Vermont

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

All staff must complete 15 clock hours of annual professional development per their Individual Professional Development Plan (rules 7.4.1–7.4.4); CPR and first aid training do not count toward the 15 hours (rule 7.4.7). Staff counted in ratios must obtain pediatric first aid and infant/child CPR training and keep it current.

Lead teacher

A Teacher must be at least 20 and hold a VT Early Childhood Career Ladder Level 4 certificate; or a bachelor's degree in early childhood or a related field plus 12 months of experience with children grade 3 or younger; or a bachelor's degree with 30 early-childhood/school-age credits plus 12 months of experience; or a current VT teaching license with an early childhood, ECSE, or elementary endorsement (rule 7.3.2.1). Each group must be led by staff qualified at least as a Teacher Associate.

Director

The program director must be at least 21; for programs licensed for 13-59 children, qualified at least as a Teacher Associate plus a VT Program Director Step One certificate or college coursework in program management and curriculum; for 60+ children, qualified as a Teacher with 24 additional months of experience plus a Step Two/Three director credential or 3 curriculum credits and 9 management credits (rules 7.3.1.2-7.3.1.4).

Worth knowing

Full ratio chart (rule 6.2.1.3): birth–18 mo 1:4/8; 18–30 mo 1:4/10; 24–36 mo 1:5/10; 32–42 mo 1:6/15; 36 mo–kindergarten 1:10/20; 1st grade and up 1:13/26. Age bands intentionally overlap; mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's requirements (rule 6.2.2).