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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

Board provides input on alignment approach Dec.2005-Jan. 2006

EEC develops draft regulations Jan. 2006-March 2007

Intensive informal external review process May-August 2007

Revisions to draft August - October 2007

Board votes to send out for public comment November 2007

Public Hearings February 2008

Revisions to draft March-August 2008

Provide resources for the field Fall 2008 to Fall 2009

Board votes to promulgate in January March-April 2009

Technical assistance/training Spring 2009 and ongoing

New regulations are promulgated (take effect) January 2010

Licensors evaluate compliance and offer resources Ongoing

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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

An Unprecedented Comment Process

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The Result…..

Every comment recorded and discussed by EEC’s Regulation Review Committee.

Comments reviewed by weighing potential impact on Quality, Affordability and Access.

Some regulations were changed or clarified.

Some proposed regulations were changed. For example:

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.

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.

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.

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EEC Proposed RegulationsWhat 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 RegulationsWhat is Changing?

• Family child care and center-based regulations will be in one comprehensive set.

• New regulations in several key areas:

•Program types

•Definitions

•Family child care location

•Administration

•Interactions

•Groupings

•Curriculum and progress reports

•Professional development

•Health and safety

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The Proposed RegulationsThree Program Types

Family Child Care Up to 10 children, infants to school-age, in a residence (includes FCC, FCC+, and LFCC under one license type).

NEW! Small Group and School Age Care Up to 10 children but not in a residence.

Large Group and School Age Care 11+ children includes both group and school

age under one license type.

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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.

• It's what staff do every day.

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 Individual titles are still used when a requirement (like qualifications) pertains to a specific type of educator.

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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.

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

Community Services

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7.03 Licensure Family Child Care

• 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.

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7.04 Administration

NEW! Develop a plan to avoid suspension and termination of children

Parent meetings Referrals Supports (consultant, training, staffing) Behavioral intervention plans

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NEW! Section: 7.05 Interactions Among Educators and Children

Aligns Massachusetts standards with other national quality standards

Based on recent research in brain development and interactions

Emphasizes and institutionalizes existing "best practice"

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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

Qualifications will not change

In development: • competency-based

qualifications • system for on-going

professional development• NEW! EEC Registry and

annual registration

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7.09 Staff Qualifications and Development

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

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.

Decisions for group assignment must consider factors like the child’s age, where the child is developmentally and parental input.

Up to two children may be placed in a fixed age group on this basis.

Programs may choose whether to do this or not.

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7.10 Ratios, Group Sizes and Supervision

• Supervision appropriate to ages, development, behaviors and activities of children

• Supports growing independence

• Protects children

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7.11 Health and Safety

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! Administration of Medication

NEW! Individual Health Care Plans for Children with Chronic Conditions

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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

• Providers may care for no more than 12 hrs. in 24.

7.11 Health and Safety

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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

1. Communicate promulgation timeline Start Mar. 2009 Web, newsletter, email

2. Develop, translate, and post resources Ongoing3. Training for EEC staff* June-Oct. 20094. At all provider renewal meetings offer: Start June 2009

Overview of regulatory changes/timeline Focus on new requirements*

5. Additional meetings for other providers Nov.-Dec. 2009 In each region for FCC & GCC/SA Large group overview Small workgroups on specific requirements.*

6. Regulations go into effect January 20107. Technical assistance provided on site visits Ongoing8. Topic specific training on new requirements * 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 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

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An Opportunity For Educators And Families

These new regulations will:

Give educators more flexibility to support quality and accountability;

Help all educators grow as the field of early education and care evolves;

Align care for children across all settings and developmental stages; and

Give educators more ways to improve access and continuity for children and families.

Thank you !