Georgia child care, camp and ratio rules

Child care licensing

Child care learning centers, meaning any place that cares for seven or more children under 18 for pay for less than 24 hours a day, need a DECAL license (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.02). Family child care learning homes are licensed under separate rules. Every program providing group care must hold a license or an exemption, or complete DECAL's online self-assessment (591-1-1-.46(1)).

After-school and recreation programs: Exempt from licensing (591-1-1-.46(1)(c)): programs run by state, county or city government, including public-school before- and after-school programs staffed by school employees and parks and recreation programs; school-age programs run by or affiliated with a certified national youth membership nonprofit; certain private-school programs; programs serving children no more than 4 hours a day (not counting before- and after-school care); and day camps or school-break programs for children 5 and up that run no more than 12 hours a day. Exempt programs must complete DECAL's self-assessment, and some categories must apply for and keep an exemption. They must post a notice that they are not licensed, and parents must sign a form acknowledging it.

Licensing agency: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), Child Care Services

Sources: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 591-1-1, Rules for Child Care Learning Centers (incl. .32 ratios, .46 exemptions); DECAL Child Care Services; DECAL Exemptions

Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers

Rule: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.32(1). Group size limits do not apply to routine outdoor play, special activities of up to 2 hours, or centers licensed for 18 or fewer children, but ratios still apply. In centers licensed for 19 or more, a mixed-age group's ratio follows the youngest age group that makes up more than 20% of the group (591-1-1-.32(2)). Ratios may be doubled for children 3 and older during scheduled rest periods if a staff member stays in each room. Note that Georgia's rules define 'school-age children' as children at least 4 by September 1, but the ratio table is set by age.

Work out your staffing with the ratio calculator

Summer camps

Georgia has no youth camp license. Day camps and school-break programs for children 5 and older that run no more than 12 hours a day are exempt from child care licensing (Category 7, 591-1-1-.46(1)(c)7). They must complete DECAL's online self-assessment and keep a DECAL KOALA account, and camps that take Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) subsidies must apply for the exemption, meet background check rules and get annual DECAL monitoring visits. A day program serving children under 5 does not fit this exemption and may need a child care license.

Camp agency: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), exemption process only

Sources: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.46 (Exemptions); DECAL Exemptions

Background checks

Every director and employee must have a satisfactory DECAL Comprehensive Records Check Determination before being at the center while children are present. That check combines an FBI fingerprint check with sex offender registries and the criminal, sex offender and child abuse and neglect registries of every state lived in during the past 5 years. Provisional employees may start with a satisfactory fingerprint check if supervised at all times. Rechecks are required at least every 5 years, after a 180-day gap in child care work, or after an arrest (591-1-1-.09; O.C.G.A. §20-1A-30 et seq.). Exempt camps and programs must meet these rules only if they receive CAPS subsidy funding (591-1-1-.46(1)(a)8).

Sources: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.09 and .02 (definitions)

Giving medication

Except for first aid, staff may give prescription or over-the-counter medicine only with specific written authorization from the parent or the child's physician. The authorization lists the child, medicine, dose, dates and times, and is valid for 2 weeks unless a physician orders longer. Medicine must be in its original container labeled with the child's name and stored locked or out of children's reach. Each dose is recorded with date, time, amount, any reaction, and the giver's initials (591-1-1-.20).

Free medication administration log

Sources: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.20 (Medications)

Reporting child abuse

Mandated reporters are listed in O.C.G.A. §19-7-5(c)(1). The list includes teachers, school staff, child welfare staff and 'child service organization personnel': employees and volunteers of any organization that provides care, education, supervision, coaching or recreation to children. That covers child care, camp, after-school and youth sports staff. Report immediately and no later than 24 hours by phone, online or by fax (§19-7-5(e)). Licensed centers must also tell DECAL within 24 hours or the next work day that a report was made (591-1-1-.29(1)).

Georgia child abuse hotline: 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453), 24/7 (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: Georgia Office of the Child Advocate: Mandated Reporting (text of O.C.G.A. §19-7-5); Georgia DFCS: Child Abuse & Neglect; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 591-1-1-.29 (Required Reporting)