Connecticut has a different Licensing Standards for Day Care Centres and Family Day Care Centres.
It is very important to follow the state’s licensing standards since it is the basis whether the state will approve or not the license of aspiring day care providers. It is not only the requirements for day care centres that is being stated in the licensing standards; the administration, penalties, and other significant provisions that will contribute to the overall welfare of the children are being embodied.
Classes offered through the State
The programs offered in the State of Connecticut include any child education or development courses. These courses are very important as it will provide growth in the personal and social, physical, cognitive, and creative expression or aesthetic development aspects of the child.
In addition to this, equivalent classes or similar classes to Early Childhood Education or Childhood Development are accepted by the state of Connecticut. They should also take into consideration subjects and/or classes such as Early Childhood Education, Literacy Development, Special Needs Children, Keeping Records and Assessing Children, and Professional Behaviour classes. General education classes are also being taught including Mathematics, Writing, Sociology, Science, Psychology, and Communication.
Certifications Given for Completed Classes
Similar to any other U.S states, Connecticut offers three major certificates for day care providers and staff. These include CCP, CDA, and NAC.
- Certified Childcare Professional (CCP)
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
- National Administrator Credential (NAC)
This credential is given to those individuals who intend to educate young children, particularly to those who demonstrate knowledge and early childhood development skills.
This certificate is given to those staffs or teachers that have completed at least 4.5 continuing education units or a 3-credit-hour course for renewal. Classes or courses that can be credited for CDA include early childhood education and development, mental health counseling and principles of adult learning. For those renewal candidates, they are required to acquire 80-hour work experience either with young children or their families in the previous years. They should also become a member of any local or national early childhood professional organization as well as earn first aid certification.
This certificate is intended for current and aspiring childcare managers and directors. Management of staff, maintenance of facilities as well as the development programs are being tackled in this credential. Certification of NAC is renewed every two years by completing a 20-hour work in either business or administration.
Also, the state requires day care providers and their staff to take First Aid course or CPR trainings (cardiopulmonary-resuscitations).
Cost of the Classes
In the State of Connecticut, the government provides scholarship grants to those day students taking childcare related courses (note: scholarship grants are only given to some students). It is estimated that the cost of courses related to childcare ranges from $2,500 to $25,000 per year. The tuition rate differs from university to university, as well as the degree level you are enrolled to. Moreover, it also affects whether a student is in-state or out-state; expect that in-state tuitions are quite cheaper compared to out-state tuitions.
For trainings such as First Aid or CPR, it may be offered by the government and are very cheap or no charge at all.
Required Classes that Day Care Providers Should Take
In the State of Connecticut, head teachers should be at least 20 years old and should have knowledge in managing or supervising his or her subordinates. Furthermore, he or she should have either high school diploma, GED, or any other equivalent certificates and should have a supervised experience with a total of 1080 hours within 9 months. He or she should assure that the programs within this time are of the same standards in this or another state. Aside from this, he or she should attain the CDA credential or 12 credits in early childhood education or childhood development from credited colleges and universities.
For those second program day care staff, they should be 18 years old and above and should be supervised by the head teacher. Similar to head teacher, they will need either high school diploma, GED, or any equivalent certificate. They should also obtain at least 540 hours of child care experience with unrelated children of the same ages.
Classes such as child development and psychology are very essential classes as this will broaden the understanding of day care providers and their staff on the behavior of the children. Providers and their staff should also take child literature, English, math, sociology, and computer classes.
Links and Contact Information for Class Application
For those who want to establish their own daycare or interested in daycare job positions, you can contact your state departments for inquiries about day care classes, child care trainings, and the licensing standards. Listed here are government agencies of the State of Connecticut that you can contact:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Mailing:
CT Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue
Mail Station 12 DAC
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Phone: (860) 509-8045
Toll Free: (800) 282-6063
Fax: (860) 509-7541
Fax: (860) 509-7540
Head Start – State Collaboration Office
Mailing:
Department of Social Services
25 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT, 06106
Phone: (860) 424-5066
Fax: (860) 424-4960
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Mailing:
211 Child Care
1344 Silas Deane Highway
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-1350
Phone: (860) 571-7500
Toll Free: (2-1-1 or 800) 505-1000
Fax: 860-571-7525
