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Chapter Three: Supervising Preschoolers
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New Staff Orientation – Working With Preschoolers
Staff:child ratios for child care center and group homes in Pennsylvania
What’s the ratio?
Appropriate staff:child ratios (the number
of adults to the number of children),
greatly influences quality care for children.
In Pennsylvania, the following staff:child
ratio guidelines apply for supervising
preschool aged children, including when
ages are mixed.
Defining age:
First, review age definitions for clearly
defined ratio guidelines.
Infant – A child from birth to 1 year of age.
Young toddler – A child from 1 to 2 years
of age.
Older toddler – A child from 2 to 3 years
of age.*
Preschool child – A child from 3 years of age
to the date the child enters kindergarten in a
public or private school system.*
Young school-age child – A child who
attends kindergarten to the date the child
enters the 4th grade of a public or private
school system.
Older school-age child – A child who
attends the 4th grade of a public or private
school system through 15 years of age.
*Note: A preschool child is a child from 3
years of age to the date the child enters
kindergarten in a public or private school
system. A child is 36 months of age on
his or her 3rd birthday and therefore is of
preschool age.
Child care centers – when children are
grouped in similar age levels
Note: Children from 3 years of age to the date they enter
kindergarten in a public or private school system are
considered preschool age, hence three, four, and five year
olds are considered preschool, a similar age group.
Similar age
level
Ratio, 1 staff Maximum
person per:
group size
Total staff
required for
maximum
group size
Age three years 10 children
20 children 2 adults
Age four years
10 children
20 children 2 adults
Age five years
10 children
20 children 2 adults
Child care centers – in mixed-age
preschool programs
Note: In mixed-age groups for preschoolers, the age of the
youngest child in the group determines the staff:child ratio
and maximum group size, based on the ration for similar
age levels.
Mixed age
grouping
Infant/
preschool
Young toddler/
preschool
Older toddler/
preschool
Preschool/
young or older
school-age
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Ratio, 1 staff Maximum
person per:
group size
Total staff
required for
maximum
group size
4 children
8 children
2 adults
5 children
10 children
2 adults
6 children
12 children
2 adults
10 children
20 children 2 adults
extension.psu.edu/youth/betterkidcare
New Staff Orientation – Working With Preschoolers, Chapter Three: Supervising Preschoolers
Group child care day homes –
when children are grouped in similar
age levels
Group child day care homes –
in mixed preschool ages
Note: In mixed-age groups for preschoolers, the age
of the youngest child in the group determines the
staff:child ratio and maximum group size, based on the
ration for similar age levels.
Note: Children from 3 years of age to the date they enter
kindergarten in a public or private school system are
considered preschool age, hence three, four, and five
year olds are considered preschool, a similar age group.
Similar
age level
Age three
years
Age four
years
Age five
years
Ratio,
1 staff
person per:
Maximum
group size
Total staff
required for
maximum
group size
10 children
12 children
2 adults
10 children
12 children
2 adults
10 children
12 children
2 adults
Mixed age
grouping
Infant/
preschool
Young
toddler/
preschool
Older
toddler/
preschool
Young
school age/
preschool
Older
school age/
preschool
Ratio,
1 staff
Maximum
person per: group size
Total staff
required for
maximum
group size
4 children
12 children
3 adults
5 children
12 children
3 adults
6 children
12 children
2 adults
10 children
12 children
2 adults
10 children
12 children
2 adults
Sources:
Pennsylvania Code Chapter 3270. Child Day Care Centers
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3270/chap3270toc.html
Pennsylvania Code Chapter 3280. Group Child Day Care Homes
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3280/chap3280toc.html
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Supported by funds from the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, jointly overseen by the Departments of Human Services and Education.
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing
employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and
other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html
Claudia C. Mincemoyer, Ph.D.,
Better Kid Care Program Director
343 North Science Park Road Suite 208
State College, PA 16803
© 2015 The Pennsylvania State University
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