Kansas

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

16 clock hours of professional development per licensure year for each staff member and volunteer counted in ratios (4 of the 16 in specified health/safety areas; infant caregivers need 4 infant-specific hours). Program directors also complete 16 hours including 6 in administration. Each unit must always have someone present with current pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR certification (K.A.R. 28-4-428a).

Lead teacher

Lead teachers must be at least 18 with a high school diploma/GED plus one of: an associate or higher degree in ECE/child development, a technical certificate or diploma in early childhood, a CDA, 3 semester hours plus 3 months of age-appropriate experience, or 6 months of age-appropriate experience (K.A.R. 28-4-429(e)).

Director

Program directors must be at least 18 with a high school diploma/GED; centers licensed for under 24 children accept an associate degree, CDA, technical certificate, or experience-based options, while centers licensed for 24+ require a bachelor's (or associate/CDA/12 ECE credit hours) combined with prescribed early childhood experience, or 6 years of qualifying experience (K.A.R. 28-4-429(b)-(c)).

Worth knowing

K.A.R. 28-4-428(a) (eff. 8/2/2024) allows infant units at either 1:3 (unit max 9) or 1:4 (unit max 8). Additional bands: children 2 to under 3 years 1:7 (unit max 14); mixed units of infants plus children under 6 run 1:6 (max 12, no more than 3 infants per staff/6 per unit). 'Maximum group size' replaced 'license capacity' in the 2024 update.