Section 3280.31. Age and training

(a) A volunteer shall be 16 years of age or older and shall be directly supervised at all times.

(b) A staff person shall be 18 years of age or older.

(c) An individual 16 years of age or older who is enrolled in an approved training curriculum may be used as a staff person, if the following guidelines are met:

(1) The curriculum is conducted by an institution approved by the Department of Education and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Education and acceptable to the Department of Education.

(2) The curriculum includes acceptable training topics referenced in subsection (e)(2).

(3) The curriculum includes a minimum total of 600 clock hours, distributed as follows:

(i) A minimum of 400 clock hours of classroom training.

(ii) A minimum of 200 clock hours of supervised training in a child day care facility.

(4) A representative of the training institution certifies in writing that the individual has completed the required classroom training and is currently enrolled in the curriculum.

(5) The written certification required in paragraph (4) shall be retained in the staff file at the facility.

(d) Child care professional credentials are equivalent to the following staff qualifications:

(1) A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) credential is equivalent to 9 credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education or child development and 1 year experience with children.

(2) A Pennsylvania school-age professional credential is equivalent to 9 credit hours from an accredited college or university in elementary education or child development and 1 year experience with children.

(e) A staff person shall obtain an annual minimum of 6 clock hours of child care training.

(1) Acceptable training is conducted in one or more of the following settings:

(i) By a secondary or postsecondary institution approved by the Department of Education and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and acceptable to the Department of Education.

(ii) By an entity that is licensed or certified professionally competent in the training topic.

(iii) In conferences or workshops.

(iv) With audio-visual materials recognized by child care professionals.

(2) Acceptable training topics include the following:

(i) Child or staff health.

(ii) Child development, early childhood education and special education.

(iii) Supervision, discipline and guidance of children.

(iv) Nutrition for children.

(v) Child care program development.

(vi) Child care staff person or volunteer professional development.

(3) Other training topics may be submitted for the Department’s review and approval.

(4) Depending on the provisions of the appropriate regulation, training may be required for certain staff persons. The following constitutes competence in training areas:

(i) First-aid training. Competence is completion of training by a professional in the field of first-aid. First-aid training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of certification of every 3 years, as applicable.

(ii) Lifeguard training. Competence is completion of lifeguard training, including first-aid training and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for child and infant.

(iii) Water safety instruction. Competence is completion of basic instruction in water safety from a certified lifeguard.

(f) Completion of training shall be documented by the signature and title of a representative of the training entity and include the date training was completed. Documentation shall be retained in the facility person’s file.

The provisions of this § 3280.31 amended May 23, 2008, effective September 22, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 2437; corrected September 19, 2008, effective May 24, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 5168. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (335073) to (335074).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 3280.31 amended under Articles IX and X of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. § § 901—922 and 1001—1087).

Cross References

This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3280.31 (relating to application for and issuance of a certificate of compliance); 55 Pa. Code § 3280.34 (relating to primary staff person qualifications and responsibilities); 55 Pa. Code § 3280.35 (relating to secondary staff person qualifications and responsibilities); 55 Pa. Code § 3280.115 (relating to water activity); and 55 Pa. Code § 3280.221 (relating to requirements specific to school-age programs).