Transcript EEC’s Proposed Regulations: Overview and Update A New Approach to Group, School-Age and Family Child Care Regulations.

EEC’s Proposed Regulations:
Overview and Update
A New Approach to Group, School-Age
and Family Child Care Regulations
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Regulation Review Process Timeline
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Board provides input on alignment approach
Dec.2005-Jan. 2006
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EEC develops draft regulations
Jan. 2006-March 2007
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Intensive informal external review process
May-August 2007
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Revisions to draft
August - October 2007
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Board votes to send out for public comment
November 2007
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Public Hearings
February 2008
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Revisions to draft
March-August 2008
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Provide resources for the field
Fall 2008 to Fall 2009
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Board votes to promulgate in January
March-April 2009

Technical assistance/training
Spring 2009 and ongoing
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New regulations are promulgated (take effect)
January 2010
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Licensors evaluate compliance and offer resources
Ongoing
An Unprecedented Comment Process
Informal Review: May through August 2007
21 Meetings across the State; over 1,000 attendees
On-line Survey: 389 submitted
E-mail: more than 130 *
Letters: 86*
Formal Public Comment: February 2008
12 Hearings across the State: 480 attended;
180 testified
E-mail: 86*
Letters: 45*
*some with multiple signatures
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The Result…..
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Every comment recorded and discussed by
EEC’s Regulation Review Committee.
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Comments reviewed by weighing potential
impact on Quality, Affordability and Access.
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Some regulations were
changed or clarified.
Some proposed regulations were
changed. For example:
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A 1:15 staff to child ratio had been proposed for
school age children. Overwhelming comments stated
the ratio should stay 1:13.

Programs had many concerns about requiring that
children brush their teeth. This will be addressed
through technical assistance instead.
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Many family child care providers were concerned by
the cost of installing fall zones under their outdoor
equipment. Instead, EEC will continue helping
providers find safe alternatives and activities.
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Many concerns about the cost of requiring a second
adult whenever infants and toddlers are transported.
Instead, this will be suggested as a best practice.
EEC Proposed Regulations
What is Not Changing
Most requirements remain the same. For
example:
 Staff to child ratios
 Current groupings
 Activity space
 Materials and equipment
 Staff qualifications
 The proposed regulations won’t require
programs to make big changes but clarify
existing requirements and offer more
flexibility in several areas.
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EEC Proposed Regulations
What is Changing?
•
Family child care and center-based regulations
will be in one comprehensive set.
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New regulations in several key areas:
•Program types
•Definitions
•Family child care location
•Administration
•Interactions
•Groupings
•Curriculum and progress reports
•Professional development
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•Health and safety
The Proposed Regulations
Three Program Types
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Family Child Care Up to 10 children,
infants to school-age, in a residence
(includes FCC, FCC+, and LFCC under one
license type).
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NEW! Small Group and School Age Care
Up to 10 children but not in a residence.
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Large Group and School Age Care
11+ children includes both group and school
age under one license type.
7.02: New Definitions
Educator–new
umbrella term for all
early education and
care staff
•
Includes all Family,
Group, and School Age
staff.
•
Makes it easier to read
the regulations.
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It's what staff do every
day.
Individual titles are still used when a
requirement (like qualifications)
pertains to a specific type of
educator.
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Lead Teacher
 Teacher
 Assistant Teacher
• Director I, II
 Program
Administrator
 Site Coordinator
 Group Leader
 Assist. Group Leader
 Family Child Care
Provider
 Certified FCC
Assistant
 Regular FCC
Assistant
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7.03 Licensure
NEW! Small Group and School Age Child Care
EEC has developed a hybrid!
• Combines elements of family
child care and group/school age
child care.
• It creates new options for the
care of a small number of
children.
Community Services
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The proposed regulations:
 Will allow 10 or fewer
children to receive care in a
non-residence, such as a
church, community center,
or clinic
 Are less restrictive than
group child care to reflect
nature of a smaller group
 Works well for a provider
whose home may not be
suitable for family child care
 Works well for a community
agency that needs a small
on-site program for staff or
clients
7.03 Licensure
Family Child Care
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•
•
•
•
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Continue to allow family child care in an occupied
residence.
Continue to allow family child care in a building attached
to the residence of the licensee (garage).
NEW! Allow family child care in an unattached building
on the land of the licensee’s primary residence.
NEW! Allow family child care in a vacant unit in a duplex
if the licensee resides in the other unit of the residence.
NEW! Allow family child care in an unoccupied apartment
in a residence of up to three stories (three separate
dwelling units) if the licensee lives in one of the units.
7.04 Administration
NEW! Develop a plan to avoid suspension and
termination of children
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Parent meetings
Referrals
Supports (consultant, training, staffing)
Behavioral intervention plans
NEW! Section: 7.05 Interactions
Among Educators and Children
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Based on recent research in
brain development and
interactions
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Emphasizes and
institutionalizes existing "best
practice"
Aligns Massachusetts
standards with other
national quality
standards
7.06 Curriculum and Progress Reports
Read with all children daily
60 minutes of
physical activity
daily
Planned,
organized and
flexible
transitions
Progress reports for all children in care,
regardless of age or setting
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7.09 Staff Qualifications and
Development
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Qualifications will not change
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In development:
• competency-based
qualifications
• system for on-going
professional development
• NEW! EEC Registry and
annual registration
7.09 Staff Qualifications and
Development
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Professional Development Hours
• Family Child Care: 10 hours per year professional
development
• Small and Large Group: 5, 12 or 20 hours per year,
depending on work schedule
• At least 25% must address diverse learners
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NEW! Mandatory Orientation to the Field
• Highlighting the importance of the profession
• Professional development supports
• Content recommended by the MA Early Education
and Care and Out of School Time Workforce
Development Task Force
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7.10 Ratios, Group Sizes and
Supervision
Changes based on type of group and ages of
children:
• Multi Age Groups
• infant thru school age
• Fixed Age Groups
• all the same age
• Mixed Age Groups
• infant/toddler
• toddler/preschool
• preschool/school age
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7.10 Ratios, Group Sizes and
Supervision
NEW OPTION!
 Group assignment can be
based on developmental
factors not just age.
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Decisions for group
assignment must consider
factors like the child’s age,
where the child is
developmentally and parental
input.
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Up to two children may be
placed in a fixed age group
on this basis.
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Programs may choose
whether to do this or not.
7.10 Ratios, Group Sizes and
Supervision
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Supervision appropriate to ages, development,
behaviors and activities of children
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Supports growing independence
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Protects children
7.11 Health and Safety
NEW! Administration of Medication
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Training in the “5 Rights” of
medication administration
Training by a licensed health
care practitioner
Trained educator always on
premises
All educators trained to
recognize side effects
NEW! Individual Health Care Plans for
Children with Chronic Conditions
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7.11 Health and Safety
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To Minimize the Risk of SIDS…
• Back to Sleep…always!
• No pillows, comforters, stuffed animals
• Update program policy
• Train Staff
• Inform Parents
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Providers may care for no
more than 12 hrs. in 24.
Moving Forward to Implementation
A Measured Approach
 Ensure that programs and educators have the
resources and tools they need to comply.
 Ensure EEC staff have the resources and tools they
need to provide assistance and evaluate
compliance.
 Incremental Improvements in Quality
 Short term: Small, practical, achievable steps
related to each regulation change
 Long term: lasting quality
improvement based on real,
available, meaningful supports
and resources.
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Implementation Plan
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Communicate promulgation timeline
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Web, newsletter, email
Develop, translate, and post resources
Training for EEC staff*
At all provider renewal meetings offer:
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Overview of regulatory changes/timeline
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Focus on new requirements*
Additional meetings for other providers
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In each region for FCC & GCC/SA
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Large group overview
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Small workgroups on specific requirements.*
Regulations go into effect
Technical assistance provided on site visits
Topic specific training on new requirements *
Start Mar. 2009
Ongoing
June-Oct. 2009
Start June 2009
Nov.-Dec. 2009
January 2010
Ongoing
Ongoing
*Interactions, Curriculum, Progress Reports, Medication Administration,
Developmental Placement, Multi-Age Grouping, EEC Provider Orientation, etc
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New Resources Available on Web
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Resource Packet: Positive Interactions
 A Technical Assistance Paper on the importance of positive
interactions in promoting children's growth.
 A Self-Evaluation and Supervisory Observation Tools
 A List of Internet Resources for more information on
interactions.
Resource Packet: Progress Reports
 Progress Reports Power Point
 Progress Reports how progress reports help plan activities to
meet the child’s needs, and partner with parents.
 Documenting Progress with Portfolios.
 Progress Reports for School Age Children.
 Communicating with Parents
 The Importance of Developmental Milestones.
 A List of Internet Resources
 5 Sample Progress Report Forms
Resource Packet: Curriculum
 Quiet Activities for children who do not sleep
 Field Trip Planning with Checklist
Coming soon: Medication Administration, Multi-age Groupings and
more!
http://www.eec.state.ma.us/licensingRegulations.aspx
An Opportunity For Educators And
Families
These new regulations will:
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Give educators more flexibility to support quality
and accountability;
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Help all educators grow as the field of early
education and care evolves;
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Align care for children across all settings and
developmental stages; and
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Give educators more ways to improve access
and continuity for children and families.
Thank you !