Except as provided under subd. 14., each center shall develop and implement a written orientation program that all new employees, substitutes, and regular volunteers shall complete and document within their first week at the center. The orientation program shall cover all of the following:

DCF 251.05 Note Note: See DCF 251.08 (4) (b) for orientation requirements for persons transporting children.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)1. 1. A review of this chapter.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)2. 2. A review of center policies and procedures required under s. DCF 251.04 (2) (h).

DCF 251.05(4)(a)3. 3. A review of the center emergency plans required under s. DCF 251.04 (2) (h) 9., including fire and tornado evacuation plans and the operation of fire extinguishers.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)4. 4. Prevention and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)5. 5. First aid procedures.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)6. 6. Administration of medications.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)7. 7. Job responsibilities in relation to the job description.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)8. 8. Training in the recognition of childhood illnesses and infectious disease control, including handwashing procedures, universal precautions for handling bodily fluids, and immunizations.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: Information on universal precautions may be obtained from the Child Care Information Center website, https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccic, or by calling 800-362-7353.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)9. 9. A schedule of activities of the center.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)11. 11. The procedure for ensuring that all child care workers know the children assigned to their care and their whereabouts at all times, including during center-provided transportation.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)12. 12. Child management techniques.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)13. 13. The procedure for sharing information related to a child’s special health care needs including any physical, emotional, social, or cognitive disabilities with any child care worker who may be assigned to care for that child throughout the day.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)14. 14. If the center is licensed to care for children under one year of age, a review of procedures to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome prior to an employee’s or volunteer’s first day of work.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)15. 15. The procedure to contact a parent if a child is absent from the center without prior notification from the parent.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)16. 16. Information on any special needs that a child enrolled in the center may have and the plan for how those needs will be met.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)17. 17. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic.

DCF 251.05(4)(a)18. 18. The handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants. In this subdivision, “biocontaminants” includes blood, body fluids, or excretions that may spread infectious disease.

DCF 251.05 Note Note: The licensee may use the department’s form, Staff Orientation Checklist - Group Child Care Centers, for documenting staff orientation. The form is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.

DCF 251.05(4)(b) (b) Staff meetings. To ensure that staff have the opportunity to receive pertinent information and clarification of problems and issues, each center shall conduct in-person staff meetings at least 9 times in a calendar year or one time for each month of center operation and shall document that staff meetings have been held.

DCF 251.05(4)(c) (c) Continuing education.

DCF 251.05(4)(c)1. 1. Each administrator, center director, child care worker, school-age administrator, and school-age director shall participate in at least 15 hours of continuing education annually.

DCF 251.05(4)(c)2m. 2m. Each administrator, center director, child care worker, school-age administrator, or school-age director who works fewer than 8 months per year shall participate in the equivalent of at least 2 hours of continuing education per month of employment as an administrator, center director, child care worker, school-age administrator, or school-age director.

DCF 251.05(4)(c)3. 3. Any continuing education hours completed that exceed the annual requirement for the year may be used to meet the annual requirement in the 2 years following completion.

DCF 251.05(4)(c)4. 4. Continuing education courses completed for credit that exceed the annual requirement for the year may be used to meet the annual requirement in the 2 years following completion.