Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)

55 Pa. Code ch. 3270 — Child Care Centers

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

Staff-child ratios

Infants

1:4

birth to 1 year

max group 8

Toddlers

1:5

1 to 2 years (older toddler 2-3 yrs: 1:6, max 12)

max group 10

Preschool

1:10

3 years to kindergarten entry

max group 20

School-age

1:12

kindergarten to 4th grade (4th grade to 15 yrs: 1:15, max 30)

max group 24

Annual training: All staff persons must complete an annual minimum of 12 clock hours of child care training (§ 3270.31). Staff must also complete pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR professional development within 90 days of hire and keep the certifications current.
Lead teacher: A group supervisor (lead teacher) needs a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or human services; or a bachelor's with 30 credits in those fields plus 1 year of experience with children; or an associate degree in those fields plus 2 years of experience (or with 30 relevant credits plus 3 years).
Director: A director needs, in the same fields, a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of experience with children; a bachelor's with 30 relevant credits plus 2 years; an associate degree plus 3 years; or an associate with 30 relevant credits plus 4 years. The director must be present at the facility at least 30 hours per week.
Worth knowing: Age bands per § 3270.4 definitions; mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's ratio and group size (§ 3270.52). Staff must be 18+ (16-17 permitted only within an approved training curriculum).

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