DCF 251.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97;
CR 03-052: renum. (1) (a) to be (am), am. (1) (title) and (intro.), (f), (2) (f) and (3) (a) 4., cr. (1) (j) to (L) and (2) (bm), r. (3) (a) 5.
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (1) (e) and (h) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 07-102: am. (1) (d) (intro.), 1., 2., (h), (4) (a) 3., 5. and 10.
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09;
2015 Wis. Act 132: am. (1) (e)
Register February 2016 No. 722, eff. 3-1-16;
EmR1918: emerg. am. (1) (am) (intro.), renum. (1) (d) (intro.) to (1) (d) and am., r. (1) (d) 1., 2., am. (1) (e), (f), (k), (L), cr. (2) (intro.), r. (2) (i), am. (2) (j), (k), (3) (a) 2., 3., r. (3) (a) 4., 6., am. (3) (a) 8., 9., 13., 15., (b), cr. (3) (c), am. (4) (a) 2., 3., r. (4) (a) 9., am. (4) (d), eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: am. (1) (am) (intro.), renum. (1) (d) (intro.) to (1) (d) and am., r. (1) (d) 1., 2., am. (1) (e), (f), (k), (L), cr. (2) (intro.), r. (2) (i), am. (2) (j), (k), (3) (a) 2., 3., r. (3) (a) 4., 6., am. (3) (a) 8., 9., 13., 15., (b), cr. (3) (c), am. (4) (a) 2., 3., r. (4) (a) 9., am. (4) (d)
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20;
CR 21-100: am. (1) (j), cr. (1) (m), (n), (3) (a) 2m., am. (3) (a) 7.
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23.
DCF 251.094(1)(a)(a) This section applies to group child care centers that serve only school-age children and group child care centers that serve school-age children in groups separate from children who are under 5 years of age.
DCF 251.094(2)(a)
(a) The licensee may act as a school-age administrator. If the licensee does not act as the school-age administrator, the licensee shall designate a person or persons to be the school-age administrator.
The school-age administrator shall be responsible for overall organizational management, including personnel, finance, physical plant, and the implementation of policies and procedures.
DCF 251.094(2)(b)
(b) A school-age administrator, including a licensee that is a school-age administrator, shall meet either the qualifications of an administrator under s.
DCF 251.05 (3) (d) 2. to
5. or the qualifications in this subsection.
DCF 251.094(2)(c)
(c) A school-age administrator shall be at least 21 years of age and have completed high school or its equivalent, as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.
DCF 251.094(2)(d)1.1. Before a person assumes the position of school-age administrator, the person shall have all the following:
DCF 251.094(2)(d)1.a.
a. At least one year of experience as a manager or satisfactory completion of a department-approved course in business or program administration.
DCF 251.094(2)(d)1.b.
b. One year of experience as a school-age director or satisfactory completion of a noncredit department-approved course or course for credit in school-age child growth and development.
DCF 251.094(2)(d)2.
2. Notwithstanding subd.
1., a person is not required to complete the preservice training specified in subd.
1. if the person was employed as an administrator in a school-age program prior to March 1, 2023, and met the preservice training requirements at that time.
DCF 251.094(2)(e)
(e) Within one year after assuming the position, each school-age administrator shall complete at least 10 hours of training in supervision or personnel management if the school-age administrator has not previously received that training. The training may be counted as part of the annual continuing education requirement.
DCF 251.094(2m)
(2m)
School-age administrator and school-age director. An individual may perform the duties of both a school-age administrator under sub.
(2) (a) and a school-age director under sub.
(3) (a) if the individual meets the qualifications for both positions under subs.
(2) (b) to
(e) and
(3) (b) to
(d).
DCF 251.094(3)(a)
(a) A school-age director shall be responsible for the management and implementation of the program for the school-age children; supervision of the staff, including recruitment, hiring, and training; oversight for regulatory compliance; and development of policies and procedures.
DCF 251.094(3)(b)
(b) No person may act as the school-age director for more than 5 school-age program sites.
DCF 251.094(3)(c)2.
2. Have completed high school or its equivalent as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.
DCF 251.094(3)(c)3.
3. Have at least 240 hours of experience as a school-age program leader, public or private school teacher, student teacher, coach, camp counselor, mentor in a community-based organization, or equivalent experience in another approved setting.
DCF 251.094(3)(c)4.
4. Have completed at least one of the preservice training requirements in Table 251.094 prior to beginning work as a school-age director, except as specified in par.
(d). The school-age director shall also complete any additional training requirements in Table 251.094 as provided.
-
See PDF for table 
DCF 251.094 Note
Note: The noncredit courses approved by the department to meet the entry-level training requirements for a school-age director are Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession and Skills and Strategies for the School-Age Teacher. School-age directors may also meet this requirement by completing both Guiding Behavior of Children in School-Age Programs and School-Age Curricular Framework in place of Skills and Strategies for the School-Age Teacher.
DCF 251.094(3)(d)
(d) A person employed as a director in a school-age program prior to March 1, 2023, is not required to complete the preservice training specified in par.
(c) 4. DCF 251.094(4)(a)
(a) A school-age program leader shall plan, implement, and supervise the daily activities for a group of children, and is also responsible for communication with families, relations with the community, and coordination with other school-age staff.
DCF 251.094(4)(b)2.
2. Have completed high school or its equivalent as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.
DCF 251.094(4)(b)3.
3. Have at least 240 hours of experience as a group leader, school-age assistant, public or private school teacher, student teacher or practicum, coach, camp counselor, mentor through a community-based organization, or in another approved setting.
DCF 251.094(4)(c)
(c) Prior to assuming the position, a person hired to be a school-age program leader shall complete or obtain one of the following:
DCF 251.094(4)(c)1.
1. Four credits in school-age child growth and development or its equivalent.
DCF 251.094(4)(c)2.
2. The first 2 courses of the Registry Afterschool & Youth Development Credential.
DCF 251.094(4)(c)3.
3. Two noncredit department-approved courses for school-age program and group leaders.
DCF 251.094 Note
Note: The noncredit courses approved by the department to meet the entry level training requirements for a school-age program leader are Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession and Skills and Strategies for the School-Age Teacher. School-age program leaders may also meet this requirement by completing both Guiding Behavior of Children in School-Age Programs and School-Age Curricular Framework in place of Skills and Strategies for the School-Age Teacher.
DCF 251.094(4)(c)4.
4. One noncredit department-approved course and 2 credits in education, physical education, community health, child guidance, recreation, psychology, social work, or juvenile justice.
DCF 251.094 Note
Note: The noncredit course approved by the department to meet the entry level training requirement for a school-age program leader in combination with 2 credits is Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession.
DCF 251.094(5)(a)
(a) A school-age group leader shall work under the supervision of a school-age program leader.
DCF 251.094(5)(b)
(b) A school-age group leader shall work with the program leader to plan, implement, and supervise the daily activities for a group of children.
DCF 251.094(5)(c)2.
2. Have completed high school or its equivalent as determined by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.
DCF 251.094(5)(c)3.
3. Have satisfactorily completed one of the following within 6 months after assuming the position:
DCF 251.094 Note
Note:
Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession is the noncredit course approved by the department to meet the entry level training requirements for a school-age group leader.
DCF 251.094(6)(a)
(a) A school-age program aide shall work under the direction and supervision of a school-age program leader.
DCF 251.094(6)(b)
(b) A person who is a school-age program aide shall be at least 16 years of age.
DCF 251.094(6)(c)
(c) A school-age program aide shall either meet the qualifications of a program aide under s.
DCF 251.05 (3) (gm) 3. or have satisfactorily completed at least one of the following within 6 months after assuming the position:
DCF 251.094(6)(c)1.
1. An assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction.
DCF 251.094(6)(c)2.
2. At least 10 hours of training approved by the department in the care of school-age children.
DCF 251.094 Note
Note: Introduction to the School-Age Care Profession is the noncredit course approved by the department to meet the entry-level training requirements for a school-age program aide.
DCF 251.094 History
History: CR 21-100: cr.
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23.
DCF 251.095
DCF 251.095 Additional requirements, modifications, and exceptions for school-age programs. DCF 251.095(1m)(a)(a) This section applies only to group child care centers that serve only school-age children and group child care centers that serve school-age children in groups separate from children who are under 5 years of age.
DCF 251.095(2m)(a)
(a) A school-age program shall be responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a school-age child between the time the child arrives at the school-age program and the time the child is released to the child's parent or to another activity that is specifically authorized in writing by the child's parent.
DCF 251.095(2m)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding s.
DCF 251.055 (1) (a), each child 7 years of age and older shall be supervised by a school-age program leader or child care teacher who is within sight or sound of the child to guide the child's behavior and activities, prevent harm, and ensure safety, except as provided in pars.
(d) to
(f).
DCF 251.095 Note
Note: DCF 251.055 (1) (a) requires sight and sound supervision.
DCF 251.095(2m)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding s.
DCF 251.055 (1) (b), at least one school-age program leader or child care teacher shall supervise each group of school-age children, except as provided in pars.
(d) and
(e).
DCF 251.095(2m)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding s.
DCF 251.055 (1) (c), a school-age group leader who has completed the training required under s.
DCF 251.094 (5) (c) 3. or an assistant child care teacher who has completed the training required under s.
DCF 251.05 (3) (g) 2. and is age 18 or over may provide sole supervision for a group of school-age children for no more than 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises.
DCF 251.095(2m)(e)
(e
) A child 7 years of age or older may be authorized by the child care worker supervising the child to participate in program-sponsored activities in a school-age program away from the direct supervision of the assigned child care worker.
DCF 251.095(2m)(f)
(f) A child 7 years of age and older may move between groups of children if a tracking method is implemented to ensure that the assigned child care worker knows the whereabouts of the child.
DCF 251.095(2m)(g)
(g) When 9 or more children are on a field trip, there shall be at least 2 child care workers accompanying the children and the staff-to-child ratios in Table DCF 251.055 shall be maintained. Notwithstanding s.
DCF 251.055 (2) (j), at least one of the child care workers shall be a school-age program leader or a child care teacher.
DCF 251.095(2m)(h)
(h) A school-age program shall have on file an agreement, signed by the parent, that specifies the attendance schedule to be followed and authorizes the child's release to activities away from the school-age program.
DCF 251.095 Note
Note: The licensee may use either the department's form, DCF-F-CFS0104-E,
Alternate Arrival/Release Agreement — Child Care Centers, or the licensee's own form for securing the parent's signed agreement. The form is available at
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
DCF 251.095(3m)
(3m)
Additional requirements for meals and snacks.
In addition to the requirements on meals, snacks, and food service in s.
DCF 251.07 (5), the following provisions apply to school-age programs:
DCF 251.095(3m)(a)
(a) All children attending a school-age program when a meal or snack is served shall be offered the meal or snack.
DCF 251.095(4m)
(4m)
Exceptions for school-age programs.
The following provisions do not apply to school-age programs:
DCF 251.095(4m)(b)
(b) Section
DCF 251.06 (11) (b) 7., regarding a permanent enclosure of outdoor play space. If hazards exist, such as traffic or bodies of water, the boundaries of outdoor play space shall be made known to the children.
DCF 251.095(5m)
(5m)
Exceptions and modifications for school-age programs in school buildings. DCF 251.095(5m)(a)
(a)
Exceptions. The following requirements do not apply to school-age programs in school buildings that are currently in use as school buildings:
DCF 251.095(5m)(a)1.
1. Section
DCF 251.04 (6) (a) 6m., relating to documentation of a school-age child's immunization records, only if the school-age program has approved access to the school's vaccination records.
