Michigan

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

16 clock hours of professional development per calendar year for program staff on topics relevant to job responsibilities (10 hours for small-capacity center staff; 5–10 hours for substitutes depending on schedule) — R 400.8216a.

Lead teacher

Lead teachers must be at least 19 with a high school diploma or GED and qualify via one year of experience plus specified MiRegistry training; 6 months of experience plus 6 semester hours/9 CEUs/90 clock hours of ECE coursework; or a CDA, Montessori credential, or associate degree or higher plus required training (R 400.8210).

Director

Program administrators must be at least 21 with a high school diploma or GED, qualify through a child-related degree or credential pathway (e.g., bachelor's in a child-related field, or CDA/associate degree plus experience), and complete at least 2 semester hours or 3.0 CEUs in child care administration within 6 months of hire (R 400.8204).

Worth knowing

Michigan's bands: birth–30 months 1:4 (group 12); 30 months–3 years 1:8 (group 24); 3–4 years 1:10 (group 30); 4 years–school age 1:12 (group 40); school-age 1:18 (group 54). Mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's ratio. Rule set updated effective May 7, 2025.