(j) When a school-age child care program is in operation, an adequate number of qualified staff must be on duty to protect the health and safety of the children in care.

(k) The supervision ratios are as follows:

1. (1) for a child of school-age through the age of nine years old:

   1. (i) there must be one teacher for every 10 children;
   2. (ii) the maximum group size is 20 children.

2. (2) for children between the ages of 10 years old and 12 years old:

   1. (i) there must be one teacher for every 15 children;

   2. (ii) the maximum group size is 30 children.

      (l) Group size and mixing different age children within groups.

3. (1) Group size refers to the number of children cared for together as a unit. Group size is used to determine the minimum teacher/child ratio based upon the age of the children in the group.
4. (2) Group size must be maintained in common areas of the building and grounds.
5. (3) Groups of children may not be mixed together to use outdoor play areas, exercise areas, gym rooms or other common areas of the center unless, the space is large enough to accommodate multiple groups which must be kept separate.
6. (4) When a school-age child care program cares for children in groups including children both over and under 10 years of age, the teacher/child ratio used must be that ratio applicable to the youngest child in the group.

(o) The director must approve all plans for field trips, including the type of activity, development needs of children and whether there is the need for additional staff to provide adequate supervision. Such plans must take into consideration the developmental needs of the children.

1. (1) No child can be released from the school-age child care program to any person other than his or her parent(s), person currently designated in writing by such parent to receive the child, or any other person authorized by law to take custody of a child.
2. (2) No child can be released from the school-age child care program unsupervised except upon written permission of the child's parent. Such permission must be acceptable to the school-age child care program and should take into consideration such factors as the child's age and maturity, proximity to his or her home, and safety of the neighborhood.

3. (3) When transportation is provided as a service by the program, no child can be released from the day care program directly to the child’s home or other destination without first verifying that the parent or person(s) designated by the parent to receive the child is present at that destination to receive the child.

   (q) Visitor control procedures.

4. (1) Each school-age child care program shall require any and all visitors to the facility to:

   1. (i) sign in upon entry to the premises;
   2. (ii) indicate in writing the date of the visit and the time of entry to the facility;
   3. (iii) clearly state in writing the purpose of the visit; and
   4. (iv) sign out upon departure from the facility indicating in writing the time of departure.
5. (2) Each school-age child care program shall establish written rules and policies as are necessary to provide for monitoring and control of visitors to protect the health, safety and welfare of children in care.

(p) Releasing children from care.

(s) When bathrooms are exclusively used by the children at the school age child care program, children may go to the bathroom independently under the following circumstances:

1. (1) the bathroom entrance is within sight of the child care space or activity area being used at the time the child asks to use the bathroom; and
2. (2) the child has permission from the teacher; and
3. (3) a plan is followed that allows one child at a time to use the bathroom; and
4. (4) there is a plan followed that requires a teacher to be mindful of the time elapsing since the child left to use the bathroom; and
5. (5) that a teacher locate the child using the bathroom, if that child does not return to the group after a reasonable time period has elapsed.