Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families DCF 251.095 - Additional requirements, modifications, and exceptions for school-age programs

(1m) APPLICABILITY.

(a) This section applies only to group child care centers that serve only school-age children and group child care centers that serve school-age children in groups separate from children who are under 5 years of age.

(b) Except for s. DCF 251.09, all requirements under ss. DCF 251.04 to 251.12 apply to school-age pr ograms in addition to or except as specified in this section and s. DCF 251.094.

(2m) SUPERVISION. All of the following modify or are in addition to the requirements in s. DCF 251.055 (1):

(a) A school-age program shall be responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of a school-age child between the time the child arrives at the school-age program and the time the child is released to the child's parent or to another activity that is specifically authorized in writing by the child's parent.

(b) Notwithstanding s. DCF 251.055 (1) (a), each child 7 years of age and older shall be supervised by a school-age program leader or child care teacher who is within sight or sound of the child to guide the child's behavior and activities, prevent harm, and ensure safety, except as provided in pars. (d) to (f).

Note: DCF 251.055 (1) (a) requires sight and sound supervision.

(c) Notwithstanding s. DCF 251.055 (1) (b), at least one school-age program leader or child care teacher shall supervise each group of school-age children, except as provided in pars. (d) and (e).

(d) Notwithstanding s. DCF 251.055 (1) (c), a school-age group leader who has completed the training required under s. DCF 251.094 (5) (c) 3. or an assistant child care teacher who has completed the training required under s. DCF 251.05 (3) (g) 2. and is age 18 or over may provide sole supervision for a group of school-age children for no more than 45 minutes if there is a qualified school-age program leader or child care teacher on the premises.

(e) A child 7 years of age or older may be authorized by the child care worker supervising the child to participate in program-sponsored activities in a school-age program away from the direct supervision of the assigned child care worker.

(f) A child 7 years of age and older may move between groups of children if a tracking method is implemented to ensure that the assigned child care worker knows the whereabouts of the child.

(g) When 9 or more children are on a field trip, there shall be at least 2 child care workers accompanying the children and the staff-to-child ratios in Table DCF 251.055 shall be maintained. Notwithstanding s. DCF 251.055 (2) (j), at least one of the child care workers shall be a school-age program leader or a child care teacher.

(h) A school-age program shall have on file an agreement, signed by the parent, that specifies the attendance schedule to be followed and authorizes the child's release to activities away from the school-age program.

Note: The licensee may use either the department's form, DCF-F-CFS0104-E, Alternate Arrival/Release Agreement - Child Care Centers, or the licensee's own form for securing the parent's signed agreement. The form is available at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.

(3m) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MEALS AND SNACKS. In addition to the requirements on meals, snacks, and food service in s. DCF 251.07 (5), the following provisions apply to school-age programs:

(a) All children attending a school-age program when a meal or snack is served shall be offered the meal or snack.

(b) School-age children present after school shall be served a snack.

(4m) EXCEPTIONS FOR SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS. The following provisions do not apply to school-age programs:

(a) Section DCF 251.06 (2) (b), only regarding protection of electrical outlets. All other protective measures in s. DCF 251.06 (2) (b) apply.

(b) Section DCF 251.06 (11) (b) 7., regarding a permanent enclosure of outdoor play space. If hazards exist, such as traffic or bodies of water, the boundaries of outdoor play space shall be made known to the children.

(c) Section DCF 251.07 (3) (e) and (h), regarding shelves and storage space for clothing and personal belongings.

(5m) EXCEPTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS FOR SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

(a) Exceptions. The following requirements do not apply to school-age programs in school buildings that are currently in use as school buildings:

1. Section DCF 251.04 (6) (a) 6m., relating to documentation of a school-age child's immunization records, only if the school-age program has approved access to the school's vaccination records.

2. Section DCF 251.06 (1) (a), relating to maintaining a building inspection report.

3. Section DCF 251.06 (2) (n), relating only to the requirement that garbage containers be covered. All other requirements of s. DCF 251.06 (2) (n) shall be met.

4. Section DCF 251.06 (2) (o), relating to the requirement that windows and doors used for ventilation be screened.

5. Section DCF 251.06 (2) (p), relating to radon testing.

6. Section DCF 251.06 (4) (a), relating to fire extinguishers.

7. Section DCF 251.06 (4) (jm) 2., relating to testing or monitoring smoke detectors and fire alarms.

8. Section DCF 251.06 (6) (b), relating to testing private well water.

9. Section DCF 251.06 (11) (b) 5., relating to the requirement for an energy absorbing surface on playgrounds to a depth of at least 9 inches.

(b) Modifications. Notwithstanding ss. DCF 251.04 (3) (h) and (L) and 251.05 (2) (a) (intro.), the following modified versions of the specified provisions apply to school-age programs in school buildings that are currently in use as school buildings:

1. Section DCF 251.04 (3) (h), except that the licensee shall report 10 days prior to the change instead of 20 days.

2. Section DCF 251.04 (3) (L), except that the licensee shall report any construction or remodeling on the premises that has the potential to affect an area accessible to children or a condition of the license in writing at least 10 working days before the construction or remodeling begins.

3. Section DCF 251.05 (2) (a) (intro.), except that the licensee shall maintain a file on each employee or contracted employee. The file shall be available for examination by the licensing representative at the location of the school-age program within 2 hours after the request and shall include all of the following:

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Children and Families DCF 251.095

Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.93(2m) (b) 7, Stats., Register, April, 1999, No. 520; CR 03-052: renum. from HFS 46.10 and am. (1), (2) (intro.), (c), (3) (intro.) and cr. (3) (dm) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (2), (3) and (4) (b) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 07-102: am. (2) (intro.), (c), (e), (4) (a) 3., (b) 1. and 3., cr. (4) (a) 5. Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; correction in (4) (b) 3. made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635. Amended by, 2015 Wis. Act 132: am. (2) (d), (3) (a) Register February 2016 No. 722, eff.3/1/2016 Amended by, EmR1918: emerg. cr. (3) (f), (g), am. (4) (b) 1. to 3., r. (4) (c), eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: cr. (3) (f), (g), am. (4) (b) 1. to 3., r. (4) (c) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (2) (b), (d), (3) (a), (dm) made under s. 13.92(4) (b) 7, Stats., Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4/1/2020 Amended by, CR 20-003: am. (2) (d), (e), (3) (a) Register July 2020 No. 775, eff. 8/1/2020 Amended by, CR 21-100: r. and recr. Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23; correction in (5m) (b) 2., 3. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3/1/2023

The required records may be in an electronic format at the school-age program site.