Michigan child care, camp and ratio rules

Child care licensing

Any facility other than a private home that cares for one or more children under 13 for less than 24 hours a day without parents present must be licensed as a child care center; this includes preschools, before- and after-school programs and out-of-school-time programs, including those run by schools. Family and group child care homes are licensed under separate home rules.

After-school and recreation programs: Not a child care center under 1973 PA 116, per MiLEAP: Sunday school, vacation Bible school and short religious classes; care during religious services; programs mainly focused on teaching school-age children a specific subject such as dance, drama, music or religion (only during that instruction); drop-in group athletic or social programs for school-age children run by clubs or hobby groups such as scouting or youth clubs, where children can come and go at will; therapeutic programs; and care at recreation sites where parents stay on site. A school-age program run in a school building is still licensed but is excused from some facility rules (R 400.8401).

Licensing agency: Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), Child Care Licensing Bureau

Sources: R 400.8222 capacity, ratio and group size (LII mirror); R 400.8101 definitions, ages (LII mirror); R 400.8401 school-age center provisions and exemptions (LII mirror); MiLEAP: A Parent's Guide to Child Care Licensing (rev. May 11, 2026); MiLEAP: Rules, statutes and technical assistance

Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers

Rule: Mich. Admin. Code R 400.8222 (eff. May 7, 2025). Michigan counts a child as school-aged from the first day of the school year in which they are eligible for kindergarten (R 400.8101), so most 5-year-olds fall under 1:18; a 5-year-old not yet kindergarten-eligible stays at the 4-year-old ratio (1:12, group 40). Mixed groups use the youngest child's ratio, and at least 2 adults must be present when 7 or more children over 3 are present. Small capacity centers (20 or fewer children) use 1:6 with a maximum group of 20.

Work out your staffing with the ratio calculator

Summer camps

Children's camps (day, residential, troop and travel camps) need a state license under 1973 PA 116 when they serve more than 4 children apart from their parents for 5 or more days in a 14-day period in a natural environment; a day camp runs more than 4 but less than 24 hours a day. Michigan treats 'natural environment' as at least 51 percent of activities outdoors; a program that calls itself a day camp but does not meet the definition may need a child care center license instead.

Camp agency: Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), camp licensing

Sources: MiLEAP: Start a licensed camp (camp types and when a license is needed); MiLEAP: A Parent's Guide to Child Care Licensing (day camp definition); Children's and adult foster care camp rules, R 400.11101 et seq. (LII mirror)

Background checks

Licensees, program directors, child care staff and unsupervised volunteers at licensed centers must pass a state comprehensive background check, including FBI fingerprints, before having unsupervised contact with children, and new staff awaiting results must always be supervised (R 400.8201; MCL 722.115n, 722.115q). Supervised volunteers need a sex offender registry check. Licensed camps must keep, before a staff member starts, a criminal history record from the Michigan State Police (or home-state equivalent), three references, and, for staff 21 and older, proof they are not a substantiated child abuse or neglect perpetrator (R 400.11109).

Sources: R 400.8201 comprehensive background check; fingerprinting (LII mirror); Michigan Child Care Background Check program; R 400.11109 camp staff records (LII mirror)

Giving medication

Only program staff may give medication, and only with prior written parent permission; medication must be in its original container labeled for the child, and prescriptions must carry the pharmacy label and be given as directed. Each dose is recorded (time, amount, staff signature) on a state form or approved substitute, one form per medication; topical over-the-counter products such as sunscreen need written parent permission once a year (R 400.8260).

Free medication administration log

Sources: R 400.8260 medication (LII mirror)

Reporting child abuse

Listed professions must report under the Child Protection Law (MCL 722.621 et seq.), including regulated child care providers, teachers, school administrators and counselors, clergy, social workers, health workers, athletic trainers and law enforcement; anyone else may report. Mandated reporters must make an immediate oral report to MDHHS Centralized Intake (or use the online system) and follow with a written report within 72 hours. Licensed camps must have a written plan for reporting under the Child Protection Law (R 400.11115).

Michigan child abuse hotline: 855-444-3911 (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.

Sources: MDHHS: Mandated reporters; MDHHS Mandated Reporter Resource Guide (Sept. 2025); R 400.11115 camp child protection plan (LII mirror)