Reply to Daycare violating child to teacher ratio

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.

[b]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[/b][/quote]

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.[/quote]

OP says 9 kids with 2 teachers. That's normal because most kids are after 2 years old.

Or just don't send your kid to a Center. They maintain schedules.
If a teacher/staff comes early to work then they leave early 7:30am- 4pm for example.

If you want the Director to have more staff then they will raise the child's weekly tuition, deposit and parents needs to pay because it will be in the contract. I try to come early like 5 or 5:30pm.

Some centers have schedules like parents-director agree to drop off time and pick up time so the center have the appropriate staff. Not every staff will be at the center at 7am[/quote]

OP said: "all kids whose parents have not picked them up yet (12-36 and up sometimes) in one room My husband count 12 kids of various ages and only 2 teachers present."   That is the egregious ratio violation that would concern me.  My daycare doesn't *have* 36 kids of all ages so that's not a concern.  The last time they combined classes, there were 6 kids 0-4 waiting to be picked up, and four staff members looking after them.  I maintain that there's no issue combining classes if ratios are maintained and my daycare has no problems doing this.  Whether OP feels her kids are being safely cared for vs whether she can pay more is her risk assessment to make, but I'm just telling her that my daycare (also in DC) does not have the problems she's reporting and which aspects of those problems would concern me.[/quote]

OP, you should call DC's licensing office.  You can do it and remain anonymous to the program. Adult-child ratios are sacrosanct in child care.  A program should NEVER be out of compliance, not even for a minute.  A classroom can have a teacher out of the room but on site and accessible (like using the bathroom, running down to the office to get something).  I have worked in child care programs, and we take ratios very seriously.  On a bad weather day, for example, if some teachers are running late because of the road conditions, digging out their cars, the program won't let the parents drop off and leave the premises until enough teachers are present to meet ratio.

A program that doesn't take ratios really seriously is a sketchy program.  You should report them, so they'll get a licensing visit, and maybe that will scare them into compliance.

Here are the ratio requirements for DC: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/documents/Child%20Development%20Center%20Licensing%20Orientation%20Webinar%20%28Oct.%2010%2C%202018%29.pdf  On page 30 of this slide deck. 
ratio is 1 teacher to 4 kids for ages o to 30 months in DC
the group size requirement for ages 0-24months  is 8 children, 2 teachers
the group size for ages 24-30 months is 12 children, 3 teachers.

Here is the submit a complaint info: 
https://osse.dc.gov/service/licensing-and-compliance
Complaints and Unusual Incident Reporting
How can I report a complaint or unusual incident at a child care center?

To make a complaint about child care services call the Complaint Hotline at (202) 727-2993 or send an email to OSSE.ChildcareComplaints@dc.gov. Complaints may also be faxed to the Licensing and Compliance Unit at (202) 727-7295.

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