Child Care Facility Handbook
October 2021
This handbook is intended to be used in conjunction with Sections 402.26-402.319, Florida
Statutes, and incorporated by reference in rule 65C-22.001, Florida Administrative Code.
,Contents
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Child Care Programs Subject to Regulation ................................................................. 6
1.2 Definitions .................................................................................................................... 6
2 General Requirements .......................................................................................................11
2.1 License Application Process or Renewal ....................................................................11
2.2 Minimum Age Requirements .......................................................................................12
2.3 Ratios .........................................................................................................................12
2.3.1 Mixed Age Groups ...............................................................................................12
2.4 Supervision .................................................................................................................12
2.4.1 General Supervision Requirements .....................................................................12
2.4.2 Nap time Supervision ...........................................................................................13
2.4.3 Evening Supervision ............................................................................................13
2.4.4 Meal time Supervision..........................................................................................13
2.4.5 Water Activity Supervision ...................................................................................13
2.5 Transportation.............................................................................................................14
2.5.1 Driver Requirements ............................................................................................14
2.5.2 Transportation Log ...............................................................................................15
2.5.3 Emergency Care Plans ........................................................................................16
2.5.4 Vehicle Requirements ..........................................................................................16
2.5.5 Seat Belt/Child Restraints ....................................................................................17
2.6 Planned Activities .......................................................................................................18
2.7 Field Trip Activities ......................................................................................................19
2.8 Child Discipline ...........................................................................................................19
3 Physical Environment.........................................................................................................20
3.1 General Health and Safety Requirements ...................................................................20
3.2 Toxic/Hazardous Material/Firearms/Weapons.............................................................22
3.3 Rooms Occupied by Children .....................................................................................22
3.3.1 Lighting ................................................................................................................22
3.3.2 Windows and Screens .........................................................................................22
3.3.3 Temperature and Ventilation ................................................................................22
3.4 Licensed Capacity.......................................................................................................22
3.4.1 Licensed Capacity ...............................................................................................22
3.4.2 Indoor Square Footage/Usable Floor Space ........................................................23
3.4.3 Multipurpose Rooms ............................................................................................23
3.4.4 Outdoor Square Footage .....................................................................................24
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, 3.5 Outdoor Play Area ......................................................................................................24
3.6 Napping/Sleeping Requirements.................................................................................24
3.6.1 Bedding and Linens .............................................................................................25
3.6.2 Nap/Sleep Space .................................................................................................25
3.6.3 Crib Requirements ...............................................................................................25
3.6.4 Safe Sleep ...........................................................................................................26
3.7 Restrooms and Bath Facilities ....................................................................................26
3.8 Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness..................................................................27
3.8.1 Operable Phone...................................................................................................27
3.8.2 Fire Safety ...........................................................................................................27
3.8.3 Exit Areas ............................................................................................................27
3.8.4 Fire Drills .............................................................................................................27
3.8.5 Emergency Preparedness....................................................................................28
3.8.6 After a Fire, Man-made, or Natural Disaster .........................................................29
3.8.7 Emergency Procedures .......................................................................................29
3.9 Food Preparation/Food Service ..................................................................................29
3.9.1 Food Preparation Area.........................................................................................29
3.9.2 Food Storage .......................................................................................................30
3.9.3 Food Safety .........................................................................................................31
3.9.4 Dishwashing and Sanitization ..............................................................................33
3.9.5 Food Handling .....................................................................................................34
3.9.6 Breastmilk, Infant Formula, and Food ..................................................................35
3.9.7 Bottle Warming ....................................................................................................36
3.9.8 Drinking Water .....................................................................................................36
3.10 Sanitation ....................................................................................................................36
3.10.1 Handwashing .......................................................................................................36
3.10.2 Diapering Requirements ......................................................................................37
3.11 Indoor Equipment .......................................................................................................38
3.12 Outdoor Equipment .....................................................................................................38
4 Training ..............................................................................................................................39
4.1 Beginning Training ......................................................................................................39
4.2 Training Requirements ................................................................................................40
4.2.1 Mandated Introductory Training ...........................................................................40
4.2.2 Early Literacy Training .........................................................................................40
4.2.3 Safe Sleep/ Shaken Baby Syndrome Training .....................................................41
4.2.4 First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) ............................................41
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, 4.2.5 Fire Extinguisher Training ....................................................................................42
4.2.6 Transportation Training ........................................................................................42
4.2.7 Annual In-Service Training ...................................................................................42
4.3 Break in Service..........................................................................................................43
4.4 Training Exemptions ...................................................................................................43
4.4.1 Competency Examination Exemptions .................................................................43
4.4.2 Educational Exemptions ......................................................................................44
4.4.3 Part II Exemption .................................................................................................44
4.5 Documentation of Training ..........................................................................................44
4.6 Staff Credentials .........................................................................................................45
4.6.1 Calculating Number of Credentialed Personnel Necessary ..................................45
4.6.2 Training Documentation .......................................................................................46
4.6.3 Staff Credential Renewal .....................................................................................46
4.7 Director Credential ......................................................................................................46
4.7.1 Director Credential Requirements for Before-School and/or After-School Sites
Only 47
4.7.2 Director Credential Renewal ................................................................................48
4.8 Training Providers .......................................................................................................48
4.8.1 Part I and Part II Training Providers .....................................................................48
4.8.2 Florida Birth through Five and School-Age FCCPC Child Care Professional
Credential Training Program Providers ..............................................................................49
4.8.3 Director Credential Training Providers ............................................................50
5 Background Screening .......................................................................................................51
5.1 Initial Screening ..........................................................................................................51
5.2 Re-Screening ..............................................................................................................52
6 Health Requirements .........................................................................................................53
6.1 Communicable Disease Control ..................................................................................53
6.1.1 Isolation Area .......................................................................................................54
6.1.2 Outbreaks ............................................................................................................54
6.2 First Aid Kit Minimum Requirements ...........................................................................55
6.3 Emergency Telephone Numbers.................................................................................55
6.4 Accident/Incident Notification ......................................................................................55
6.5 Medication ..................................................................................................................56
7 Record Keeping .................................................................................................................57
7.1 Immunization Records ................................................................................................59
7.2 Student Health Records ..............................................................................................60
7.3 Enrollment Information ................................................................................................61
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October 2021
This handbook is intended to be used in conjunction with Sections 402.26-402.319, Florida
Statutes, and incorporated by reference in rule 65C-22.001, Florida Administrative Code.
,Contents
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Child Care Programs Subject to Regulation ................................................................. 6
1.2 Definitions .................................................................................................................... 6
2 General Requirements .......................................................................................................11
2.1 License Application Process or Renewal ....................................................................11
2.2 Minimum Age Requirements .......................................................................................12
2.3 Ratios .........................................................................................................................12
2.3.1 Mixed Age Groups ...............................................................................................12
2.4 Supervision .................................................................................................................12
2.4.1 General Supervision Requirements .....................................................................12
2.4.2 Nap time Supervision ...........................................................................................13
2.4.3 Evening Supervision ............................................................................................13
2.4.4 Meal time Supervision..........................................................................................13
2.4.5 Water Activity Supervision ...................................................................................13
2.5 Transportation.............................................................................................................14
2.5.1 Driver Requirements ............................................................................................14
2.5.2 Transportation Log ...............................................................................................15
2.5.3 Emergency Care Plans ........................................................................................16
2.5.4 Vehicle Requirements ..........................................................................................16
2.5.5 Seat Belt/Child Restraints ....................................................................................17
2.6 Planned Activities .......................................................................................................18
2.7 Field Trip Activities ......................................................................................................19
2.8 Child Discipline ...........................................................................................................19
3 Physical Environment.........................................................................................................20
3.1 General Health and Safety Requirements ...................................................................20
3.2 Toxic/Hazardous Material/Firearms/Weapons.............................................................22
3.3 Rooms Occupied by Children .....................................................................................22
3.3.1 Lighting ................................................................................................................22
3.3.2 Windows and Screens .........................................................................................22
3.3.3 Temperature and Ventilation ................................................................................22
3.4 Licensed Capacity.......................................................................................................22
3.4.1 Licensed Capacity ...............................................................................................22
3.4.2 Indoor Square Footage/Usable Floor Space ........................................................23
3.4.3 Multipurpose Rooms ............................................................................................23
3.4.4 Outdoor Square Footage .....................................................................................24
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, 3.5 Outdoor Play Area ......................................................................................................24
3.6 Napping/Sleeping Requirements.................................................................................24
3.6.1 Bedding and Linens .............................................................................................25
3.6.2 Nap/Sleep Space .................................................................................................25
3.6.3 Crib Requirements ...............................................................................................25
3.6.4 Safe Sleep ...........................................................................................................26
3.7 Restrooms and Bath Facilities ....................................................................................26
3.8 Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness..................................................................27
3.8.1 Operable Phone...................................................................................................27
3.8.2 Fire Safety ...........................................................................................................27
3.8.3 Exit Areas ............................................................................................................27
3.8.4 Fire Drills .............................................................................................................27
3.8.5 Emergency Preparedness....................................................................................28
3.8.6 After a Fire, Man-made, or Natural Disaster .........................................................29
3.8.7 Emergency Procedures .......................................................................................29
3.9 Food Preparation/Food Service ..................................................................................29
3.9.1 Food Preparation Area.........................................................................................29
3.9.2 Food Storage .......................................................................................................30
3.9.3 Food Safety .........................................................................................................31
3.9.4 Dishwashing and Sanitization ..............................................................................33
3.9.5 Food Handling .....................................................................................................34
3.9.6 Breastmilk, Infant Formula, and Food ..................................................................35
3.9.7 Bottle Warming ....................................................................................................36
3.9.8 Drinking Water .....................................................................................................36
3.10 Sanitation ....................................................................................................................36
3.10.1 Handwashing .......................................................................................................36
3.10.2 Diapering Requirements ......................................................................................37
3.11 Indoor Equipment .......................................................................................................38
3.12 Outdoor Equipment .....................................................................................................38
4 Training ..............................................................................................................................39
4.1 Beginning Training ......................................................................................................39
4.2 Training Requirements ................................................................................................40
4.2.1 Mandated Introductory Training ...........................................................................40
4.2.2 Early Literacy Training .........................................................................................40
4.2.3 Safe Sleep/ Shaken Baby Syndrome Training .....................................................41
4.2.4 First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) ............................................41
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, 4.2.5 Fire Extinguisher Training ....................................................................................42
4.2.6 Transportation Training ........................................................................................42
4.2.7 Annual In-Service Training ...................................................................................42
4.3 Break in Service..........................................................................................................43
4.4 Training Exemptions ...................................................................................................43
4.4.1 Competency Examination Exemptions .................................................................43
4.4.2 Educational Exemptions ......................................................................................44
4.4.3 Part II Exemption .................................................................................................44
4.5 Documentation of Training ..........................................................................................44
4.6 Staff Credentials .........................................................................................................45
4.6.1 Calculating Number of Credentialed Personnel Necessary ..................................45
4.6.2 Training Documentation .......................................................................................46
4.6.3 Staff Credential Renewal .....................................................................................46
4.7 Director Credential ......................................................................................................46
4.7.1 Director Credential Requirements for Before-School and/or After-School Sites
Only 47
4.7.2 Director Credential Renewal ................................................................................48
4.8 Training Providers .......................................................................................................48
4.8.1 Part I and Part II Training Providers .....................................................................48
4.8.2 Florida Birth through Five and School-Age FCCPC Child Care Professional
Credential Training Program Providers ..............................................................................49
4.8.3 Director Credential Training Providers ............................................................50
5 Background Screening .......................................................................................................51
5.1 Initial Screening ..........................................................................................................51
5.2 Re-Screening ..............................................................................................................52
6 Health Requirements .........................................................................................................53
6.1 Communicable Disease Control ..................................................................................53
6.1.1 Isolation Area .......................................................................................................54
6.1.2 Outbreaks ............................................................................................................54
6.2 First Aid Kit Minimum Requirements ...........................................................................55
6.3 Emergency Telephone Numbers.................................................................................55
6.4 Accident/Incident Notification ......................................................................................55
6.5 Medication ..................................................................................................................56
7 Record Keeping .................................................................................................................57
7.1 Immunization Records ................................................................................................59
7.2 Student Health Records ..............................................................................................60
7.3 Enrollment Information ................................................................................................61
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