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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 9Pt. 1.8Ch. 10§ 10275 Child Care Staffing Requirements

§ 10275 Child Care Staffing Requirements

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 10275 Child Care Staffing Requirements

This law sets rules for how child care centers must hire staff and how many adults must be present for each child. It also says the state can ask the federal government for exceptions to these rules if needed.

Key Takeaways

  • •Child care centers must follow state rules for hiring staff and adult/child ratios.
  • •Centers should try to hire teachers with similar backgrounds as the kids they serve.
  • •The state can ask the federal government for exceptions to these rules if needed.
  • •Ratios depend on the type of facility and are meant to keep kids safe.

Example

A daycare center wants to hire teachers for a group of 20 kids.

The daycare must follow the state's rules for how many teachers are needed per child. If most kids are from a Spanish-speaking background, the daycare should try to hire Spanish-speaking teachers. They also need to make sure they have enough adults to watch the kids safely.

How to Calculate

No specific formula is given in this statute. Ratios are referenced but defined in another part of the California Code of Regulations (Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 7).

  1. Find the adult/child ratio rules in Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 7 of the California Code of Regulations.
  2. Count the number of children in the program.
  3. Use the ratio to determine how many adults are needed.

A family child care home has 8 children.

Result: 2 adults are needed (8 children ÷ 4 children per adult = 2 adults).

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 10275 Child Care Staffing Requirements

(a) The department shall establish rules and regulations for the staffing of all center-based child care and development programs under contract with the department. (1) Priority shall be given by the department to the employment of persons in child development programs with ethnic backgrounds which are similar to those of the child for whom child development services are provided. (2) For purposes of staffing child care and development programs, the role of a teacher in child supervision means direct supervision of the children as well as supervision of aides and groups of children. (3) Family child care homes shall operate pursuant to adult/child ratios prescribed in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 86001) of Division 6 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. (b) Approval by the department of any ongoing or new programs seeking to operate under the ratios and standards established by the department under this chapter shall be based upon the following considerations: (1) The type of facility in which care is being or is to be provided. (2) The ability of the department to implement a funding source change. (3) The proportion of nonsubsidized children enrolled or to be enrolled by the agency. (4) The most cost-effective ratios possible for the type of services provided or to be provided by the agency. (c) The department shall apply for waivers of federal requirements as are necessary to carry out this section. (Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 260. (AB 131) Effective July 23, 2021.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

employmentdevelopmentcontractwaiverconsiderationportteacherregulation

Related Statutes

  • § 18926.7 Calfresh Employment Training Contracts
  • § 10266.5 Child Care Conflict Restrictions
  • § 18901.35 Calfresh Enrollment For Reentry
  • § 10351 San Francisco Child Care Subsidy Plan
  • § 10370 Transitional Child Care Stages

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 10275.
View Official Source