Title

Child Care Regulation Modernization Project

Intro

In 2021, the Minnesota legislature passed legislation and allocated federal funding to support regulation modernization for both licensed family child care and child care centers (MN Laws 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 7, Article 2, sections 75 and 81). The Child Care Regulation Modernization project supports the development of three components: 

  • Key indicator systems for abbreviated inspections
  • Risk-based tiered violation systems (the Weighted Risk System)
  • Revised licensing standards 

During the 2025 legislative session, the Family Child Care Regulation Modernization language was amended to repeal the requirement for “national regulatory best practices” for the Weighted Risk System and expand provisions related to engagement and language requirements. Additionally, this update notes that the Weighted Risk System may not be implemented any earlier than January 1, 2027.  

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News and updates

The revised licensing standards for family child care and child care centers will be introduced during the 2026 legislative session. This page will be updated during that process, and you can stay engaged and informed by listening to committee hearings on the Minnesota Legislature webpage and by submitting written or live testimony. 

Previous draft licensing standards

About the project

DCYF contracted with the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) to assist with developing these components for both family child care and child care centers. NARA developed and implemented a stakeholder engagement process that solicited input from licensed child care providers, county licensors, parents, experts in child development, DCYF staff and others. Additionally, NARA assisted DCYF in the creation of the key indicators for abbreviated inspections and the Weighted Risk System. To review previous project reports, visit the “Resources” tab.

Contact the project team with questions or comments at ccregmodernization.dcyf@state.mn.us.

Not finding what you're looking for? If you are looking for information regarding the Provider Hub system for online licensing, certification, and Child Care Assistance Program registration, visit the Provider Hub page.

Objective

The Child Care Regulation Modernization project covers two service types: family child care and child care centers. Each service type has three components:  

  • Key indicator systems for abbreviated inspections
  • Risk-based tiered violation systems (the Weighted Risk System)
  • Revised licensing standards 

Key indicator systems for abbreviated inspections

DCYF used methodology developed by the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) to identify which licensing standards should be included in abbreviated inspections. Abbreviated inspections will include a subset of standards known as key indicators, which statistically predict compliance with the entire list of standards. The key indicators are identified using an empirically based statistical methodology developed by NARA and the Research Institute for Key Indicators.  

Currently, licensed child care providers are monitored annually for compliance with licensing standards. An abbreviated inspection would allow providers who meet eligibility criteria to receive a shorter review that is focused on a specific subset of standards. Stakeholders were consulted about eligibility criteria for abbreviated inspections. Eligibility criteria may consider the length of time providers have been licensed and their history of compliance. 

For this component, NARA and the Department worked together to:

  • Identify which standards should be included in abbreviated inspections, based on a key indicators analysis; 

  • Engage stakeholders to determine eligibility criteria for an abbreviated inspection; and 

  • Develop training materials to help licensors, providers, and the public understand abbreviated inspections when they are ready to be implemented. 

Risk-based tiered violation systems

NARA worked with stakeholders to develop a tiered framework that is weighted to reflect the level of risk that a violation poses to children. This is now known as the Weighted Risk System in Minnesota. Enforcement mechanisms will be similarly tiered, linking the severity of the licensing action to the potential risk of harm to the child. This system was passed by the 2024 Legislature.    

NARA collected information regarding the risks associated with licensing standards, as well as appropriate enforcement mechanisms for each tier of violation. For more information on how NARA and the Department gathered stakeholder input, see

 

Revised licensing standards

NARA worked with stakeholders to develop revised child care licensing standards to replace outdated standards that were written in the 1980s. Relying on its experience in other states, NARA worked with child care providers, county licensing agencies, DCYF, industry experts, and other child care stakeholders to develop the updated licensing standards.  

NARA’s contract concluded at the end of 2024. Since then, the Department has led this work directly, continuing to engage child care providers, licensors, and parents to further refine the proposed standards. 

To learn more about the revised licensing standards process, see the “Resources” tab for the “Survey to Guide Revised Licensing Standards – Stakeholder Survey Report, 2023 project highlights,” and Key Theme reports for both family child care and child care centers.

Objective

The Child Care Regulation Modernization project covers two service types: family child care and child care centers. Each service type has three components:  

  • Key indicator systems for abbreviated inspections
  • Risk-based tiered violation systems (the Weighted Risk System)
  • Revised licensing standards 

Key indicator systems for abbreviated inspections

DCYF used methodology developed by the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) to identify which licensing standards should be included in abbreviated inspections. Abbreviated inspections will include a subset of standards known as key indicators, which statistically predict compliance with the entire list of standards. The key indicators are identified using an empirically based statistical methodology developed by NARA and the Research Institute for Key Indicators.  

Currently, licensed child care providers are monitored annually for compliance with licensing standards. An abbreviated inspection would allow providers who meet eligibility criteria to receive a shorter review that is focused on a specific subset of standards. Stakeholders were consulted about eligibility criteria for abbreviated inspections. Eligibility criteria may consider the length of time providers have been licensed and their history of compliance. 

For this component, NARA and the Department worked together to:

  • Identify which standards should be included in abbreviated inspections, based on a key indicators analysis; 

  • Engage stakeholders to determine eligibility criteria for an abbreviated inspection; and 

  • Develop training materials to help licensors, providers, and the public understand abbreviated inspections when they are ready to be implemented. 

Risk-based tiered violation systems

NARA worked with stakeholders to develop a tiered framework that is weighted to reflect the level of risk that a violation poses to children. This is now known as the Weighted Risk System in Minnesota. Enforcement mechanisms will be similarly tiered, linking the severity of the licensing action to the potential risk of harm to the child. This system was passed by the 2024 Legislature.    

NARA collected information regarding the risks associated with licensing standards, as well as appropriate enforcement mechanisms for each tier of violation. For more information on how NARA and the Department gathered stakeholder input, see

 

Revised licensing standards

NARA worked with stakeholders to develop revised child care licensing standards to replace outdated standards that were written in the 1980s. Relying on its experience in other states, NARA worked with child care providers, county licensing agencies, DCYF, industry experts, and other child care stakeholders to develop the updated licensing standards.  

NARA’s contract concluded at the end of 2024. Since then, the Department has led this work directly, continuing to engage child care providers, licensors, and parents to further refine the proposed standards. 

To learn more about the revised licensing standards process, see the “Resources” tab for the “Survey to Guide Revised Licensing Standards – Stakeholder Survey Report, 2023 project highlights,” and Key Theme reports for both family child care and child care centers.