Delaware

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

Staff working 25+ hours/week (including administrators): 18 clock hours of annual training, with at least 2 hours in health or safety (9 hours including 1 health/safety hour for staff under 25 hours/week); staff must be trained in first aid and CPR within 2 months of hire, and a first aid/CPR-certified person for the ages served must be present whenever children are present.

Lead teacher

An early childhood teacher must be at least 18 and either hold a bachelor's or associate degree (with at least 6 ECE/child-development credits) plus 3–6 months of experience with children birth through second grade, or hold a high school diploma plus 12 months of experience and one of: 9 college credits (3 in ECE topics), a valid CDA, TECE 1 & 2 training, a Montessori credential, or an equivalent OCCL-recognized program.

Director

The early childhood administrator must be at least 21 and hold at least a bachelor's or associate degree with 15 credit hours (3 credits in each listed early childhood area, plus an ECE elective) and 12 months of experience working with children birth through second grade.

Worth knowing

Full ratio table (reg. 27): under 12 months 1:4/8; 12-23 months 1:6/12; 24-35 months 1:8/16; 36-47 months 1:10/20; 48 months+ not yet in kindergarten 1:12/24; school-age 1:15/30 (variance to 1:20 possible with a certified Delaware teacher; no variance from the group cap of 30). Ratios follow the youngest child in the group.