Rule 5101:2-17-01 | "Step Up To Quality" (SUTQ): program standards.
(A) What are the SUTQ definitions for the purposes of implementing Chapter 5101:2-17 of the Administrative Code?
(1) "Administrator" means the following:
(a) A child care center administrator as described in rule 5101:2-12-07 of the Administrative Code.
(b) A family child care provider as described in rule 5101:2-13-07 of the Administrative Code.
(c) A director as defined in rule 3301-37-01 of the Administrative Code.
(d) An administrator as defined in rule 3301-32-01 of the Administrative Code.
(2) "Approved related fields" means the following:
(a) Early childhood education teacher approved related fields include: early childhood education, child development, family studies, human ecology, human development, child and family community studies, elementary education, early intervention (ECE or special education), elementary, middle or secondary education, physical education, elementary intervention, and school counselor, or other degrees as approved by the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY).
(b) Approved related child development fields include psychology, and recreation management if twelve semester or eighteen quarter hours of child development coursework, with a grade of C or better from an accredited institution of higher education, is completed.
(3) "Assistant teacher" means a child care staff member who works under the supervision of a lead teacher. Assistant teachers may work independently in a lead teacher's absence, but for the majority of time the assistant teacher works directly with the lead teacher in the same space with the same children.
(4) "Child care staff" means:
(a) A child care center staff member as described in rule 5101:2-12-08 of the Administrative Code.
(b) A family child care provider staff member as described in rule 5101:2-13-08 of the Administrative Code.
(c) A preschool staff member and lead teacher as defined in rule 3301-37-01 of the Administrative Code.
(d) A staff member as described in rule 3301-32-03 of the Administrative Code.
(5) "Family child care provider" means:
(a) Licensed type A home provider.
(b) Licensed type B home provider.
(6) "Instructional time" means the time the group spends with the lead teacher each day, excluding nap or rest time.
(a) The lead teacher is to interact with children a minimum of three and one-half hours daily for at least half the days of each week the program operates.
(b) If a group requires two or more child care staff members to meet ratio, there is to be a lead teacher and an assistant teacher present. Co-lead teachers may be used to meet this requirement.
(c) The assistant or co-lead teacher is to meet this requirement the other days of the week.
(d) If a program or group operates less than three and one-half hours daily, the lead teacher is to be present for entire time the group is in session or entire time group operates.
(e) School-age programs are to have a lead teacher for the duration of either a total of three and one-half hours, the complete before school session, or the complete after school session. On non-school days, the program is to meet the three and one-half hour requirement as stated in paragraph (A)(7) to this rule.
(7) "Lead teacher" means the adult who has primary responsibility for the group of children. The lead teacher is to meet the three and one-half hour minimum instruction time daily, not including nap or rest, for more than half of the days in operation each week. The lead teacher is responsible for activity planning and implementing the curriculum and child assessment requirements related to the current rating.
(8) "Program" means any of the following licensed:
(a) Family child care provider.
(b) Child care center.
(c) Preschool program.
(d) School child program.
(9) "Substitute" means the following:
(a) A child care staff member who replaces an assigned staff member for fewer than ninety days.
(b) What if the substitute is providing care for more than ninety days?
The substitute is to become the lead teacher or assistant and meet the requirements of the lead or assistant pursuant to this chapter.
(B) What are the standards that are to be met to be awarded bronze, silver or gold?
(1) The program is to comply with the desk review and any on-site verification visit.
(2) Licensed programs are to meet all of the standards listed in appendix A to this rule for the rating requested at registration and maintain the standards on an ongoing basis.
Last updated July 8, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Supplemental Information