1. (a) Licensees shall have and implement written policies regarding:

   1. (1) A retention policy to prevent the suspension and expulsion of children, which includes:

      1. a. The steps the program will take to assist the child in maintaining enrollment;
      2. b. Ongoing communication with the parent or guardian and parent or guardian notification when the child’s enrollment cannot be maintained;
      3. c. The responsibilities of the program in response to the child’s behaviors; and
      4. d. Clear conditions, expectations, or steps under which the program will no longer maintain a child’s enrollment due to the child’s behaviors that pose a serious safety risk;
   2. (2) Children’s access to and use of television, video, and electronic devices;
   3. (3) The administration of medication to children;
   4. (4) Excluding children when they are ill, including symptoms, and when they might return;
   5. (5) The provision of meals and snacks, including when parents or guardians fail to send meals or snacks from home if the program does not provide meals or snacks; and
   6. (6) The responsibility of staff and volunteers for supervision of children during field trips and water activities, which includes knowing who is in charge, the identity and number of the children they are responsible for, and the frequency of conducting and documenting head counts of children.
2. (b) The policy regarding a retention plan required in (a)(1) above shall only apply when addressing a child's behavior and not a parent’s or guardian's misconduct or the parent’s or guardian's failure to comply with other child care rules or laws.

3. (c) Programs operating exclusively outdoors shall have written policies to include:

   1. (1) The conditions when the program will not operate due to inclement weather, including excessive heat, extreme cold, or when there is a severe weather alert;
   2. (2) The expectation of parents or guardians to provide appropriate clothing according to the season and current weather conditions; and
   3. (3) How child care staff will monitor children regarding their comfort including their warmth or signs of overheating and the action child care staff will take in response to children’s comfort related to the weather conditions.
4. (d) The program shall provide all written policies to parents or guardians at enrollment.
5. (e) In addition to the requirements for policies and procedures above, the program manager shall provide all child care staff with all policies and procedures upon hire, and ensure that they are familiar with them and comply with them, as applicable.

Source. #2664, eff 3-30-84, EXPIRED 3-30-90 New. #4871, eff 7-24-90; ss by #5203, eff 8-16-91; ss by #6558, INTERIM, eff 8-16-97, EXPIRED: 12-14-97 New. #6719, eff 3-25-98; ss by #7294, eff 5-26-00; ss by #9160, INTERIM, eff 5-26-08; ss by #9310, eff 11-23-08 (from He-C 4002.18); ss by #12046, INTERIM, eff 11-19-16; ss by #12174, EMERGENCY RULE, eff 5-17-17; ss by #12415, eff 11-6-17; ss by #13373, eff 4-22-22; ss by #14356, eff 9-22-25, EXPIRES: 9-22-35 (formerly He-C 4002.16)