Our school team has the following questions/remarks:
page 25: How to interpret 'mixed balance' age group, it that per program definition, classroom occupancy with various ages? If it is the latter, it does not make any sense why a classroom with 3-5 year olds would be ok with a 1:14 ratio and a classroom with all 4 year olds would not. Especially since the contradictory language otherwise is that the ratio will follow the youngest child in the classroom. It is also unclear what the training would entail that staff in the 'mixed balance' age group would need, and where to get this training.
page 24: It is unclear when the center may temporarily alter the staff to child ratio and what this exemption would be based on. Please explain the procedure and requirements to get approved. Also, is there any data available that a ratio that allows staff to care for more children has been proven to cause more harmful situations? Increasing the ratios permanently would create more spaces, and more parents would have access to high quality childcare and early childhood education.
Is the Epipen requirement still valid? We did not see it in the Standards, only in the Code of VA. If so, who will pay for these, who will train staff on using, do we need to get a waiver from parents stating they would want this for their child or not, will doctor's actually provide these without a diagnosis?? And again, if this is still a requirement, tuition would need to go up, making the ECE less affordable for parents.
General remark: we love the more concise and organized layout!
