Child to Staff Ratios
One of the most important quality indicators for child care centers is the number of children compared to the number of staff -- its staff to child ratio. The fewer children served by each staff member is critical to higher quality care.
North Carolina considers the staff to child ratio, in addition to other environmental factors, when assigning points in the program standards component of a program's star rated license. The following chart shows the minimum ratio requirements for different age groups. Also included are the staff to child ratios for those centers that achieve national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Family child care homes do not have staff to child ratios because, by definition, they are staffed by one person. Refer to the definition of a family child care home for the number of children permitted per program.
Small centers in a residence may be licensed for six to twelve children. When a small center in residence has children of different ages, staff-child ratios and appropriate group size must be met for the youngest child in the group. These centers may also care for up to three school-age children in addition to the children for which they are licensed (depending on the ages of these children).
Staff-to-Child Ratios for Child Care Centers |
Age Group |
Ratio Requirements for the Star Rated License
Program Standards Component |
NAEYC
Accreditation
(D) |
1 Point (A) |
2 - 6 Points (B) |
7 Points (C) |
Infants
(Birth - 12 Mos.) |
1:5 |
1:5 |
1:4 |
1:3 |
Toddlers
(12-23 Mos.) |
1:6 |
1:6 |
1:5 |
1:4 |
2 Years Old
(24 - 29 Mos.) |
1:10 |
1:9 |
1:8 |
1:5 |
2.5 Years Old
(30 - 36 Mos.) |
1:10 |
1:9 |
1:8 |
1:6 |
3 Years Old |
1:15 |
1:10 |
1:9 |
1:8 |
4 Years Old |
1:20 |
1:13 |
1:12 |
1:9 |
5 Years Old |
1:25 |
1:15 |
1:14 |
1:9 |
6 Years & Older |
1:25 |
1:20 |
1:19 |
1:11 |
Under the Star Rated License system, a child care center may receive up to 7 points in each of two components: Program Standards and Staff Education (see page 6). To achieve 1 point in the Program Standards component (the minimum allowed), a center must meet the staff/child ratio requirement in Column A. To achieve 3-6 points in Program Standards, a center must meet the ratio requirement in Column B. (For 2 points in Program Standards, a center must meet the ratio requirement in Column B or meet specific classroom space requirements.) To achieve 7 points in the Program Standards component (the highest number of points available), a center must meet the ratio requirement in Column C. |