Title 4 . Education and Early Development

Chapter 62 . (Repealed)

Section 400. Supervision of children

4 AAC 62.400. Supervision of children

(a) A child care facility shall ensure that the children in its care will receive responsible supervision appropriate to their age and developmental needs. A child care facility shall provide for creation of a staffing plan, where applicable, and a plan for supervision of children.

(b) A child care facility shall ensure that children are always under supervision by a caregiver, except when providing a degree of freedom to a school age child appropriate to the child's age and developmental level. A child care facility shall ensure that

(1) children are supervised at all times, even when the children are sleeping;

(2) caregivers in a center are able to both see and hear sleeping infants;

(3) caregivers are in close proximity to children;

(4) a school age child is permitted to participate in activities and visit friends away from the child care facility's premises as approved by the child's parents and by the child care facility; and

(5) caregivers know the whereabouts of the children in their care at all times.

(c) In its plan for supervision required by (a) of this section, a child care center shall include indoor, outdoor, and high risk area supervision, caregiver-to-child ratios, field trips, and a description of the way in which the requirements set out in (b) of this section will be met.

(d) A child care facility shall maintain caregiver and child attendance records that reflect the time caregivers are present and children are in care.

(e) A caregiver in a child care facility may participate in duties other than direct care of children and be counted toward the caregiver-to-child ratios required under this chapter so long as the caregiver remains on duty and the caregiver's primary responsibility continues to be the direct care and supervision of children. However, child care facility staff counted toward caregiver-to-child ratio requirements must be awake at all times during which they are counted unless there are five or fewer children in care during nighttime care.

(f) A child care home and a child care group home shall designate an adult, who is known by the home caregiver to be of good character, and who is available to assist in case of serious illness, accident, or other emergency. If this adult assists only in emergency situations for a part of the day during the emergency, the caregiver qualifications set out in 4 AAC 62.210 and the ability to administer CPR and first aid in a child care facility are not required.

(g) A child care facility shall prevent exposure of children to individuals, animals, and situations posing a possible danger. A child care facility may not expose a child to high-risk activities or hazards such as

(1) use of a mobile infant walker;

(2) a young child

(A) walking along a river edge; or

(B) riding an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile; or

(3) a child of any age

(A) riding a motorized all-terrain vehicle with only three wheels;

(B) playing near any body of water or playing with propelled objects without constant supervision;

(C) boating without a personal flotation device or in dangerous water conditions; or

(D) jumping on a standard or large trampoline.

(h) A child care facility shall

(1) document parent permission for a school age child to participate in activities and visit friends off premises;

(2) obtain permission from the parent for a child to participate in moderate risk activities, such as swimming, walks to the beach, or vehicle trips; and

(3) arrange for the use of appropriate safety equipment, including a well-fitting helmet for activities such as rollerblading or bicycle, skateboard, or scooter riding.

History: Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145; am 2/8/2002, Register 161; am 10/4/2002, Register 163

Authority: AS 14.37.020