Subdivision 1.Staffing requirements.

During hours of operation, a certified center must have a director or designee on site who is responsible for overseeing implementation of written policies relating to the management and control of the daily activities of the program, ensuring the health and safety of program participants, and supervising staff and volunteers.

Subd. 2.Director qualifications.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 245H.08

  • children: includes children by birth or adoption;

    (9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;

    (10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;

    (11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;

    (12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;

    (13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;

    (14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;

    (15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;

    (16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;

    (17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;

    (18) "notary" means a notary public;

    (19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;

    (20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45

  • Holiday: includes New Year's Day, January 1; Martin Luther King's Birthday, the third Monday in January; Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday, the third Monday in February; Memorial Day, the last Monday in May; Juneteenth, June 19; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, the first Monday in September; Indigenous Peoples Day, the second Monday in October; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November; and Christmas Day, December 25; provided, when New Year's Day, January 1; or Juneteenth, June 19; or Independence Day, July 4; or Veterans Day, November 11; or Christmas Day, December 25; falls on Sunday, the following day shall be a holiday and, provided, when New Year's Day, January 1; or Juneteenth, June 19; or Independence Day, July 4; or Veterans Day, November 11; or Christmas Day, December 25; falls on Saturday, the preceding day shall be a holiday. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Staff person: means an employee of a certified center who provides direct contact services to children. See Minnesota Statutes 245H.01

The director must be 18 years of age or older and have completed at least 16 hours of training in any of the following topic areas: child development and learning; developmentally appropriate learning experiences; relationships with families; assessment, evaluation, and individualization; historical and contemporary development of early childhood education; professionalism; and health, safety, and nutrition.

Subd. 3.Staff qualifications.

A staff person must be 16 years of age or older before providing direct, unsupervised care to a child.

Subd. 4.Maximum group size.

(a) For a child six weeks old through 16 months old, the maximum group size shall be no more than eight children.

(b) For a child 16 months old through 33 months old, the maximum group size shall be no more than 14 children.

(c) For a child 33 months old through prekindergarten, a maximum group size shall be no more than 20 children.

(d) For a child in kindergarten through 13 years old, a maximum group size shall be no more than 30 children.

(e) The maximum group size applies at all times except during group activity coordination time not exceeding 15 minutes, during a meal, outdoor activity, field trip, nap and rest, and special activity including a film, guest speaker, indoor large muscle activity, or holiday program.

(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), a certified center may continue to serve a child 14 years of age or older if one of the following conditions is true:

(1) the child remains eligible for child care assistance under section 119B.09, subdivision 1, paragraph (e); or

(2) the certified center serves only school-age children in a setting that has students enrolled in no grade higher than 8th grade.

Subd. 5.Ratios.

(a) The minimally acceptable staff-to-child ratios are:

six weeks old through 16 months old 1:4
16 months old through 33 months old 1:7
33 months old through prekindergarten 1:10
kindergarten through 13 years old 1:15

(b) Kindergarten includes a child of sufficient age to have attended the first day of kindergarten or who is eligible to enter kindergarten within the next four months.

(c) For mixed groups, the ratio for the age group of the youngest child applies.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a certified center may continue to serve a child 14 years of age or older if one of the following conditions is true:

(1) the child remains eligible for child care assistance under section 119B.09, subdivision 1, paragraph (e); or

(2) the certified center serves only school-age children in a setting that has students enrolled in no grade higher than 8th grade.