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Licensing Regulations in Kansas
Licensed means that a family child care provider has been inspected by the local health department and found to meet basic, minimum health and safety standards. All child care centers, preschools, before and after school care for school-age children and family child care providers must be licensed.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment contracts with local county health departments to regulate licensed and registered child care in the state of Kansas. All serious licensing violations and unsafe or unhealthy conditions need to be reported to your local child care licensing office.
- Atchison 913-367-5152
- Johnson 913-894-2525
- Leavenworth 913-250-2000
- Linn 913-352-6640
- Miami 913-294-2431
- Wyandotte 913-573-6702
An important factor to consider in selecting a provider is the adult-to-child ratio.
Minimum licensing standards are as follows:
Child Care Centers
Ratio of Children to One Provider:
| Age of Children |
Child:Staff Ratio |
Maximum Group Size |
| 2 wks. - 12 mos. | 3:1 | 9 |
| 2 wks. - 6 yrs. | 4:1 (max. 2 infants) | 8 (max. 4 infants) |
| 12 mos. - 21/2 yrs. | 5:1 | 10 |
| 2 yrs. - 3 yrs. | 7:1 | 14 |
| 21/2 yrs. - school age | 10:1 | 20 |
| 3 yrs. - school age | 12:1 | 24 |
| Kindergarten enrollees | 14:1 | 28 |
| School age | 16:1 | 32 |
Group Home
Total Number of Children Allowed: 7-12
Ratio of Children to Two Providers:
|
Max Number Under 18 mos. |
Max Number 18 mos. to kindergarten |
Kindergarten age to 11 yrs. |
Total Max |
| 1 | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 2 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 4 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
Provider's Own Children Counted: Yes; If under age 11
Licensed Family Home
Total Number of Children Allowed: 7-10
Ratio of Children to One Provider:
|
Max Number Under 18 mos. |
Max Number 18 mos. to kindergarten |
Kindergarten age to 11 yrs. |
Total Max |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
Provider's Own Children Counted: Yes; If under age 11
Maximum Number of Infants/Toddlers to One Provider: 3; Under 18 mos.
Please visit the recommended websites below to better understand your child care options in Kansas.
Child Care Aware® of Kansas - Statewide Child Care Resource & Referral Agency
The Kansas Department of Health & Environment - Kansas Child Care Regulations
Licensing Regulations in Missouri
Licensed means that a provider has been inspected and found to meet basic, minimum health and safety standards. Child care centers, group homes, family homes caring for five or more unrelated children and Head Start sites are all required by law to be licensed.
License-Exempt child care refers to religious organizations operating child care facilities and part-day nursery school programs. These programs don't have to be licensed, but are required by law to be inspected.
Exempt applies to family child care homes caring for four or fewer children unrelated to the provider, child care facilities operated by school systems and academic preschools run by religious organizations. These facilities are exempt from any regulation or inspection.
The Missouri Department of Health Division of Health Standards and Licensure is the agency that oversees licensed and license-exempt child care facilities in the state of Missouri. All serious licensing violations and unsafe or unhealthy conditions in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, Platte and Ray counties need to be reported to the Northwestern District Child Care Bureau at 816-350-5450. In Bates County, contact the Southwestern District Office at 417-895-6541. In Saline County, contact the Central District Child Care Bureau at 573-751-2891.
Child Care Centers
Ratio of Children to One Provider:
| Age of Children |
Child: Staff Ratio |
Maximum Group Size |
| 6 wks. - 24 mos. | 4:1 | 8 |
| 24 mos. | 8:1 | 16 |
| 3 yrs. - 4 yrs. | 10:1 | Not regulated (NR) |
| 5 yrs. & up | 16:1 | N |
Group HomeTotal Number of Children Allowed: 11-20
Ratio of Children to One Provider:
| 4:1 | For 0-2 yrs., max group size is 8 |
| 8:1 | For 2 yrs., max group size is 16 |
| 8:1 | With more than four 2-yr.-olds |
| 10:1 | With max of four 2-yr.-olds |
| 10:1 | For 3-4 yrs., no max group size |
| 16:1 | For 5+ yrs.; mixed ages over 2 yrs. |
Provider's Own Children Counted: No
Family Home
Total Number of Children Allowed: 5-10
Maximum Number of Children to One Provider:
| 10 | If two under 2 yrs. |
| 6 | If three under 2 yrs. |
| 4 | If all under 2 yrs. |
Provider's Own Children Counted: No
Maximum Number of Infants/Toddlers to One Provider: 4; Under 2 yrs.
Please visit the recommended websites below to better understand your child care options in Missouri.
Child Care Aware® of Missouri - Statewide Child Care Resource & Referral Agency
The Department of Health & Senior Services - Missouri Child Care Regulations
