EEC

1
EECs Draft Regulations Overview

• A new look for Group, School-Age and Family Child
  Care Regulations
• Looking for your Input and Feedback

2
EEC Guiding Principles

• Put children and families first
• Be flexible and accountable
• Balance access, affordability, quality, and
  coordination/continuity of care
• Prioritize the needs of low-income families
• Build on strengths of current system minimize
  weaknesses maximize resources
• Seek input from staff and stakeholders
• Keep interested parties informed of progress
• Provide timely and comprehensive information to
  Board for decision-making

3
Building From The Work Of Our Legacy Agencies-
OCCS and ELS
Family Child Care
Current Regulations Promulgated 10/12/2003
Group School Age Child Care
Current Regulations have been In place since 1997
Standards implemented 2003 for Public Schools
Community Partnership Programs
Pre-K Standards
4
Our Approach

• Children and families first!
• Keep the Tri-lemma in balance
• Take the best from our current regulations and
  standards
• Align regulations across program type when
  possible
• Research regulations and standards from other
  states, NAEYC, Head Start, NIOST, NAFCC, and the
  military care system.
• Make regulations consistent with those of other
  state agencies where needed
• Carefully consider the effect of all changes on
  providers or programs,
• Maintain or increase quality.

5
Push and Pull

• Every change recommended by the committee was
  based on weighing its impact on each leg of the
  Tri-lemma.

Quality, Affordability and Access
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The Core Regulations
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What Is a CORE Regulation ?

• A Core regulation
• Works for children in all types of settings.
• Is flexible enough to be developmentally
  appropriate for a wide age range of children.
• Assures that children in Family Child Care, Group
  Child Care, and School-Age Child Care get the
  same good education and care.
• Aligns similar requirements across different care
  types.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
8
What Is a Program Specific Regulation?

• A program specific regulation
• Recognizes that there are differences in Family
  Child Care, Group Child Care, and School-Age
  Child Care programs.
• Addresses a unique feature of one type of care.
• Examples Follow

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
9
How Will the New Regulations Physically Look?
Core Reg.

• Family involvement is a Core Regulation that all
  types of care must follow.
• At the bottom of the page 7.08(9) is just for
  Family Child Care providers

Program Specific Requirements for only Family
Child Care
PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
10
Highlights, Changes, and What Stays the Same
11
New Definitions

• Individual titles are still used if a
  requirement (like qualifications) pertains to a
  specific position
• Lead Teacher
• Teacher
• Assistant Teacher
• Director I, II
• Program Administrator
• Site Coordinator
• Group Leader
• Assist. Group Leader
• Family Child Care Provider
• Certified FCC Assistant
• Regular FCC Assistant

• Educator is the new umbrella term referring to
  all early education and care staff in the draft
  regulations.
• It includes all FCC staff, all GCC staff, and all
  SACC staff. 
• The word educator makes it easier to read the
  regulations.
• And it's what early education and care staff do
  every day.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
12
The Proposed Regulations have Three Program Types

• Family Child Care Up to 10 children, infants to
  school-age, in a residence.
• Small Non-Residence Up to 10 children but not in
  a residence.
• Large Group 11 children (up to capacity)
  including both group and school-age under one
  license.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
13
Small Non-Residence Care
The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• EEC has developed a hybrid!
• Small non-residence care combines elements of
  family child care and group/school age child
  care. It creates new options for the care of a
  small number of unrelated children.

• Allows for ten or fewer children to receive care
  in a non-residence, such as a church, community
  center, or similar setting
• The regulations are less restrictive than group
  child care to reflect the nature of a smaller
  group
• Works well for the provider whose home may be
  unsuitable for family child care
• Works well for a community agency that needs a
  small on-site program for staff or clients

Community Services
PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
14
Definition of Family Child Care
The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• Current regulations for FCC limit the operation
  of a family child care home to an occupied
  residence. Family child care providers want some
  flexibility in this definition.

• Continue to allow family child care to operate in
  an occupied residence.
• Allow family child care to occur in a building
  attached to the residence of the licensee
  (garage).
• Allow family child care to occur in an unattached
  building on the land of the licensees primary
  residence

Continued on next slide
PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
15
Definition of Family Child Care

• Allow family child care to occur in a vacant unit
  in a duplex if the licensee resides in the other
  unit of the residence
• Allow family child care to occur in an unoccupied
  apartment in a residence of up to three stories
  (potential for three separate dwelling units) if
  the licensee lives in one of the units.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
16
Group Assignment

• Current regulations for GCC require that children
  be assigned to groups (classrooms) based solely
  on their chronological age. This does not always
  meet the needs of the children

The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• Provides the flexibility to assign children to
  classrooms according to their developmental needs
• Allows an older toddler to be moved into a
  preschool classroom under certain conditions
• Allows a child who is not ready to move into the
  next age group to stay in their current classroom
  under certain conditions

Continued on next slide
PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
17
Group Assignment

• Decisions for group assignment will be made on a
  combination of factors, including the childs
  chronological age, where the child is
  developmentally, parental input, and the ability
  of the child to fit into the proposed group.
• Providers and parents have been requesting this
  flexibilitywe have listened!

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
18
Family Groupings in Large Child Care
The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• Sometimes children do better in a small group of
  mixed ages. The proposed regulations would allow
  limited use of family groupings in a large
  group setting (group/school age child care) and
  small non-residence settings.

• Works well for non-traditional programs, like
  domestic violence womens shelters or back up
  child care
• Allows children going through a stressful period
  to be in smaller group with their older or
  younger siblings.
• Allows children with disabilities to grow and
  learn with their peers in smaller groups.
• Acknowledges that older and younger children can
  learn from each other in a family grouping
  setting

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
19
Supervision of Children in School-Age Programs

• Appropriate supervision of younger school-age
  children (ages 5-8 years) is very different from
  that of older school-age children (ages 9-13
  years). The current regulations do not
  differentiate between the needs of these two age
  groups.

The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• Continue to require programs to provide
  developmentally appropriate supervision to all
  school-age children
• Create two new categories younger school-age
  children and older school-age children
• Recognize that older school-age children should
  be allowed some independence appropriate to their
  age and developmental abilities.
• Give better guidance to programs around
  expectations for the supervision of the younger
  and the older school-age children.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
20
Alignment of Ratios and Groupings
The proposed regulation changes will accomplish
the following

• Current school age child regulations require a
  113 staff to child ratio.
• Current group child care regulations require a
  115 staff to child ratio for children 4 yrs. 9
  mos. of age or older but not yet enrolled in
  school.
• EEC is proposing to align these ratios by
  requiring 115 ratio for school age children.
• However, EEC is also proposing a 110 staff to
  child ratio if it is a mixed age range grouping
  of preschool and young school age children (up to
  age 9).

• Align the staff to child ratios across preschool
  and school age programs.
• Give programs that serve both preschool and
  school age children more staffing options.
• Create a new transitional grouping that meets the
  needs of older preschoolers and younger school
  age children.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
21
How adults interact with children affects healthy
development.
The proposed regulation change will accomplish
the following

• We all know this from the
• science of child development.
• EEC is proposing an entire
• section in the draft regulations
• that addresses the quality of
• adult/child interactions

• Promote interactions between
• adults and children that support
• the development of
• Self esteem,
• Self expression,
• Social competence,
• Independence, and
• School readiness.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
22
Administration of Medication

• Training in the 5 Rights of medication
  administration
• Training by a licensed health care practitioner
• Trained educator always on the premises
• All educators trained to recognize side effects

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
23
Progress Reports
Current FCC, SACC regulations focus communicating
concerns
but proposed regulations focus on GROWTH.

• Already required by GCC regulations
• Recognize the professional role of educators
• Communication with families about childrens
  strengths and needs
• Help children grow and learn by adapting the
  program

• EEC will
• Offer flexibility in the choice of report
  formats,
• Provide templates providers can use,
• Provide training in observation, documentation,
  and writing progress reports

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
24
Fall Zones for Outdoor Play
Impact absorbing material under swings, slides,
and structures were mandated in group child care
regulations in 1998.

• Playground accidents account for many trips to
  the emergency room.
• Based on national safety standards.
• Lots of technical assistance is available.
• There will be options for compliance.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
25
Transportation
If you provide or contract for transportation

• existing RMV requirements apply to all
• a written plan for safety and supervision of
  children
• appropriately licensed drivers
• car seats, safety carriers, restraints or seat
  belts
• emergency communication system

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
26
Family Child Care Policies, Plans, and
Notifications

• Recognize profession
• Formalize best practices
• Avoid common complaints due to miscommunication
• Support compliance through training and templates

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
27
Family Child Care Policies, Plans, and
Notifications

• Proposed Regulations
• Written Plans
• Plan for Child Guidance (currently within
  license application)
• Procedures to avoid the suspension or termination
  of a child
• Statement of Purpose
• Illness / Exclusion Policies (often in parent
  contract)
• Medication Administration Policies
• Transportation Plan, if applicable
• Written Notice
• Fees (often in parent contract)
• Program Schedule (holidays, closed days) (often
  in parent contract)
• that child educators are mandated reporters
• that the program is licensed by EEC (currently in
  parents enrollment packet)
• that parents may contact EEC regarding the
  programs compliance history, and EEC contact
  information (currently maintained on site by
  provider)
• the frequency of childrens progress reports
• childrens records procedures

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
28
Required Postings For FCC

• Current regulations
• Emergency numbers
• Current license
• Evacuation route
• Assistant certificates

• Proposed regulations
• Emergency numbers
• Current license
• Emergency and evacuation procedures
• EEC contact info
• Allergy info
• Menus
• Activity schedule
• Staff schedule
• Child guidance policy
• Location of health care policy and first aid kit

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
29
Educators Qualifications Will Stay the Same For
Now

• Currently EEC is not making any changes to any of
  the required qualifications for educators working
  in group, school age, or family programs.
• EEC is still in the early stages of developing
  competency-based qualifications as well as a
  system for on-going professional development.
• EEC is proposing some changes in orientation,
  training, and professional development to support
  our workforce.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
30
Building a Foundation for the Early Education and
Care Workforce

• As new IT systems become operational over time,
  EEC is proposing mandatory enrollment in a
  workforce registry to
• recognize the professionalism in our field by
  issuing credentials and
• provide much-needed data about our workforce.
• EEC is proposing enhanced professional
  development hours
• Family child care would need 10 hours per year
• Group and school age staff would need 5 to 20
  hours per year depending on how many hours they
  work.
• 25 must address diverse learners
• EEC is proposing a required orientation for all
  staff entering the field.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
31
An Opportunity For Educators And Families

• These new regulations will
• Give educators more flexibility without losing
  quality and accountability
• Help all educators grow as the field of early
  education and care evolves
• Standardize care for children across all settings
  and developmental stages
• Give educators more ways to improve access and
  continuity for children and families.

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Northeast
Western
Central
Metro Boston Central Office
Southeast Cape
Your Input on these Draft Regulations
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There are Two Ways to Give EEC Feedback

• There is an on-line survey at www.eec.state.ma.us
  specifically set up for this informal review
  process.
• And
• There is a special e-mail box, regreform_at_massmail.
  state.ma.us for general comments about the draft
  regulations as a whole.
• Tell us what you like about these draft
  regulations or point out areas you would like EEC
  to review and consider.

PLEASE NOTE These are DRAFT proposals for
further review and discussion over the next 6-8
months.
34
Provide your comments at
http//www.eec.state.ma.us/RegSurveyPublic/RSPIntr
o.aspx
35

• Comments continued

36

• Comments continued

This is a great idea!
37
Regulation Review ProcessTimeline

• Board provides input on alignment approach
  December 2005
• EEC develops draft regulations January
  2006-April 2007
• Intensive informal external review process
  May-July 2007
• Board vote to send out for public comment
  Fall 2007
• Implementation preparation
  Fall 2007
• Board vote on final regulations after revisions
  Winter 2007
• Technical assistance/training
  Spring/Summer 2008
• New regulations take effect
  Fall 2008

• Some regulations may be phased in over time

38
What Will Happen to my Comments?

• All the comments that EEC receives will be
  grouped together by subject area and reviewed by
  the Regulations committee and EECs Internal
  Quality Committee.
• All suggestions will be reviewed and help to
  inform changes to this draft.
• Where appropriate, changes in the draft
  regulations will be made. Other suggestions may
  result in changes in policy, technical
  assistance, or licensing procedures

39
We Will Move Forward Together!

• EEC is dedicated to moving forward with the early
  education and care community.
• This is an opportunity to give us guidance on the
  draft regulations.
• Your informal comments add value by improving the
  draft regulations.
• Our common goal is to begin the formal comment
  period this fall with the best possible draft
  regulations!
• Thank you.