Arkansas

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

All staff working directly with children: at least 15 hours of registered training per year in continuing early childhood education (directors likewise 15 clock hours); new staff complete an 8-clock-hour orientation within 3 months; the director and 50% of on-site staff must hold current first aid and CPR certificates (including infant/child CPR where infants and toddlers are served).

Lead teacher

Staff members must be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and complete 15 hours of early childhood training per year geared to the age group they serve.

Director

Directors must be 21+ with one of: a bachelor's (or higher) in early childhood/child development or related field; a non-related bachelor's plus 4 years ECE experience, a CDA, or a Birth–Pre-K Credential; an associate degree in ECE plus 6 years of experience; or 8 years of ECE experience plus completion of a CDA, Birth–Pre-K, Director's Credential or ECE technical certificate within 2 years of hire.

Worth knowing

Group size is capped at 2x the number of children allowed per staff member (structures licensed after Nov 1, 2002). Full ratio table also lists 4-year-olds 1:15 (group 30) and 5 years to kindergarten 1:18. The published table's toddler rows overlap (18-36 months 1:8; 2½-3 years 1:12); 30-36-month-olds may be placed by developmental maturity. Since the 2023 LEARNS Act, licensing is administered by the ADE Office of Early Childhood; the PUB-002 standards (rev. 12/2020, issued under DHS) remain the published minimum licensing requirements.