New York
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Division of Child Care Services
18 NYCRR Part 418-1 — Child Day Care Centers
Researched 2026-09 · Summary, not legal advice — confirm with the agency before acting on a figure.
Staff-child ratios
Infants
1:4
6 weeks to 18 months (under 6 weeks: 1:3, max 6)
max group 8
Toddlers
1:5
18 to 36 months
max group 12
Preschool
1:7
3 years
max group 18
School-age
1:10
6 to 9 years (10-12 years: 1:15, max 30)
max group 20
Requirements
- Annual training
- Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of 30 hours of training every 2 years, of which 15 hours must be obtained during the person's first 6 months at the program, and at least 5 office-approved hours each year. At least one staff person certified in CPR and first aid must be on the premises during operating hours.
- Lead teacher
- A group teacher needs an associate degree in early childhood, child development or a related field; or a CDA (or equivalent age-appropriate credential) plus 1 year of relevant experience; or 9 college credits in early childhood/child development plus 2 years of experience with an approved plan of study (18 NYCRR 418-1.13).
- Director
- A director needs a bachelor's degree including or in addition to 12 early childhood credits plus 1 year of full-time teaching experience and 1 year supervising staff; or the NYS Children's Program Administrator credential with the same experience; or associate-degree/CDA pathways with an approved plan of study and 2 years each of teaching and supervisory experience.
- Worth knowing
- In 418-1.8 the ratios are stated per maximum group size, so required staffing scales with the group; nearby bands: 4-year-olds 1:8 (max 21), 5-year-olds 1:9 (max 24). ocfs.ny.gov blocked automated retrieval during this research, so values were verified against the current 18 NYCRR text as reproduced by Cornell LII.
A ratio is easy to read and hard to hold at 3pm on the playground.
Rehearse supervision