California

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

Title 22 sets no annual in-service clock-hour requirement for teachers. Directors and teachers must complete 15 hours of preventive health and safety training (including pediatric CPR and first aid) under Health & Safety Code 1596.866 where required, and at least one staff member trained in pediatric CPR/first aid must be present whenever children are at the center.

Lead teacher

A fully qualified teacher needs 12 postsecondary semester units in early childhood education/child development (covering child growth and development; child, family and community; and program/curriculum) plus 6 months of work experience in a licensed center, or a current CDA credential with the appropriate age endorsement plus 6 months of experience.

Director

Center directors need one of: high school diploma/GED + 15 semester units (12 in core ECE areas, 3 in administration) + 4 years teaching experience; an AA in ECE/child development + 2 years experience + 3 administration units; a bachelor's in those fields + 1 year experience + 3 administration units; or a Child Development Site Supervisor or Program Director Permit.

Worth knowing

Ratio detail: preschool 1:12, or 1 teacher + 1 aide per 15, or 1 fully qualified teacher + 1 qualified aide per 18 (§101216.3). Infant centers: 1:4; with aides, one fully qualified teacher may supervise up to 12 infants with each aide caring for no more than 4 (§101416.5). Toddler component (18–30 months): 1:6, max group 12 (§§101216.4/101417). School-age: 1:14, or 1 teacher + 1 aide per 28 (§101516.5). Title 22 sets no other fixed group-size caps. Stricter Title 5 ratios apply to CDE-funded programs.