Authority: IC 12-13-5-3

Affected: IC 12-17.2-4

Sec. 48. (a) Staff to child ratios must be maintained during the hours of operation.

(b) When there is a combination of ages within a group of children, caregivers shall determine the ratio required by the age of the youngest child in the group. This includes opening and closing times.

(c) When determining the staff to child ratios, count only persons responsible for and directly engaged in supervising and carrying out activities for children.

(d) Persons in the child care center with multiple roles, such as teacher/cook, teacher/director, or teacher/receptionist, are counted in staff to child ratios only while directly engaged with children.

(e) All children shall be under the direct supervision of a responsible caregiver at all times.

(f) Centers shall have a written policy that describes the steps caregivers shall take to correct inadequate ratios. Caregivers shall be aware of this policy.

(g) Caregivers shall promptly notify the director when ratios become deficient.

(h) The director or person in charge shall correct staff to child ratios immediately.

(i) Children of the director and staff members are counted in staff to child ratios and assigned to their appropriate age group.

(j) The center shall have at least two (2) adults present during the hours of operation.

(k) The center shall make arrangements so that if only one (1) adult is supervising a group of children, that adult has means available to communicate with other caregivers and summon assistance without leaving children unattended.

(l) The assignment of administrative, maintenance, and housekeeping duties must not interfere with the direct supervision of children.

(m) The center shall make an effort to have substitutes visit the child care center to become generally familiar with the children and program in advance of the time they may be called to substitute.

(Division of Family Resources; 470 IAC 3-4.7-48; filed Aug 11, 2003, 3:00 p.m.: 27 IR 131; readopted filed Oct 24, 2007, 11:25 a.m.: 20071121-IR-470070448RFA; readopted filed Aug 23, 2013, 3:36 p.m.: 20130918-IR-470130306RFA; readopted filed Nov 13, 2019, 11:56 a.m.: 20191211-IR-470190490RFA; filed Oct 31, 2025, 10:48 a.m.: 20251126-IR-470250369FRA)