Wisconsin

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

Each administrator, center director, and child care worker must participate in at least 15 hours of continuing education annually (DCF 251.05(4)(c)); staff working fewer than 8 months per year need 2 hours per month of employment. All employees in regular contact with children must obtain infant/child CPR certification and pediatric first aid training within 3 months of starting work.

Lead teacher

A child care teacher must be at least 18, have completed high school or its equivalent, have at least 240 hours of experience as an assistant child care teacher (or equivalent approved setting), and before assuming the position complete entry-level early childhood coursework (e.g., 4 ECE credits, 2 approved non-credit courses, a Registry credential, or an ECE degree/diploma) (DCF 251.05(3)(f)).

Director

A center director for a program serving 50 or fewer children must be at least 21, have a high school diploma or equivalent, at least 240 hours of experience as a teacher or assistant teacher in a group center, and complete preservice training per Table 251.05A; directors of programs serving 51+ children must instead have at least 2 years of experience as a child care teacher or center director (DCF 251.05(3)(e)).

Worth knowing

Current Table DCF 251.055: birth–18 mo 1:4/8; 18 mo–2.5 yr 1:7/14; 2.5–3 yr 1:8/16; 3–4 yr 1:10/20; 4–5 yr 1:13/26; 5+ yr 1:18/36. Note: 2025 Wis. Act 15 amends the table effective 8/1/2027 to birth–2 yr 1:4/8 and 2–2.5 yr 1:6/12 (other rows unchanged), so the 1:7 toddler tier is time-limited. Mixed groups containing children under 18 months are capped at 8.