A. Use of a Director.
- (1) A provider may designate an individual to serve as the director of the child care home.
- (2) If an individual is not designated by the provider as the director, the provider shall be the director of the child care home.
- B. An individual designated as the director of a child care home shall meet the requirements of this regulation.
- C. The provider shall meet the requirements for qualifying as the director of a child care home.
D. Except when engaged in occasional child care home-related activities or away on leave, the director shall be present in the child care home during at least 1/2 of the operating hours of the home each week to:
- (1) Plan and supervise all aspects of the program for children;
- (2) Supervise the staff; and
- (3) Be available to staff, parents, and children.
E. Except as set forth at §F of this regulation, to qualify as a director in a large family child care home, an individual shall:
- (1) Be 21 years old or older;
- (2) Hold a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence, or have successfully completed at least 6 credits from an accredited college or university;
(3) Have successfully completed:
- (a) 9 clock hours of approved preservice training in communicating with staff, parents, and the public, or at least one academic college course for credit;
- (b) 3 semester hours or their equivalent of approved administrative training;
(c) Effective January 1, 2016:
- (i) 3 clock hours of approved training in ADA compliance; and
- (ii) Approved training in supporting breastfeeding practices; and
- (d) Effective January 1, 2020, approved basic health and safety training within 90 days of employment;
- (4) Have successfully completed 6 semester hours or 90 clock hours, or their equivalent, of approved preservice training, or hold the Child Development Associate National Credential that is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition;
- (5) Unless previously approved by the office to direct a child care program serving children younger than 2 years old, have completed 3 semester hours of approved training, or the equivalent, related to the care of children younger than 2 years old; and
- (6) Have completed 1 year of experience working directly with children in a registered child care home, licensed child care center, nursery school, church-operated school, or similar setting.
F. An individual is considered qualified as a director when that individual has:
- (1) Completed training specified at §E(3)(c) and (d) of this regulation;
(2) Received either:
- (a) Approval by the Department as a teacher for early childhood education, including nursery school through third grade, and has 6 semester hours in early childhood education; or
- (b) Certification by the Department or by any other state for early childhood education, including nursery school through third grade; and
- (3) Completed 3 semester hours of approved training, or the equivalent, related to the care of children younger than 2 years old.
G. A director shall:
- (1) Maintain the professional development plan received from the office;
(2) According to the professional development plan, complete approved continued training, at the rate of at least 12 clock hours per full year of service as a director, that consists of a:
- (a) Minimum of 6 clock hours of core of knowledge training; and
- (b) Maximum of 6 clock hours of elective training;
- (3) Document completion of the continued training on the professional development plan; and
- (4) Document that the health and safety training, as required by the office, is completed by each staff member by the end of each 12-month period, measured each calendar year.
Authority: Education Article, §§9.5-301—9.5-308, 9.5-310—9.5-312, 9.5-320, 9.5-321 and 9.5-414; Family Law Article, §§5-550—5-558; General Provisions Article, §4-333; Human Services Article, §1-202; Annotated Code of Maryland
Agency Note: Federal Statutory Reference — Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.);
Pro-Children Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. §6081 et; seq.);
Child Care Development Block Grant (45 CFR Parts 98 and 99 and 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);
Social Security Act §418 (42 U.S.C. 618)
Effective date: February 6, 2012 (39:2 Md. R. 142)
Regulation .02 amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 884)
Regulation .03A amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17); April 18, 2022 (49:8 Md. R. 500)
Regulation .03B amended effective April 14, 2014 (41:7 Md. R. 423); April 18, 2022 (49:8 Md. R. 500)
Regulation .04A amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)
Regulation .05E amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 884)
Regulation .05E—G amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)
Regulation .06 amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)
Regulation .06B amended effective June 24, 2013 (40:12 Md. R. 1043); July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 884)
Regulation .06F repealed effective June 24, 2013 (40:12 Md. R. 1043)
Regulation .06-1 adopted effective November 13, 2023 (50:22 Md. R. 977)
Regulation .07A amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)
Regulation .07B amended effective July 20, 2015 (42:14 Md. R. 884)
Regulation .08 amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)
Regulation .10B amended effective January 13, 2020 (47:1 Md. R. 17)