a) Students and youth aides may assist in the care of children provided that the student and youth aides:
- 1) Are 14 years of age or older and at least five years older than the oldest child in the group;
- 2) Assist only under the direct supervision of an early childhood teacher or a school-age worker; and
- 3) Are not counted for purposes of maintaining staff/child ratios, except as provided in Section 407.160(d) below.
b) The day care center shall maintain records on each student or youth aide that include:
- 1) The full name, home address and home telephone number of the student or youth aide.
- 2) A copy of the current school medical examination form for the student or youth aide.
- 3) The name of the person at the day care center who is responsible for supervising the student or youth aide.
4) When a student is placed as part of a practicum or vocational training program, or when a youth aide is placed as part of an agency leadership training program, the record shall also include:
- A) The name of the school or agency arranging the placement.
- B) The name, title and telephone number of the school or agency staff member responsible for the participation of the student or youth aide.
5) A plan for the participation of the student or youth aide shall be agreed upon in writing.
- A) The plan shall be signed by the participant, the supervising child care staff member and the school or agency staff member.
- B) The plan shall specify duties and hours and indicate the person and group to which the student or youth aide is assigned while in the center.
- 6) There shall be a written agreement regarding procedures for terminating an unsatisfactory student or youth aide.
- c) Employment or use of student or youth aides shall be in compliance with the Illinois Child Labor Law [820 ILCS 205] and the child labor provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 214).
d) Students or youth aides may be counted as assistants for purposes of maintaining staff/child ratios when all of the following conditions are met:
- 1) They have completed one year of a vocational child care training program; and
- 2) They are 16 years of age or older and at least five years older than the oldest child in the group; and
- 3) They regularly work fewer than four hours per day, except during vacation periods when they may work up to six hours per day; and
- 4) The number of students or youth aides does not exceed one-third of the total staff required to meet the staff-child ratio requirements at any one time.
- e) Students or youth aides shall not be considered as part of the attendance count when determining compliance with the capacity requirements.
(Source: Added at 22 Ill. Reg. 1728, effective January 1, 1998)