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.
DCF 251.095(5m)(b)2.
2. Section
DCF 251.04 (3) (L), except that the licensee shall report any construction or remodeling on the premises that has the potential to affect an area accessible to children or a condition of the license in writing at least 10 working days before the construction or remodeling begins.
DCF 251.095(5m)(b)3.
3. Section
DCF 251.05 (2) (a) (intro.), except that
the licensee shall maintain a file on each employee or contracted employee. The file shall be available for examination by the licensing representative at the location of the school-age program within 2 hours after the request and shall include all of the following:
DCF 251.095 Note
Note: The required records may be in an electronic format at the school-age program site.
DCF 251.095 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, April, 1999, No. 520;
CR 03-052: renum. from HFS 46.10 and am. (1), (2) (intro.), (c), (3) (intro.) and cr. (3) (dm)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (2), (3) and (4) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 07-102: am. (2) (intro.), (c), (e), (4) (a) 3., (b) 1. and 3., cr. (4) (a) 5.
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; correction in (4) (b) 3. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
2015 Wis. Act 132: am. (2) (d), (3) (a)
Register February 2016 No. 722, eff. 3-1-16;
EmR1918: emerg. cr. (3) (f), (g), am. (4) (b) 1. to 3., r. (4) (c), eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: cr. (3) (f), (g), am. (4) (b) 1. to 3., r. (4) (c)
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (2) (b), (d), (3) (a), (dm) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register March 2020 No. 771;
CR 20-003: am. (2) (d), (e), (3) (a)
Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8-1-20;
CR 21-100: r. and recr.
Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23; correction in (5m) (b) 2., 3. made under s. 35.17, Stats.,
Register February 2023 No. 806.
DCF 251.10
DCF 251.10 Additional requirements for night care. DCF 251.10(1)(1)
Applicability. Group child care centers that operate during any period of time between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. shall comply with the additional requirements of this section.
DCF 251.10(2)(a)
(a) A center offering night care may serve no more than 20 children at any one time between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless the building is equipped with emergency lighting supplied by a stand-by power source.
DCF 251.10(2)(b)
(b) When the same premises is used for the operation of both day care and night care, the number of children during any overlapping of the day care and night care periods may not exceed the maximum licensed capacity of the center.
DCF 251.10(2)(d)
(d) All child care workers on duty shall remain awake, available, within call and able to respond to the needs of the children during night care.
DCF 251.10(2)(e)
(e) The parent or center shall provide each child in night care with an individually labeled sleeping garment and a toothbrush.
DCF 251.10(3)(a)
(a) Child care staff shall work with a child's parent to coordinate how the child spends his or her time during night care at the center with the family's schedule.
DCF 251.10(3)(b)
(b) A center offering night care shall provide a self-contained room away from sleeping children where an awake child can engage in activities.
DCF 251.10(3)(c)
(c) An evening and morning schedule of program activities shall be planned for the hours that children in night care are awake.
DCF 251.10(3)(d)
(d) School-age children shall have an opportunity to read or do school work.
DCF 251.10(4)(a)
(a) Child care workers shall be given training in techniques of evacuating sleeping children in an emergency during orientation to the job.
DCF 251.10(4)(b)
(b) Centers operating during hours of darkness shall provide emergency lighting, such as an operable flashlight, for each self-contained room used by children.
DCF 251.10(4)(c)
(c) Fire evacuation drills shall be practiced during night care hours at least 2 times per year.
DCF 251.10(5)(a)
(a) Breakfast shall be served to all children in care for the night, unless the parent specifies otherwise.
DCF 251.10(5)(b)
(b) A nighttime snack shall be available to all children in care.
DCF 251.10(5)(c)
(c) A child present at the time the evening meal is served shall be served the evening meal.
DCF 251.10(6)(a)
(a) Children who attend the center for the evening hours but not the whole night shall have an opportunity to sleep, as needed.
DCF 251.10(6)(b)
(b) Sleep routines for individual children shall be based on information provided by the parents.
DCF 251.10(6)(c)
(c) A bed, crib or cot with sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag, individual to each child, shall be provided in night care.
DCF 251.10(6)(d)
(d) The center shall maintain a supply of extra sleeping garments and bedding for emergencies and accidents.
DCF 251.10(6)(e)
(e) Children under 2 years of age in night care shall sleep in cribs.
DCF 251.10 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97;
CR 03-052: renum. from HFS 46.11, am. (1) and (2) (d)
Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; correction in (2) (c) made under s.
13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register November 2008 No. 635;
CR 07-102: cr. (4) (c)
Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09;
EmR1918: emerg. am. (1), (2) (a) to (c), eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: am. (1), (2) (a) to (c)
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.
DCF 251.11(1)(a)
(a) A facility that provides care on a regular basis to 9 or more children under the age of 7 years shall be deemed to be providing care for compensation and shall be licensed as a group child care center.
DCF 251.11(1)(b)
(b) Prior to receiving a license, an applicant for a license under this chapter shall complete all application forms truthfully and accurately and pay all fees and forfeitures due to the department.
DCF 251.11(1)(c)
(c) The department may refuse to issue or continue a license if another center operated by the licensee is in substantial non-compliance with the licensing rules or has any outstanding fine or forfeitures.
DCF 251.11(1)(d)
(d) Persons licensed to operate a group child care center shall be responsible, mature individuals who are fit and qualified. In determining whether an applicant is fit and qualified, the department shall consider any history of civil or criminal violations or other offenses substantially related to the care of children by the applicant, owner, manager, representative, employee, center resident or other individual directly or indirectly participating in the operation of the group child care center. A determination of being unfit and unqualified includes substantiated findings of child abuse or neglect under ch.
48, Stats., or substantiated abuse under ch.
50, Stats., or under similar statutes in another state or territory whether or not it results in a criminal charge or conviction.
DCF 251.11(1)(e)
(e) The department shall issue a group child care license to an applicant within 60 working days after receipt and department approval of a properly completed application, satisfactory department investigation and determination that the applicant is fit and qualified. Continued licensure requires a licensee to remain fit and qualified.
DCF 251.11(1)(f)
(f) If the department has reason to believe that the physical or mental health of any person associated with the care of children at the center or any household resident of the center might endanger children in care, the department may require that a written statement be submitted by a physician or, if appropriate, by a licensed mental health professional that shall certify the condition of the individual and the possible effect of that condition on the group child care center or the children in care.
DCF 251.11(1)(g)
(g) The department may deny or revoke the license if the examination specified under par.
(f) gives the department reasonable concern for the care of children.
DCF 251.11(1)(h)
(h) The department may not process an application for a license if the applicant has had a license or certification to operate a child care center revoked or denied within the last 2 years. An applicant is deemed ineligible to submit an application for a license and a licensee may not hire an employee within 2 years from the date an applicant or employee had a child care license revoked or denied.
DCF 251.11(1)(i)
(i) The department shall consider a licensee who fails to submit any of the materials described in sub.
(3) or
(4) by the expiration or continuation date of a license to have surrendered his or her license and to no longer hold title to the license. The former licensee may not continue to operate the child care center.
DCF 251.11(2)
(2) Initial application for a probationary license. DCF 251.11(2)(a)(a) An applicant for a license shall participate in pre-licensing technical assistance towards the completion of the initial licensing study checklist with a representative of the department prior to submitting an application for a license.
DCF 251.11 Note
Note: 1. Information on how to obtain pre-licensing technical assistance is available from the appropriate Division of Early Care and Education regional office in Appendix A. The department will provide the application form to a license applicant upon completion of the pre-licensing technical assistance.
DCF 251.11 Note
2. An initial licensing study checklist includes a list of those licensing rules that must be met before a license can be issued. A copy of the checklist is available from a representative of the department or from the appropriate regional office in Appendix A.
DCF 251.11(2)(b)
(b) An applicant for a license shall submit an application at least 60 days before the date proposed for the center to begin operating.
DCF 251.11(2)(c)
(c) An applicant for an initial license shall include all the following with the application form:
