Nebraska

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

Each staff member providing direct care must obtain a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually (6 clock hours if working 20 hours/week or less); staff responsible for food need 4 clock hours of nutrition/food-safety training annually; 2 hours of CPR and 1 hour of first aid may count in the year taken (391 NAC 3-006.10).

Lead teacher

Non-certificated teachers must be at least 18 and hold a bachelor's or associate degree in early childhood education/education/child-youth development, a CDA credential, or a high school diploma/GED plus 1,500 verified hours of experience or an approved training plan (391 NAC 3-006.05).

Director

Directors of newly licensed centers must be at least 19 and hold a qualifying bachelor's or associate degree, a CDA, or a high school diploma/GED plus 3,000 clock hours of verifiable experience and 6 credit hours or 36 clock hours of approved training (or an approved 12-month plan to acquire it) (391 NAC 3-006.04).

Worth knowing

4- and 5-year-olds (not yet school-age): 1:12. Nebraska's center regulation sets no maximum group sizes; ratio compliance is determined center-wide, and mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's ratio. At least two staff must be on premises when more than 12 children are in care.