DECAL 62Rules for Child Care Learning Centers (a)During early morning times of arrival and late afternoon times of departure, infants and children younger than three (3) years may be grouped with older children so long as Staff:child ratios and group size are met based upon the age of the youngest child in the group.(b)Children who turn three (3) years of age during the regular school year may remain grouped with other two (2) year olds for the remainder of the school year provided that the continued placement in the younger group is with the agreement of the older child's Parent(s) and is developmentally appropriate for the child.(5)Staff:Child Ratios During Day-time Scheduled Rest or Sleeping Periods. During those periods, the Staff:child ratios maybe doubled for children three (3) years and older provided that: at least one (1) Staff person is in each room providing direct supervision of the children; and all Staff required by paragraph (1) above relating to Staff:child ratios are in the Center and available to assure safe evacuation in an emergency.(6)Staff:Child Ratios During Evening and Night-time Care. The Staff:child ratios required by paragraph (1) above shall be maintained except when a majority of the children are sleeping. When a majority of the children are sleeping, then the required ratios may be doubled. However, all Staff required by paragraph (1) above must be available on the premises of the Center to resume supervision of the children whenever a majority of the children in care in an area are no longer asleep or an emergency situation arises.(7)Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, chaperones and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the chaperones and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs.(8)Assignment of Caregiving Staff. Employees shall be assigned so that in so far as possible children receive care from the same Employee each day.(9)Immediately prior to the Center closing and being locked at the end of the business day, the Staff member charged with the responsibility of locking the Center shall make a physical inspection of the entire premises to verify that no child is left on the Center's premises.Cite as Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 591-1-1-.32Authority: O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1et seq.History.Original Rule entitled "Staff:Child Ratios and Supervision" adopted. F. Dec. 23, 1997; eff. Mar. 1, 1998, as specified by the Agency.Amended:F. Dec. 4, 2015; eff. Dec. 24, 2015.Amended:F. May 26, 2017; eff. June 15, 2017