Daycare violating child to teacher ratio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ratios vary by locality and you did not share the location of your daycare. If you think they are violating licensing requirements, contact the DSS. This is a non-negotiable requirement and I don’t understand why you have t already said something.

It is DC, I have checked the requirements online. I am afraid to create trouble as I do not plan to leave that daycare. It is the cheapest in the area and it is not that bad otherwise.

Then what’s the question?

The questions are: 1. how common that situation is? 2. is there anything I can do to change it? 3. it is really a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never happened at our daycare in the 2 years I was there. Staff were not dismissed in the evening unless ratios were met. The Director or Asst. Dir. would constantly go room to room in the evening and headcount and then motion that Ms. x could leave.

The ratios and age separation exist for a reason.

Agree with this. Staff should not be dismissed for the day until enough children have gone home so they can stay in-ratio. Another qualified adult (like the Director or Assistant Director or a floater) may need to sub in to meet ratio. It is a licensing violation to go out of ratio.

It's probably worth either mentioning to the Director that you've noticed a couple of times when there aren't enough staff for the number of children you've observed in the classroom, and you were curious about how they manage that. It might be telling how the Director responds - are they defensive, or glad you brought it to your attention? Ratios are a really critical child safety issue, and you have every right to know the center is meeting their stated ratios at all times throughout the day.

I have been in your shoes and knowing I needed to stay at that center I didn't want to make a stink. Looking back, I should have felt more confident in stating what I had seen and asking how the center was going to ensure they stayed in ratio at all times.

The more I think about it the less I am convinced that talking to the Director will change anything. I am sure she knows

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ratios vary by locality and you did not share the location of your daycare. If you think they are violating licensing requirements, contact the DSS. This is a non-negotiable requirement and I don’t understand why you have t already said something.

It is DC, I have checked the requirements online. I am afraid to create trouble as I do not plan to leave that daycare. It is the cheapest in the area and it is not that bad otherwise.

Then what’s the question?

The questions are: 1. how common that situation is? 2. is there anything I can do to change it? 3. it is really a big deal?

I don’t know how common it is. But it is a very big deal. If they’re violating ratios, what else do you think they’re violating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ratios vary by locality and you did not share the location of your daycare. If you think they are violating licensing requirements, contact the DSS. This is a non-negotiable requirement and I don’t understand why you have t already said something.

It is DC, I have checked the requirements online. I am afraid to create trouble as I do not plan to leave that daycare. It is the cheapest in the area and it is not that bad otherwise.

Then what’s the question?

The questions are: 1. how common that situation is? 2. is there anything I can do to change it? 3. it is really a big deal?

I don’t know how common it is. But it is a very big deal. If they’re violating ratios, what else do you think they’re violating?

See, that is what I am also getting paranoid about. I do not know the rules well, but since I started to google the whole issue I found that this daycare center lost its license once, years ago .

[Anonymous]

This happened a couple of times at my daycare. Some of the teachers didn't come in until 9, but they were flexible about the kids' arrival so if everyone happened to be on the earlier side one day the ratios would be off. I said something to the Director and she got on top of it, and now it isn't a problem anymore.

The combining of kids at the end of the day is pretty normal IF they have enough teachers to maintain the ratio. My daycare does that as well. But again, they maintain the ratios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op is crazy.
Centers ratios are 3 infants 1 teacher, family daycare is 2 for 1 teacher.

1 person can care 10 kids older than 2 years old. I would prefer 2 people there. Since there's two adults they can have 6 infants and 10 kids ages 2- 6 years old

you are wrong for 12-24, 8 kids and 2 adults, 9 kids and three adults it is listed on
https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/Providing%20Child%20Care%20FAQs%207-18-11A.pdf

That's DC.

I'm talking about Maryland rules. Small family daycare max is 8.
Large family daycare is up to 10-12. After 12 kids is a Center. You need to get a Daycare Center license to operate lots of children.

Centers ratios are 3 infants 1 teacher,
family daycare is 2 infants (under the age of 2 years old) for 1 teacher.

1 person can care 10 kids older than 2 years old. I would prefer 2 people there. Since there's two adults they can have 6 infants and 10 kids ages 2- 6 years old.

The comar from Maryland says that.

[Anonymous]

1 teacher can be alone with 12 kids. That's the law. But it's insane imo. Good thing I see 2 people with 12 kids or more in Centers.


If you keep pushing it they might hire another one because every assistant has their own schedule like 9-5, 7:30am - 4. The ones who come early leave early.

If the Director hires more people then he/she will charge, raise UP the tuitions.

[Anonymous]

How about you get a nanny or a small family daycare OP?

Too much stress for you and your child imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ratios vary by locality and you did not share the location of your daycare. If you think they are violating licensing requirements, contact the DSS. This is a non-negotiable requirement and I don’t understand why you have t already said something.

It is DC, I have checked the requirements online. I am afraid to create trouble as I do not plan to leave that daycare. It is the cheapest in the area and it is not that bad otherwise.

Failing to maintain proper ratios is bad.

+1 it's not normal or common. I've dropped in many times and never seen this. We don't have random kids join for a day or whatever either (but some daycares do allow drop-ins).

[Anonymous]

Virginia childcare law is worse. 1 teacher for 12 kids after 2 years old.
Maryland is good. DC 4 infants for 1 teacher for Centers is horrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what if they are together in 1 room. Everybody has priorities. Just come early if you want to see your child in its own room.
Who cares if its in a different room for 40 minutes

You have got to be joking, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A center isn't required to have many staff. In a family daycare is 1 person for 2 infants. And 1 for 8 toddlers. But ours has always 2 people there with 6 kids. The 3rd assistant can leave early to go home and pick up her elementary child.

If you don't like having the kids at pick up time in the same room then go pick up your child ON TIME. Whiny OP.


I hope they kicked you out for annoying. That's their right. They they end the contract anytime.

Says the horrible shady storefront daycare owner. Run.

I don't think the early educators like your kids...

Barely-licensed daycare owner has entered the chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have worked in daycares. It happens at some point in all daycares. You can complain to licensing.

They usually call that day and say they will be visiting. Even if they come and find ratios are off, they just send someone into the room while the inspector is there and the director will say what they plan to do to prevent, and they will submit a plan and that's it. It doesn't prevent it in practice from happening again.

If it's the end of the day, and there are 2 teachers with 9 kids, based on my experience, that is a good ratio for end of day.

I see it is common and probably teachers just really hate their job so they cannot wait to leave and no inspector can fix that

You seem to be trying to create problems here with your assumptions. Do you work? Do you leave on time? Do you routinely stay later at your job because of issues that you can’t control? If a parent is late picking up a kid, that will throw planned ratios off. So staff would then have to stay later until at least one kid gets picked up. How many of you are comfortable doing that at your own jobs — impacting your own schedules?

The solution is simple: The center should shorten the hours so that staff coverage and legal ratios can be maintained; raise salaries; and raise fees. If need be, they can dump a few kids, starting with the parents who need the longest periods of coverage. Yes, that will be harder on parents seeking lower cost day care that fits their work schedules— but thems the breaks, right?
Or maybe they can change their fee schedules— so that parents who need more than 6 hour time blocks are charged enough to pay for additional— hard-to-find — staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened a couple of times at my daycare. Some of the teachers didn't come in until 9, but they were flexible about the kids' arrival so if everyone happened to be on the earlier side one day the ratios would be off. I said something to the Director and she got on top of it, and now it isn't a problem anymore.

The combining of kids at the end of the day is pretty normal IF they have enough teachers to maintain the ratio. My daycare does that as well. But again, they maintain the ratios

Same at my daycare. I have no issue combining rooms but I would be worried if the ratios were anywhere near as bad as OP reports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish they paid better the assistants from centers. The government should fund more Education and Healthcare and social programs

they are paid plenty given an insane tuition rates

please elaborate on what "paid plenty" is? The higher the tuition doesn't necessarily mean better pay. The insurance on daycares is extremely high and that's what most of the money goes towards.