Sec. 13a.16.06.11. Assistant Child Care Teacher

A. To qualify as an assistant child care teacher in a school age center, an individual shall:

(1) Be 18 years old or older;

(2) Hold a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalence, or have successfully completed courses for credit from an accredited college or university;

(3) Have completed 9 clock hours of approved preservice training in communicating with staff, parents, and the public, or have completed at least one academic college course for credit;

(4) Effective January 1, 2020, have completed approved basic health and safety training within 90 days of employment; and

(5) Have at least one of the following:

(a) 800 hours of recent paid or documented volunteer experience supervising groups of school-age children in educational, recreational, social, or guidance contexts;

(b) 600 hours of approved experience and 15 clock hours of approved college coursework; or

(c) 400 hours of approved experience and 3 semester hours or 45 clock hours, or their equivalent, of approved college coursework.

B. An individual may substitute completion of 1 full year of undergraduate education at an accredited college or university for up to 400 hours of approved experience.

C. An assistant child care teacher in a school age center shall:

(1) According to the individual's professional development plan, complete approved continued training, at the rate of at least 6 clock hours per full year of employment as an assistant child care teacher, that consists of a:

(a) Minimum of 3 clock hours of core of knowledge training; and

(b) Maximum of 3 clock hours of elective training;

(2) Document completion of the continued training on the professional development plan; and

(3) Document that the health and safety training, as required by the office, is completed by each staff member by the end of each 12-month period, measured each calendar year.

D. An assistant child care teacher may lead the activities of a group of school-age children if:

(1) The director, a child care teacher, or an approved director or child care teacher substitute is available to render immediate assistance to the assistant child care teacher; and

(2) The staff/child ratio required by this chapter is maintained at all times.

E. An individual who qualified before July 1, 2008, as an assistant child care teacher in a school age center and has been continuously employed since that time as an assistant child care teacher at the same or another school age center meets the requirements of this regulation.