Daycare is an essential service for parents who need to ensure their children’s safety while they are not around to supervise them. In fact, high-quality daycare can effectively improve the development of social and communication skills of younger children.
In this article, you will understand the requirements and procedures to obtain a daycare license in Florida.
How Do You Get a Daycare License in Florida? ā Full WalkthroughĀ Ā
Aiming to protect the health and welfare of children subject to daycare, state legislature developed a regulatory framework to “promote the development of child care options in the private sector and disseminate information that will assist the public in determining appropriate child care options.”
Florida Statutes Ā§402.301 establishes” statewide minimum standards for:
- The care and protection of children in child care facilities
- To ensure maintenance of these standards, and
- To approve county administration and enforcement to regulate conditions in such facilities through a program of licensing”
Accordingly, daycare facilities must meet specific requirements to qualify for approval. While the primary requirements vary slightly from one county to another, the best strategy to ensure full legal compliance from day one is to work with an expert Florida attorney.Ā
Provider and Child RatiosĀ
To ensure the children are adequately supervised and given the attention they deserve, Florida law established a ratio between the number of workers to be present at the licensed premises per child.
The statutory ratio varies according to the age of the children. While there are no statutory rules regulating maximum group sizes, it is essential to avoid an excessive number of children present at a single time regardless of the ratio of caregivers.
For children between the age of six to nine weeks, the provider-children ratio is 4:1. The following ratios apply for other age groups:
- 18 months ā 6:1
- 27 months ā 11:1
- 3 years ā 15:1
- 4 years ā 20:1
- 5 years and older ā 25:1
Smaller facilities also have specific ratio requirements. If the daycare facility is established in a residence, the provider can only have a maximum of ten children not older than five being preschool age (including the provider’s own children under 13 years old).
Worker EligibilityĀ Ā
Daycare workers must be at least 21 years or older and demonstrate good moral character. Before obtaining a license, they must meet specific training requirements according to different categories.Ā
The first licensing category applies to “Child Care Personnel.” In such cases, applicants must complete 40 hours of training approved by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), pass a competency exam, and complete at least ten hours of in-service training.Ā
Volunteers or daycare workers who provide less than 40 hours of service in licensed premises are exempted as long as they perform under the constant supervision of a licensed daycare professional.
The second licensing category is the “Family Home Daycare,” requiring applicants to complete 30 hours of DBPR-approved training, pass an exam, and receive at least ten hours of in-service training each year.
The last category applies to “Large Family Child Care” workers, which must complete 40 hours of DBPR-approved training, pass the applicable exam, and go through at least ten hours of supervised training each year.
Florida Daycare Licensing ā Immediately Seek Expert Legal GuidanceĀ
Navigating the complex rules to obtain a Florida daycare license can be an overwhelming experience. Contact Attorney Romy B. Jurado today by calling (305) 921-0976 or emailing [email protected] to find the best licensing strategy for your case.
