Authority: IC 12-13-5-3

Affected: IC 12-17.2-4-14.5

Sec. 49. (a) Age grouping policies apply at all times except as in subsection (e).

(b) When mixing age groups, younger children shall be protected from aggressive older children.

(c) Caregivers may care for preschool children in the same group or area.

(d) Centers may group children thirty (30) to thirty-six (36) months of age with children three (3) years of age.

(e) Caregivers may group children three (3) years of age through school age together during the first and last hour of the child care center's operation, provided the group size does not exceed the maximum group size for the youngest children in the group.

(f) Caregivers shall care for school age children in a clearly defined separate room/area. When mixing age groups, the group may not be larger than the square foot capacity of the room.

(g) The maximum number of children per class is also determined by available space.

(h) Centers licensed before the effective date of this rule may elect to have a maximum group size of fifteen (15) for children two (2) years of age, provided they use the same room.

(i) Kindergarten age children may be mixed with either preschool or school age groups.

(j) The maximum group size permitted is subject to the exceptions found in IC 12-17.2-4-14.5(l) and IC 12-17.2-4-14.5(m).

(Division of Family Resources; 470 IAC 3-4.7-49; filed Aug 11, 2003, 3:00 p.m.: 27 IR 131; errata filed Nov 7, 2003, 2:45 p.m.: 27 IR 1184; 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)