Latest Connector Call Questions

How does licensing define "swimming"? Can children explore and wade up to their ankles? Knees? At what point, and for what ages, does it become "swimming"?

Swimming is not defined in family child care or child care center licensing requirements. The family child care requirements in Minnesota Rules 9502 and Minnesota Statutes 142B are related to bodies of water, wading pools and swimming pools. The child care center requirements in Minnesota Rules 9503 and Minnesota Statutes 142B are related to bodies of water that could pose hazards. The requirements in 142B regarding wading pools and swimming pools do not apply to licensed child care centers.

Can you clarify the square footage considerations for nap spaces? What is the set distance the nap cots need to have between them? 

Minnesota Rules 9503 state licensed child care centers are required to have a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor space, which would include any space where children are napping. Additional requirements in the rule speak to placement of equipment during naps and rest so that cots are placed with clear aisles and unimpeded access for both adults and children on at least one side. We would expect enough room on a long side of a cot for an adult to easily walk between them and have access to children who might require assistance during nap and rest time.

After the tragedy at Annunciation Church, that also included a licensed child care program, has there been conversations about providers not sharing their exact plans with parents on intruders and evacuation routes?  

Child care centers are currently required to have a Child Care Emergency Plan on a form prescribed by the commissioner and to provide a copy to parents upon enrollment (142B.66, subd 3 (e)).  Family child care providers are also required to have a Child Care Emergency Plan on a form prescribed by the commissioner and make it available for review. DCYF recognizes this significant concern and is considering it in finalizing its proposal for revised licensing standards. 

Can parents bring in 100% prune juice for their children to drink at child care to help with BMs without a doctor note?

Licensed child care centers are required to create and follow a menu that complies with USDA regulations. Requirements for licensed child care centers about food and water can be found in 9503.0145. Parents can supply food and beverage for their child, but if a parent makes a dietary request for a medical reason, a doctor’s note for the prescribed diet would be appropriate.  

Do we have to serve a child milk even if we know they won’t drink it? What if the child asks for water?  Do they need a doctor note?

Minnesota Rule 9503.0145 states that licensed child care centers are required to create and follow a menu that complies with USDA regulations. A doctor’s note stating that a child does not need to be served milk is not the same as a prescribed diet (a medical reason to not have milk). The USDA guidelines must be followed, and a milk or milk substitute needs to be served to each child. The child could choose to not drink the milk, but the licensed child care center must still offer it. Some centers use smaller cups so that they only offer the minimum requirement of milk in each cup to account for scenarios like this.  This might require the staff to refill some cups for those who like and want more milk while also avoiding waste for children who will not drink it.

Are glass bottles allowed in the infant room? Even with a silicone grip?

DCYF discourages the use of glass bottles due to the possibility of shattering glass as a potential hazard, however, we could approve a variance to use a glass bottle with very specific conditions, including having a protective sleeve. Another option is a hybrid bottle where the interior chamber that holds the milk is glass, and the exterior material is a breakproof plastic. This type of bottle does not require a variance.

Do bottles need to be dated each day? What if they bring new bottles each day and we send any extra home each night? 

There is no licensing requirement for bottles to be dated each day. Family child care requirements for bottles can be found in Minnesota Rule, 9502.0445, subp. 3 (D), which states, “Food, lunches, and bottles brought from home must be labeled with the child's name and refrigerated when necessary. Bottles must be washed after use.” 

Child care center requirements for bottles can be found in Minnesota Rule, 9503.0145, which states to label each child’s bottle (with their first and last name).  Procedures about how to prepare, handle, and store formula, milk, breast milk, solid foods, and supplements for infants must be reviewed and approved by the child care center’s health consultant. 

With potential changes to immunization requirements and accessibility, as well as access to health care for low-income families; is the state considering any changes to requirements for health care summaries or vaccinations for children to attend child care? 

DCYF follows the immunization guidance issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. We have not heard of any changes to children’s immunization requirements or accessibility issues but will engage with MDH if any changes or concerns arise. 

The child care regulation modernization project is ongoing and DCYF is in final stage of the drafting process for the revised licensing standards. One item under consideration for child care centers is the required frequency of physical examination reports after a child’s initial enrollment and if it should be changed to be less frequent. 

Are licensed child care providers allowed to purchase and use epinephrine auto-injectors without a prescription based on the Epinephrine Auto-injector Law Minn. Stat. § 144.999?

Yes, this law allows DCYF licensed child care programs (“preschools and daycares”) to obtain an EpiPen without a prescription and keep it on site to use in the event a child experiences a severe allergic reaction (“anaphylaxis”). The EpiPen does not need to be prescribed to a specific child, but the licensed program should label the EpiPen with the center’s/school’s name and monitor to ensure it has not expired. 

An individual is interested in having a foster or group home license. How do they apply for that? 

Adult foster care and child foster care licensing is performed by counties. If you are interested in applying for a family adult or child foster care license, contact the county licensing agency where you live for more information. Please note that there is a moratorium on new licenses for adult or child foster programs where the license holder does not reside in the home (Minnesota Statutes, 245A.03, subd 7).

I have a classroom assistant who has enough hours to be a lead teacher. She is a natural teacher!  What the quickest track is to get her lead teacher certified? 

Licensed child care centers can request variances for staff qualifications. There are two types of variances – Track 1 and Track 2. Track 1 variances are for staff who are working toward meeting the education and experience qualifications listed in Minnesota Rules 9503. Track 2 variances are for staff who are at least 18 years of age and are not directly working toward the full qualification requirements. For this type of variance, the staff person is required to have experience working in a licensed child care center, completed a minimum number or training hours (education) from a list of approved training organizations, and commit to completing additional training each calendar year. Additional details can be found on the licensed child care centers webpage. 

You can connect with Professional Development Advisor at your local Child Care Aware agency for support. https://www.childcareawaremn.org/contact-us/.

With the new NAEYC tiers, will they continue to re-imburse for half the costs regardless of which tier we choose? 

Prior to May 2025, NAEYC only offered one tier of accreditation. NAEYC now offers three tiers: recognition, accreditation, and accreditation plus. Effective July 1, 2025, programs that choose the accreditation and the accreditation plus NAEYC tiers will be eligible to use the Parent Aware Accelerated Rating Pathway. In addition, these tiers will also count for the Child Care Assistance Program’s 15 percent higher tier of reimbursement for higher quality programs.  

At the time, the department is still determining which level of tiers will be eligible for re-imbursement. The department will share when this determined and the information will be posted to the DCYF website about child care accreditation. https://dcyf.mn.gov/child-care-accreditation.