State library · checked October 2026
Illinois child care, camp and ratio rules
What camps, after-school programs and child care centers in Illinois need to know about licensing, ratios, background checks, medication and reporting abuse, with links to the official rules.
Child care licensing
Day care centers (care for more than 3 children in a facility other than a family home, or more than 8 in a family home) need a state license, and so do day care homes and group day care homes. Homes caring for no more than 3 children, or only children from one household, are exempt (225 ILCS 10/2.09; 89 Ill. Adm. Code 377.3).
After-school and recreation programs: No license is needed for programs run by public or private schools, or for out-of-school-time programs serving only kindergarten-age and older children that meet set conditions: IDPH or local health and fire safety standards, ISP/FBI fingerprint, sex offender registry, and CANTS checks for staff and volunteers, and written notice to parents that the program is not licensed. Recreation, athletics, and crafts programs run by civic, charitable, or government groups are also exempt, with park district programs limited to 3.5 hours at a time and 25 hours a week (225 ILCS 10/2.09); a new exemption structure starts July 1, 2027 (July 1, 2028 for park districts) under Public Act 104-0480.
Licensing agency: Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), Child Care Licensing (took over from DCFS on July 1, 2026)
Sources: 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190 Grouping and staffing (LII mirror); IDEC: Child care licensure (ratios, background checks); 89 Ill. Adm. Code 377.3 Programs exempt from licensure; 225 ILCS 10/2.09 (day care center definition and exemptions); IDEC transition FAQ (July 2026)
Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers
| Ages | Children per staff member | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 4 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 5 years | 1:20 | 20 |
| School-age (6 and up) | 1:20 | 30 |
Rule: 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190. 5-year-olds in a preschool group: 1:20, max 20. School-age groups (kindergartners present): 1:20, max 30. One early childhood teacher with an assistant may supervise up to 30 children if all are at least 5. Mixed-age groups use the youngest child's ratio and group size. Younger groups: infants 1:4 (max 12), toddlers 1:5 (15), 2-year-olds 1:8 (16).
Summer camps
IDPH licenses youth camps under the Youth Camp Act (210 ILCS 100): any day or resident camp serving 5 or more children under 18 away from their parents for 3 or more consecutive days, or 5 or more days a year. Apply at least 45 days before opening; licenses expire December 31 and are renewed yearly after inspection of water, sewage, sanitation, food service, and swimming facilities.
Camp agency: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Sources: IDPH: Youth camps and campgrounds; 210 ILCS 100/3.01 (youth camp definition); 210 ILCS 100/5 (license required)
Background checks
Licensed child care staff, volunteers, and others with access to children need fingerprint-based Illinois State Police and FBI criminal history checks, checks of Illinois' child abuse and neglect tracking system (CANTS) and other states' child protection registries, and the Illinois and national sex offender registries; authorizations are filed at hiring and at each license renewal (89 Ill. Adm. Code 385.20, 385.40). DCFS still processes these checks for IDEC until about July 1, 2027. We found no background check rule for IDPH-licensed youth camps, but license-exempt school-age programs must run the same ISP/FBI, sex offender registry, and CANTS checks (225 ILCS 10/2.09(j)).
Sources: 89 Ill. Adm. Code 385.20 Definitions (background check); 89 Ill. Adm. Code 385.40 Authorization for background checks; IDEC: Child care licensure (background checks)
Giving medication
Centers need a written medication policy. Medicine must be in its original container (prescriptions with the full pharmacy label, over-the-counter labeled with the child's name), given only with parent permission by a designated staff member, logged with date, time, dose, and who gave it, and kept locked and out of children's reach; sunscreen, diaper cream, and similar products need written parent approval (89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360).
Reporting child abuse
Listed professionals must report immediately to DCFS when they have reasonable cause to believe a child they know through work may be abused or neglected, including child care and day care center staff, school personnel, and recreation or athletic program staff (325 ILCS 5/4). Anyone else may report.
Illinois child abuse hotline: 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: DCFS: Reporting child abuse and neglect; DCFS online reporting form; 325 ILCS 5/4 (persons required to report); Child Welfare Information Gateway: Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
Checked October 2026 against Illinois's official rules and federal sources. Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Illinois has 6,257 youth and community program nonprofits, according to our analysis of IRS data.
FAQ
Illinois questions
What is the staff-to-child ratio for school-age children in Illinois?
In licensed child care centers, 1 staff member for every 20 school-age children, with groups of up to 30 (89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.190). Camps and license-exempt programs can follow different rules.
Do summer camps need a license in Illinois?
IDPH licenses youth camps under the Youth Camp Act (210 ILCS 100): any day or resident camp serving 5 or more children under 18 away from their parents for 3 or more consecutive days, or 5 or more days a year. Apply at least 45 days before opening; licenses expire December 31 and are renewed yearly after inspection of water, sewage, sanitation, food service, and swimming facilities.
Do after-school programs need a child care license in Illinois?
No license is needed for programs run by public or private schools, or for out-of-school-time programs serving only kindergarten-age and older children that meet set conditions: IDPH or local health and fire safety standards, ISP/FBI fingerprint, sex offender registry, and CANTS checks for staff and volunteers, and written notice to parents that the program is not licensed. Recreation, athletics, and crafts programs run by civic, charitable, or government groups are also exempt, with park district programs limited to 3.5 hours at a time and 25 hours a week (225 ILCS 10/2.09); a new exemption structure starts July 1, 2027 (July 1, 2028 for park districts) under Public Act 104-0480.
Who has to report suspected child abuse in Illinois?
Listed professionals must report immediately to DCFS when they have reasonable cause to believe a child they know through work may be abused or neglected, including child care and day care center staff, school personnel, and recreation or athletic program staff (325 ILCS 5/4). Anyone else may report. Illinois's hotline: 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873).
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