(a) The department shall develop guidelines and procedures to permit licensed child day care centers serving preschool age children to create a special program component for children between 18 months to three years of age. This optional toddler program shall be subject to the following basic conditions:
(1) An amended application is submitted to and approved by the department.
(2) Parents give permission for the placement of their children in the toddler program.
(3) A ratio of six children to each teacher is maintained for all children in attendance at the toddler program. An aide who is participating in on-the-job training may be substituted for a teacher when directly supervised by a fully qualified teacher.
(4) The maximum group size, with two teachers, or one fully qualified teacher and one aide, does not exceed 12 toddlers.
(5) The toddler program is conducted in areas separate from those used by older or younger children. Plans to alternate use of outdoor play space may be approved to achieve separation.
(6) All other regulations pertaining to preschool age children are complied with.
(b) The toddler program shall be considered an extension of the center license, without the need for a separate license.
(c) The department may extend the period for participation in the toddler program for a maximum of three months for a child in extenuating circumstances, on the request of a day care center, if the center can establish that it is unable to find an alternative placement.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 574, Sec. 3. (AB 605) Effective January 1, 2019.)