Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8102 - Definitions; J to R

Rule 102. As used in these rules:

(a) "Lead teacher" means a child care staff member employed by the child care center for compensation who is responsible for organizing, guiding, and implementing activities in a group or individual basis, to further the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of children in a child care center and can be counted in child care staff member to child ratios.

(b) "Mandated reporter" means a licensee, licensee designee, staff, or volunteer who are required to immediately report child abuse or neglect or suspected child abuse and neglect as required by R 400.8213(1)(c).

(c) "Michigan school age or youth development associate credential" means a credential issued by the Michigan afterschool partnership in collaboration with or similar credential approved by the department.

(d) "MiRegistry" is the electronic data system for child care providers that is maintained by the department to verify and track employment, training, and educational accomplishments.

(e) "MiRegistry-approved training" means training that is submitted to MiRegistry by a MiRegistry approved trainer or MiRegistry training sponsor organization that meets the qualification for approval.

(f) "Montessori credential" means a credential issued by the Association Montessori International, American Montessori Society, or any Montessori teaching or training institution recognized by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education that meets or exceeds 270 hours of academic training.

(g) "Multiple occupancy" means a building or structure where 2 or more classes of occupancy exist. Classes of occupancy include, but are not limited to, day-care occupancy, residential occupancy, or health care occupancy.

(h) "Natural playground" means an outdoor play area that blends natural materials, features, and vegetation, which can include tree logs, tree stumps, boulders, and plants.

(i) "Nighttime care" means care between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.

(j) "On file" means accessible at the center or central office, as specified in these rules, via a hard copy or electronically unless otherwise stipulated in the rule.

(k) "Outdoor nature-based child care center" means a child care center that does all of the following:

(i) Serves preschool and school-age children.

(ii) Provides early learning service to the enrolled children in an outdoor natural space approved by the department for not less than 4 hours per day or 50% of the daily program hours, whichever is less, and may operate in an approved building during inclement weather.

(iii) Teaches a nature-based curriculum to enrolled children.

(l) "Parent" or "parental" means a child's natural or adoptive parent who is legally responsible for the child or the child's legal guardian.

(m) "Playspace" means a piece or pieces of age-appropriate toys, play equipment, and materials that 1 child can use independently for 15 minutes.

(n) "Portable crib" means a crib that can be folded or collapsed, without disassembly, to occupy a space less than it occupies when it is used. Products with mesh, fabric, or non-rigid sides, such as a bassinet or play yard, are not considered portable cribs.

(o) "Present at the center" means being physically at the center at any point when children are present.

(p) "Program administrator" means a licensee or child care staff member who is responsible for the general management of the center, ensures compliance with the act and these rules, and can be counted in child care staff member to child ratios. Program administrators include an early childhood program administrator, a school-age program administrator, and a small capacity center program administrator.

(q) "Program components" means the different services offered by a center. Program components include, but are not limited to, infant and toddler, preschool, and school-age care and education; nighttime care; food service; swimming; and transportation.

(r) "Program staff" means a teacher, lead teacher, substitute teacher, site administrator, staff-in-charge, program administrator, substitute program administrator, or other compensated employee of the center that has direct contact with children and can be counted in child care staff member to child ratios. Program staff does not include volunteers, therapeutic professionals, and independent service providers.

(s) "Routine transportation" means regularly scheduled travel on the same day of the week, at the same time, to the same destination. Any deviation is non-routine transportation.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8102

2019 AACS; 2025 MR 10, Eff. 5/7/2025