Summary information on some of the regulations
(The information below is provided as a convenience to interested parties, it is highly recommended that the actual regulations be viewed, as the information contained below is a non-expert summary.  Links to the current regulations are provided)

 General Information
This document summarizes some of the elements in a Child Care Center which have been identified as key to meeting a child's developmental needs. What cannot be set out in regulations is the manner in which a caregiver interacts with a child.  This element must be observed and judged carefully by a parent.  To help parents carefully review child care options please review our detailed child care questionnaire.

Child Care Staff Ratios and Group Size The number of caregiving staff to the number of children is critical to the quality of care and interaction your child will receive.  The overall size of the group also has a significant impact on the quality of interaction.  Larger groups generate more noise, tension and related stresses.
Child Care Space Requirements The amount of physical space for each child to play impacts a child's ability to have sufficient room to explore and to play without feeling over crowded.  There needs to be adequate space indoors and out.
Child Care Staff Education Requirements Numerous studies have shown that better trained staff provide high quality care.   

Click Here to view the full set of Pennsylvania Child Care Center Regulations

1. If the group is of mixed ages, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies to the entire group.
2. A group is defined as the number of children who may be assigned to one or two staff persons. A group occupies a space or a defined part of a space.

Pennsylvania State Child Care Center Teacher to Child Ratios

1. Square feet is the amount of space available in a room, measuring from permanent wall to permanent wall, less any significant ‘cutouts’. The number of children in a room cannot exceed the space of that room, regardless of the overall center capacity.
   
   Space may be 'overcrowded' during Nap time and Meal time, for children over 24 months, for a maximum of 2 1/2 hours per day. Space may never be over crowded for Infants and Young toddlers.
2. Playground space required is based on the number of children using the playground at one time. A reasonable amount of playground space, to allow all children playground use, must be available. Playground space cannot be counted in the care space. Playground space may be indoor or outdoor space, suitable for Large Motor activities.
   
   Playground space must be at the center and fully controlled by the center (i.e. a local park or other public area cannot be used as outdoor space).

Pennsylvania Child Care Center Space/Site Requirements

Pennsylvania Child Care Center Staffing: There are five (5) ‘levels’ of staffing at day care centers and the state regulates the number of each type that must be present for the children in care.

• Director: All centers must have a director. A director, at a minimum must have an Associates degree, 30 credit hours in early childhood education and 4 years child care experience. Additional education can be substituted for child care experience.  The director must be on site at least 30 hours per week. If the center has more than 45 children, the director cannot be responsible for performing daily child care duties.
• Group Supervisors (Teachers): All centers with 45 or more children must have at least one group supervisor for each 45 children or part thereof. Group supervisors, at a minimum must have an Associates degree, 30 credit hours in early childhood education and 3 years child care experience.
• Assistant Supervisors (Assistant Teachers): must at a minimum have high school diploma and 2 years child care experience.
• Aides must have a minimum of 8^th grade education and 2 years child care experience and must be over 16 year of age. Aides must be directly supervised at all times by at least an Assistant Supervisor. Aides cannot encompass more than 50% of the center care staff.
• Volunteers must be over 16 years of age. Volunteers can be either paid or unpaid. Volunteers must be directly supervised by an Assistant Supervisor, or higher level staff member. Volunteers are not considered in the staff/child ratio.

When one or more children are at the care center, a minimum of two staff members must be on site.