1. EEC’s Draft Regulations Overview
A new look for Group, School-Age and Family Child Care Regulations
Looking for your Input and Feedback
Hello everyone! My name is and I would like to welcome you to our presentation on the draft EEC regulations. This is an important opportunity for you to review the draft regulations and help us with your input and feedback.

2. EEC Guiding Principles
Put children and families first
Be flexible and accountable
Balance access, affordability, quality, and coordination/continuity of care
Prioritize the needs of low-income families
Build on strengths of current system; minimize weaknesses; maximize resources
Seek input from staff and stakeholders
Keep interested parties informed of progress
Provide timely and comprehensive information to Board for decision-making
While developing these draft regulations, the EEC staff kept these guiding principles as our top priorities.

3. Building From The Work Of Our Legacy Agencies- OCCS and ELS
Family Child
Care
Current Regulations Promulgated
10/12/2003
Group &
School Age
Child Care
Current Regulations have been
In place since 1997
Keeping regulations updated is an on-going process. As you can see, the Group and School-Age regulations are approximately ten years old. There have been a few significant developments during the past decade, like research on early brain development that proved how important the first years of life are.
Standards implemented 2003
for Public Schools & Community Partnership Programs
Pre-K Standards

4. Our Approach Children and families first!
Keep the Tri-lemma in balance;
Take the best from our current regulations and standards;
Align regulations across program type when possible ;
Research regulations and standards from other states, NAEYC, Head Start, NIOST, NAFCC, and the military care system.
Make regulations consistent with those of other state agencies where needed;
Carefully consider the effect of all changes on providers or programs,
Maintain or increase quality.
This was the “map” we followed when developing the draft regulations.

5. Quality, Affordability and Access
Push and Pull
Every change recommended by the committee was based on weighing its impact on each leg of the Tri-lemma.
EEC discovered that judging the pro’s and con’s of any change was like a “tug of war”. The best changes improved quality without harming affordability and access. Often we had to balance these factors.
Quality, Affordability and Access

6. The Core Regulations
Now what does this apple core have to do with regulations?

7. What Is a “CORE” Regulation ?
Works for children in all types of settings.
Is flexible enough to be developmentally appropriate for a wide age range of children.
Assures that children in Family Child Care, Group Child Care, and School-Age Child Care get the same good education and care.
Aligns similar requirements across different care types.
A regulation is a CORE regulation if it’s good for one type of care it’s .
good for all types of child care
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

8. What Is a “Program Specific” Regulation?
Recognizes that there are differences in Family Child Care, Group Child Care, and School-Age Child Care programs.
Addresses a unique feature of one type of care.
Examples Follow
Is a regulations that does not quite fit all types of child care,
because of physical location, age of child, or other state agencies requirements
such as building, and zoning rules.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

9. How Will the New Regulations Physically Look?
Core Reg.
Family involvement is a Core Regulation that all types of care must follow.
At the bottom of the page 7.08(9) is just for Family Child Care providers
This is how both CORE and Program Specific regulations are organized in the draft regulations. Within each section are the CORE regulations for all types of care. At the end of each section, look for “additional requirements” for specific program types. For example, a Family Child Care program would need to follow the regulations (7), (8), and (9) on this page, but Group and School-Age Care only need to follow (7) and (8) on this page.
Program Specific
Requirements for only
Family Child Care
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

10. Highlights, Changes, and What Stays the Same
We would like to share some of the exciting changes that await you in the draft regulations.

11. New Definitions
Individual titles are still used if a requirement (like qualifications) pertains to a specific position
Lead Teacher
Teacher
Assistant Teacher
Director I, II
Program Administrator
Site Coordinator
Group Leader
Assist. Group Leader
Family Child Care Provider
Certified FCC Assistant
Regular FCC Assistant
Educator– is the new umbrella term referring to all early education and care staff in the draft regulations.
It includes all FCC staff, all GCC staff, and all SACC staff. 
The word “educator” makes it easier to read the regulations.
And it's what early education and care staff do every day.
Want to point out in the regulations you are going to notice the term Educator refers to any staff caring for children. Any positions that require a specific qualification will be identified by its individual title, like Lead Teacher.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

12. The Proposed Regulations have Three Program Types
Family Child Care Up to 10 children, infants to school-age, in a residence.
Small Non-Residence Up to 10 children but not in a residence.
Large Group 11+ children (up to capacity) including both group and school-age under one license.
The proposed regulations establish 3 types of early education and care settings. FCC stays pretty much the same. Large group combines our existing GCC and SACC requirements and Small Non-Res is a brand new type of care.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

13. Small Non-Residence Care
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
EEC has developed a hybrid!
Small non-residence care combines elements of family child care and group/school age child care. It creates new options for the care of a small number of unrelated children.
Allows for ten or fewer children to receive care in a non-residence, such as a church, community center, or similar setting
The regulations are less restrictive than group child care to reflect the nature of a smaller group
Works well for the provider whose home may be unsuitable for family child care
Works well for a community agency that needs a small on-site program for staff or clients
EEC developed a hybrid because sometimes it makes sense to combine the best of two worlds. This is the perfect solution for the qualified person who wants to care for ten or fewer children outside of a home setting. EEC is giving more choices for parents and the early childhood field.
Community Services
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

14. Definition of Family Child Care
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
Current regulations for FCC limit the operation of a family child care home to an occupied residence. Family child care providers want some flexibility in this definition.
Continue to allow family child care to operate in an occupied residence.
Allow family child care to occur in a building attached to the residence of the licensee (garage).
Allow family child care to occur in an unattached building on the land of the licensee’s primary residence
EEC has found that the nurturing atmosphere of family child care can occur in a variety of home-like settings. EEC would like to expand the current definition of family child care to include some of the examples shown here.
Continued on next slide
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

15. Definition of Family Child Care
Allow family child care to occur in a vacant unit in a duplex if the licensee resides in the other unit of the residence
Allow family child care to occur in an unoccupied apartment in a residence of up to three stories (potential for three separate dwelling units) if the licensee lives in one of the units.
Of course, Family Child Care providers can continue to conduct care in their own primary residence. They just have some new options!
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

16. Continued on next slide
Group Assignment
Current regulations for GCC require that children be assigned to groups (classrooms) based solely on their chronological age. This does not always meet the needs of the children
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
Provides the flexibility to assign children to classrooms according to their developmental needs
Allows an older toddler to be moved into a preschool classroom under certain conditions
Allows a child who is not ready to move into the next age group to stay in their current classroom under certain conditions
One of the things EEC hears often is how assigning children to groups based only on their age sometimes doesn’t meet their developmental needs.
Continued on next slide
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

17. Group Assignment
Decisions for group assignment will be made on a combination of factors, including the child’s chronological age, where the child is developmentally, parental input, and the ability of the child to fit into the proposed group.
Providers and parents have been requesting this flexibility…we have listened!
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

18. Family Groupings in Large Child Care
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
Sometimes children do better in a small group of mixed ages. The proposed regulations would allow limited use of “family groupings” in a large group setting (group/school age child care) and small non-residence settings.
Works well for non-traditional programs, like domestic violence women’s shelters or back up child care
Allows children going through a stressful period to be in smaller group with their older or younger siblings.
Allows children with disabilities to grow and learn with their peers in smaller groups.
Acknowledges that older and younger children can learn from each other in a family grouping setting
Many children do well in smaller class sizes with mixed age groups. Family child care proves this everyday! EEC has developed a draft regulation to give Group Child Care programs the flexibility to incorporate “family groupings” into their centers.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

19. Supervision of Children in School-Age Programs
Appropriate supervision of younger school-age children (ages 5-8 years) is very different from that of older school-age children (ages 9-13 years). The current regulations do not differentiate between the needs of these two age groups.
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
Continue to require programs to provide developmentally appropriate supervision to all school-age children
Create two new categories: “younger school-age children” and “older school-age children”
Recognize that older school-age children should be allowed some independence appropriate to their age and developmental abilities.
Give better guidance to programs around expectations for the supervision of the “younger” and the “older” school-age children.
School-age programs have the challenge of a wide age range of children. EEC has developed the categories of “younger school-age children” and “older school-age children” to better reflect developmentally appropriate practice.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

20. Alignment of Ratios and Groupings
The proposed regulation changes
will accomplish the following:
Current school age child regulations require a 1:13 staff to child ratio.
Current group child care regulations require a 1:15 staff to child ratio for children 4 yrs. 9 mos. of age or older but not yet enrolled in school.
EEC is proposing to align these ratios by requiring 1:15 ratio for school age children.
However, EEC is also proposing a 1:10 staff to child ratio if it is a mixed age range grouping of preschool and young school age children (up to age 9).
Align the staff to child ratios across preschool and school age programs.
Give programs that serve both preschool and school age children more staffing options.
Create a new transitional grouping that meets the needs of older preschoolers and younger school age children.
EEC has also heard from providers that children sometimes have a difficult time transitioning from preschool to school age programs.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

21. How adults interact with children affects healthy development.
The proposed regulation change
will accomplish the following:
We all know this from the
science of child development.
EEC is proposing an entire
section in the draft regulations
that addresses the quality of
adult/child interactions;
Promote interactions between
adults and children that support
the development of:
Self esteem,
Self expression,
Social competence,
Independence, and
School readiness.
This is another example of updating the regs to reflect current knowledge. Everything we know emphases the importance of positive interaction to children’s development. EEC is looking towards the future and developing regulations that will evolve with the field.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

22. Administration of Medication
Training in the “5 Rights” of medication administration
Training by a licensed health care practitioner
Trained educator always on the premises
All educators trained to recognize side effects
Each person who administers medication must be trained to verify and document that: the right child receives the right dosage of the right medication designated for that particular child and given at the right time(s), and by the right method. Each educator must demonstrate competency in the administration of medication before being authorized by the licensee to administer any medication.
Each person who administers any medication must be trained by a licensed health care practitioner and must demonstrate competency in the administration of medications.
The licensee must ensure that at least one educator with training in medication administration is present at any and all times when children are in care.
The licensee must ensure that each educator, including those educators who do not administer medication, receives training in recognizing medication side effects and adverse interactions among various medications.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

23. Progress Reports
Current FCC, SACC regulations focus communicating concerns
but proposed regulations focus on GROWTH.
Already required by GCC regulations
Recognize the professional role of educators
Communication with families about children’s strengths and needs
Help children grow and learn by adapting the program
Current regulations require FCC providers to “bring special concerns to parents’ attention as soon as they arise” [102 CMR 8.14(8)]
Proposed regulations give both you and the parent a formal way to track the child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
SACC programs report on children’s progress once a year within the context of the type of program
EEC will:
Offer flexibility in the choice of report formats,
Provide templates providers can use,
Provide training in observation, documentation, and writing progress reports
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

24. Fall Zones for Outdoor Play
Impact absorbing material under swings, slides, and structures were mandated in group child care regulations in 1998.
Playground accidents account for many trips to the emergency room.
Based on national safety standards.
Lots of technical assistance is available.
There will be options for compliance.
If you choose not to install impact absorbing materials in fall zones, you may discontinue the use of certain equipment. There is no current or proposed regulation requiring specific playground equipment like swings, slides, climbing structures. An outdoor play area with space for running and jumping and playing ball or riding bikes or trikes or jumping rope or playing hopscotch may be sufficient.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

25. If you provide or contract for transportation…
existing RMV requirements apply to all
a written plan for safety and supervision of children
appropriately licensed drivers
car seats, safety carriers, restraints or seat belts
emergency communication system
you must establish policies and procedures that are intended to keep children safe during transport.
All drivers must have valid driver requirements as set fort by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This may include commercial licenses
All children being transported must be in suitable car seats, safety carriers, restraints or seat belts. All car seats must meet U.S. Dept. of Transportation safety standards
A working mechanism for making emergency telephone calls must be available on each vehicle during transport.
Special licensing and vehicle licensing requirements apply to anyone who regularly transports children along an established route…such as between home and child care daily. Providers who occasionally take children to the library or on a field trip are exempt from special licensing.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

26. Family Child Care: Policies, Plans, and Notifications
Recognize profession
Formalize “best practices”
Avoid common complaints due to miscommunication
Support compliance through training and templates
Many of the new requirements are already in place through the license application or other EEC – required documents. Many of the new requirements are already met by providers who choose to provide parent contracts. Wherever needed, EEC will provide training and sample forms or documents to assist providers in reaching compliance.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

27. Family Child Care: Policies, Plans, and Notifications
Proposed Regulations:
Written Plans:
Plan for Child Guidance (currently within license application)
Procedures to avoid the suspension or termination of a child
Statement of Purpose
Illness / Exclusion Policies (often in parent contract)
Medication Administration Policies
Transportation Plan, if applicable
Written Notice:
Fees (often in parent contract)
Program Schedule (holidays, closed days) (often in parent contract)
that child educators are mandated reporters
that the program is licensed by EEC (currently in parent’s enrollment packet)
that parents may contact EEC regarding the program’s compliance history, and EEC contact information (currently maintained on site by provider)
the frequency of children’s progress reports
children’s records procedures
1. Procedures to avoid suspension or termination include meeting with parents to discuss options other than suspension or termination; offering referrals for evaluation, diagnostic or therapeutic services; pursuing options for supportive services to the program, including consultation and educator training; or additional staffing; developing a plan for behavioral intervention at home and in the program.
If the procedures are not successful, the program must provide written documentation to the parents of the specific reasons for the proposed suspension or termination of the child, and the circumstances under which the child may return, if applicable; and
develop a plan for transition of the child from the program.
2. Statement of purpose: identifying the program’s philosophy; its goals and objectives; the ages of children served; and the services provided.
3. The fee schedule must include any fees for late payment, late pick-up, field trips, special materials, etc
4. The criteria for excluding children from care due to serious illnesses, contagious diseases and reportable diseases in conformance with regulations and recommendations set by the Division of Communicable Disease Control, Department of Public Health.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

28. Required Postings For FCC
Current regulations:
Emergency numbers
Current license
Evacuation route
Assistant certificates
Proposed regulations:
Emergency numbers
Current license
Emergency and evacuation procedures
EEC contact info
Allergy info
Menus
Activity schedule
Staff schedule
Child guidance policy
Location of health care policy and first aid kit
(a) next to the telephone:
1. the telephone number of the fire department, police, ambulance, and the Poison Control Center; the name and telephone number of the emergency back-up person, and the telephone number and address of the program, including the location of the program in the facility; and
2. the location of the first aid kit; and
(b) in an area easily visible to parents, educators and visitors:
1. the current license or approval;
2. a statement advising parents that they may contact EEC for information regarding the program’s licensing compliance history;
3. allergies and/or other emergency medical information provided by the parent for each child, in a manner that protects the privacy of each child;
4. weekly menus and/or snacks (not required if provided by parents);
5. the current activity schedule;
6. the staff schedule;
7. the child guidance policy;
8. the name, address and telephone number of the nearest emergency health care facility; and
9. for large group child care programs only, the name, address and telephone number of the health care consultant;
10. the location of the health care policy; and
(c) next to each exit, emergency and evacuation procedures.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

29. Educators’ Qualifications Will Stay the Same For Now
Currently EEC is not making any changes to any of the required qualifications for educators working in group, school age, or family programs.
EEC is still in the early stages of developing competency-based qualifications as well as a system for on-going professional development.
EEC is proposing some changes in orientation, training, and professional development to support our workforce.
Ignore the rumors! The qualifications for educators will stay the same in
the draft regulations. EEC will be supporting the professional development
of educators through mandatory registration, enhanced training criteria,
and enhanced orientations.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

30. Building a Foundation for the Early Education and Care Workforce
As new IT systems become operational over time, EEC is proposing mandatory enrollment in a workforce registry to:
recognize the professionalism in our field by issuing credentials and
provide much-needed data about our workforce.
EEC is proposing enhanced professional development hours
Family child care would need 10 hours per year
Group and school age staff would need 5 to 20 hours per year depending on how many hours they work.
25% must address diverse learners
EEC is proposing a required orientation for all staff entering the field.
In this draft, we tried to make a distinction between staff training and professional development. We view staff training as related to basic job skills like first aid or CPR. Professional development should help staff advance along a career path.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

31. An Opportunity For Educators And Families
These new regulations will:
Give educators more flexibility without losing quality and accountability;
Help all educators grow as the field of early education and care evolves;
Standardize care for children across all settings and developmental stages;
Give educators more ways to improve access and continuity for children and families.
EEC is looking towards the future and developing regulations that will evolve with the field.

32. Your Input on these Draft Regulations Northeast Western Central
Metro Boston &
Central Office
Southeast & Cape
Your
Input on these
Draft Regulations
EEC is requesting this external feedback from selected groups all over Massachusetts.

33. There are Two Ways to Give EEC Feedback
There is an on-line survey at specifically set up for this informal review process.
And:
There is a special box, for general comments about the draft regulations as a whole.
Tell us what you like about these draft regulations or point out areas you would like EEC to review and consider.
*PLEASE NOTE: These are DRAFT proposals for further review and discussion over the next 6-8 months.

34. Provide your comments at:
This page offers you links to review this power point presentation, the proposed draft regulations as well as access to electronic comments and box for general comments about the draft regulations as a whole.
The Continue button takes you to a sign in page leading to the comments page.

35. Comments continued…
You will be asked to register. Registering allows you to return to your comments to enter or modify them so you don’t have to enter them all at once.
Notice that there are required fields (*) on the form. While is not required, giving us your address will allow us to assist you if you forget your password.
Please select only one category that best represents you. For example, knowing if a proposed change received similar comments from several school age child care program staff will help us weigh its effect on school age programs.

36. Comments continued… This is a great idea!
This is the format you will see for each question when you begin or edit your comments.
Each comment box allows a maximum of 1000 characters of data entry. Keep an eye on You have entered X characters. The program will not save more than 1000 characters.
Click for corresponding regulations links you to an excerpt of the draft regulation relevant to the question.
Save and back to summary allows you to go on to the rest of the questions and to view and/or print your comments.
Save and back to summary allows you to view the rest of the questions and to view and/or print your answers.

37. Regulation Review Process Timeline
Board provides input on alignment approach December 2005
EEC develops draft regulations January 2006-April 2007
Intensive informal external review process May-July 2007
Board vote to send out for public comment Fall 2007
Implementation preparation Fall 2007
Board vote on final regulations after revisions Winter 2007
Technical assistance/training Spring/Summer 2008
New regulations take effect Fall 2008*
Some of these changes will require training and technical assistance for
the early education and care field. Because of that some changes may
have to be delayed until these resources are available.
Please Note: The informal comment period is intended to receive
feedback from those impacted by the regulations to ensure that EEC has
an understanding of the concerns of as many stakeholders as possible
PRIOR to putting the proposed regulations out for formal public comment. 
This informal comment and review process is intended to gather as much
feedback as possible.  The formal public comment period and public
hearings, as required by G.L. c. 30A, §2 will take place during the fall of 2007.
* Some regulations may be phased in over time

38. What Will Happen to my Comments?
All the comments that EEC receives will be grouped together by subject area and reviewed by the Regulations committee and EEC’s Internal Quality Committee.
All suggestions will be reviewed and help to inform changes to this draft.
Where appropriate, changes in the draft regulations will be made. Other suggestions may result in changes in policy, technical assistance, or licensing procedures
EEC is asking for your feedback because we value what you think. All comments will be reviewed and thoughtfully discussed. EEC anticipates that your comments will help make further refinements to the draft regulations and/or their implementation.

39. We Will Move Forward Together!
EEC is dedicated to moving forward with the early education and care community.
This is an opportunity to give us guidance on the draft regulations.
Your informal comments add value by improving the draft regulations.
Our common goal is to begin the formal comment period this fall with the best possible draft regulations!
Thank you.