Illinois

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

89 Ill. Adm. Code Part 407, Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers (July 7, 2025 edition)

Researched 2026-09 · Summary, not legal advice — confirm with the agency before acting on a figure.

Staff-child ratios

Infants

1:4

6 weeks through 14 months

max group 12

Toddlers

1:5

15 through 23 months

max group 15

Preschool

1:10

3 and 4 years

max group 20

School-age

1:20

5 years and older (kindergarten/school-age)

max group 30

Annual training: 15 clock hours of in-service training per year for the director and each child care staff member (Sections 407.100(b) and 407.170(c)); first-year training must cover abuse/neglect reporting and licensing rules.
Lead teacher: Early childhood teachers must be at least 19 with a high school diploma/GED, plus one of: 60 semester hours of college with 6 in child care/child development; 1 year (1,560 hours) of experience plus 30 semester hours with 6 in child development; or an approved credential (CDA, CCP, or Gateways ECE/ITC Level 3+) (Section 407.140).
Director: Directors must be at least 21 with a high school diploma/GED and (if hired on/after July 1, 2017) an associate degree in child development/ECE, or 64 semester hours (21 in ECE-related courses) plus a Gateways Level I Illinois Director Credential or 3 semester hours (or 3 training points) in child care administration (Section 407.130).
Worth knowing: Full table (Section 407.190): 2-year-olds 1:8 (group 16); 5-year-olds still in preschool 1:20 (group 20); school-age 1:20 (group 30). Ratios are based on the youngest child when ages are combined.

A ratio is easy to read and hard to hold at 3pm on the playground.