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Each month, this section will highlight selected changes included in the new licensing standards compared to the current licensing requirement.
Child care center (CCC) spotlight
Changes to Director Qualifications and Duties
Change explained: Beginning on July 1, 2027, requirements to become a child care center director will change. The new laws will require directors be at least 21 years old (previously was 18) AND have at least 12 semester credits or 120 hours of training. In addition, the 12 semester credits must be in child development, supervision, management, administration or leadership.
Anyone holding the position of director on July 1, 2027, may continue to hold that position while at their current center. Current directors will not need to meet the new qualifications as long as they stay with their current center. Additionally, the new law will allow all directors to serve as teachers without meeting separate teacher qualifications.
Finally, the new standards will require directors (or their designee) to be onsite during hours of operation. The designee may be any program staff person who is at least 18 years old and does not have to meet the director qualifications. However, the designee must be aware of the designation and be able to perform the responsibilities.
Attendance tracking expands to all child care center programs
Change explained: Currently, attendance records are required for child care center programs that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) or other state or federally funded programs. Beginning July 1, 2027, all licensed child care center programs will be required to maintain attendance records for all children in care.
Attendance records must include each child's first and last name, along with the time the child arrives and leaves care each day. Keeping attendance records is an important health and safety protocol as they help account for children during emergencies, assist emergency responders, and provide information when needed during investigations.
Family child care (FCC) spotlight
Variance requests transitioning to DCYF
Change explained: Currently, family child care variance requests are reviewed at the county level. Because counties have different policies and practices, the availability of variances and the variance review process may differ depending on where a provider is located. Beginning July 1, 2027, DCYF will review and make decisions on family child care variance requests with input from county licensing agencies. Moving variance decisions to the state level is intended to create a more consistent process for providers across Minnesota. Under the new law, DCYF must make a determination on a variance request within 30 business days of receiving a complete request.
Attendance tracking expands to all family child care programs
Change explained: Currently, attendance records are required for family child care programs that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) or other state or federally funded programs. Beginning July 1, 2027, all licensed family child care programs will be required to maintain attendance records for all children in care.
Attendance records must include each child's first and last name, along with the time the child arrives and leaves care each day. Keeping attendance records is an important health and safety protocol as they help account for children during emergencies, assist emergency responders, and provide information when needed during investigations.
Child care center FAQs
Question: Our playground has an area with equipment suitable for children aged 2-5 years old and another area of the playground has equipment suitable for children 6-12 years old. When the 2-5 year olds are on the playground, will we need to physically block off the equipment intended for older children?
Answer: No. You will not need to physically block the equipment intended for older children. However, you will need to address how you plan to supervise and prevent younger children from using the non-age appropriate equipment in your Risk Reduction Plan.
Family child care FAQs
Question: Can multiple community-based family child care programs share the same outdoor play space?
Answer: Yes, but not at the same time. Both the current and new licensing standards require each community-based family child care program to operate as a distinct program. This means shared spaces, such as outdoor play areas, may be used by multiple programs, but each program must use the space separately.
For example, Program A may use the outdoor play area from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., while Program B uses the same space from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The new licensing standards allow up to six community-based family child care programs (previously it was up to four) to operate at the same location or under one contiguous roof if each license holder independently meets all applicable requirements and the program location site does not have an R-2 residential occupancy designation. Programs that share space must describe in their program plans how shared areas will be used separately to maintain distinct program operations.
Question: What are the new capacity and ratios?
Answer: Class A – remains the same as current MN Rule 9502.0367.
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Class
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Capacity
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Minimum Adult Caregivers
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Maximum Children Under School Age
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Maximum Total Infants and Toddlers
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Maximum Infants
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A
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10
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1
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6
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3
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2
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Class C – Updated
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Class
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Capacity
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Minimum Adult Caregivers
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Maximum Children Under School Age
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Maximum Total Infants and Toddlers
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Maximum Infants
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C1
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5
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1
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5
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3
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3
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C2
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10
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1
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8
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4
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2
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C3
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12
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1
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10
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3
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2
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C4
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14
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2
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10
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6
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4
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C5
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18
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2
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12
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5
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2
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Additional requirements: Programs licensed as a class C5 have additional requirements beyond capacity and ratios. Before operating as a class C5 program, the provider must:
- Complete the required large group family child care training,
- Meet additional experience or education qualifications established in the new licensing standards, and
- Always operate at the level of exit discharge. A Class C5 program must operate on a level of the home that has a door leading directly to the outside at or near ground level. The intent is to ensure that programs serving up to 18 children have a direct exit to the outdoors and are not located in a basement that only has an emergency escape window. Walkout basements may meet this requirement. The State Fire Marshal division will determine which areas of the home are at the level of exit discharge. Additional guidance for split-level homes will be shared before implementation.
A family child care program with a class C license may operate as a lower C-class level family child care program on days when the adult-to-child ratios allow it to operate at a lower capacity.
Question: What is a supervision and safety plan, and what will it include?
Answer: A supervision and safety plan is one option programs may use to address traffic or other nearby hazards when a fence or natural barrier is not used. The plan will describe the alternative methods the program will use to ensure the health, safety, and protection of children in care. For example, if a program has nearby railroad tracks, the supervision and safety plan will describe how children will be kept safe from that hazard.
DCYF is currently developing implementation guidance and resources related to supervision and safety plans. Additional information will be shared before the new licensing standards take effect on July 1, 2027.
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