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Staff-to-child ratio calculator by state

Choose your state and enter how many children you have in each age group. See how many staff members the state's licensed child care center ratios call for, with the rule it comes from.

The calculator runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to BackPR.

The math

How it works

Each state sets how many children one staff member may supervise in a licensed child care center, by age. The calculator divides the children in each age group by that number and rounds up.

It uses each state's center ratios as published in its licensing rules, linked on the state's page in our state-by-state rules library. Camps, license-exempt after-school programs and family child care homes can follow different rules.

When children of different ages share a group, many states apply the ratio for the youngest child in the group. Check your state's rule before you staff a mixed group.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Do these ratios apply to summer camps?

Not always. Some states license youth camps separately with their own ratios, and others treat some day camps as child care. Check the camp section on your state's page.

Are volunteers counted in the ratio?

It depends on the state. Many states count only staff who meet their age and training requirements. Check your state's licensing rules.

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