Legislative Intent ✔✔ The Florida Statutes (F.S.) outline the legislative intent of the child
care regulations
also supports the research, which indicates that children in quality early childhood
education programs have better outcomes throughout their lives than children who are
not in such programs
The licensing standards established by the Department address the: ✔✔ Physical
environment (health, sanitation, safety, and physical surroundings)
Children in care (health, nutrition, and development)
Rules and Regulations ✔✔ a law, rule, ordinance, or other order prescribed by
authority, especially to regulate conduct. Rules and regulations exist to protect the
health and safety of children in out-of-home care.
The Department of Children and Families' Office of Child Care Regulation ✔✔ he
licensing authority and currently regulates licensed child care facilities, licensed family
day care homes, licensed large family child care homes, and licensed mildly ill facilities
in most counties in Florida
Child care provided between the hours of 6 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Monday ✔✔
weekend child care
Includes all owners, operators, employees, and volunteers working in a child care
facility ✔✔ child care personnel
Actively watching and directing children's activities within the same space, and
responding to the needs of each child while in care ✔✔ direct supervision
On-site administrator or individual who has the primary responsibility for the day-to-day
operation, supervision, and administration of a child care facility ✔✔ director
Directly supervised volunteers who participate in the federal program pursuant to 45
Code of Federal Regulations part 2552; they work with one or more children with
special or exceptional needs in child care programs ✔✔ foster grandparents
A space or room in which care is provided or classes are held, and where learning can
take place uninterrupted by outside distractions ✔✔ classroom/room/designated space
The boundaries that define a classroom space, which are constructed in a sturdy
manner and anchored so they are stable and secure and do not pose a threat of falling
over ✔✔ stable walls or barriers
,Means the Department of Children and Families ✔✔ department
The process of destroying or reducing organisms to a safe level ✔✔ sanitize
The person who is licensed to operate the child care facility ✔✔ owner
child care ✔✔ the care, protection, and supervision of a child for a period of less than 24
hours a day on a regular basis, which supplements parental care, enrichment, and
health supervision for the child, in accordance with his or her individual needs and for
which a payment, fee, or grant is made for care
main types of child care programs in Florida are ✔✔ Child Care Facilities
Specialized Child Care Mildly Ill Facilities
Family Day Care Homes
Large Family Child Care Homes
school-age child care program ✔✔ specific program providing care before and after
school or during school closures to school-age children exclusively.
must be licensed prior to operation and for continued operation, unless the program
demonstrates that it is exempt because it is located on a public/nonpublic school school
site
school-age child care program must follow ✔✔ Operated and staffed directly by that
school or through a formal agreement
Serving only the school-age children attending the school during the day
Following the standards set forth by the Florida Building Code State Requirements for
Public Educational Facilities
Every child care program is licensed? ✔✔ every year
What is the name of the DCF brochure on selecting a child care provider? ✔✔ Know
your childcare facility
Fines can be levied against a licensee that is out of compliance. ✔✔ true
Including a child with special needs in your program makes a positive impact on the
lives of many people? ✔✔ true
child care for the midly ill ✔✔ the care of children with short-term illness or symptoms of
illness or disability. Care is provided either as an exclusive service in a center
specialized for this purpose or as a component of other child care services offered in a
distinct part of a regularly licensed child care facility, for a period of less than 24 hours
per day
, specialized child care facilities ✔✔ are licensed programs that provide child care for
more than five mildly ill children unrelated to the operator, which receive a payment, fee,
or grant for any of the children receiving care, wherever operated, and whether or not
operated for profit. These programs were created by the Legislature in order to
implement standards, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health, specific to
caring for mildly ill children, such as those with the flu
drop in child care ✔✔ a child care arrangement where families occasionally leave their
child for no more than four hours but remain on the premises, such as child care at a
shopping mall. A communication system must be provided to the family to ensure they
can return immediately to the child if necessary.
evening child care ✔✔ child care provided during the evening hours, which are defined
as 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During evening child care, personnel must remain awake at all
times. When children are awake, child care personnel must provide direct supervision.
When children are sleeping, staff must be within sight and hearing of all children. While
children are sleeping, there must be enough staff to meet the staff-to-child ratios within
the building, on the same floor; and they must be available to respond, if needed. If a
program only provides evening child care, they are not required to provide outdoor
space. The program director is not required to have a Director Credential, nor do staff
need to have staff credentials.
access ✔✔ During the child care program's operational hours and the times the children
are in care, the program must allow parents, guardians, and the licensing authority
access to the program. A parent or guardian must have access to the child care
program in person and by telephone.
programs exempt from licensure ✔✔ Public and Non-Public Schools—School Day
Programs for Children Grades Six and Above
School-Age Programs That Meet Certain Criteria
Instructional/Tutorial Programs
Open Access Programs
National Membership Organizations That Meet Certain Criteria
Summer Day Camps and 24-hour Camps
Vacation Bible Schools
Transient Establishments (hotels, resorts, and similar establishments)
Non-Custodial In Home Care
Religious Exemption Pursuant To s. 402.316, F.S.
public and non public schools- school day ✔✔ school programs for preschool-age
children that are operated and staffed directly by the school and that meet age-
appropriate standards as adopted by the State Board of Education are exempt from
licensure. Also exempt are the integral programs offered by public schools for children
under three years of age who are eligible for participation in the program under
provisions of Public Law No. 94-142 or Public Law No. 99-457. These programs may