Section 5-A127. PARENT COMMUNICATION

 

127.1 A Licensee shall establish and maintain respectful and professional communication with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of children enrolled.

 

127.2 A Licensee shall provide parent(s) and guardian(s) with access to their child(ren) at all times while at the Facility.

 

127.3 A Licensee shall establish and implement written policies and procedures which shall be kept current and made available to the parent(s) and guardian(s) and used to govern the operations of the Facility.

 

127.4 The policies and procedures shall be consistent with all applicable Federal and local laws and regulations and shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

(a) A description of services to be provided, specifying the ages of children to be served, days and times of operation, and days and times that the Facility is closed;

 

(b) A description of enrollment and admission requirements s specifying the parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ responsibilities for supplying needed information to the Facility and escorting the child to and from the Facility;

 

(c) A fee and payment schedule specifying the standard fees, fees related to absences and vacations and other charges and fees such as transportation and late fees;

 

(d) A description of the Facility’s transportation and field trip services; 

 

(e) A description of the Facility’s procedures for administering medication, both prescription and non-prescription, and notifying parent(s) and guardian(s) of noticeable adverse reactions to medications;

 

(f) A description of the Facility’s procedure for notifying parent(s) and guardian(s) when their child is ill or injured, and the Facility’s policy regarding the exclusion of sick children;

 

(g) A description of the Facility’s procedure for notifying parent(s) and guardian(s) when a child, employee, or volunteer at the Facility has a communicable disease;

 

(h) A description of the Facility’s procedure for handling medical emergencies;

 

(i) A description of meals and snacks served, and guidelines or requirements for food brought by a child to the Facility;

 

(j) A statement that parent(s) and guardian(s) have access  to all Facility areas used by their child (and a description of any conditions placed on that access);

 

(k) Child abuse reporting law requirements;

 

(l) The Facility’s procedures for identifying and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma in infants, if applicable;

 

(m) A description of behavior management practices used at the Facility;

 

(n) Nondiscrimination statement;

 

(o) If licensed for the care of an infant or toddler, the Facility’s:

 

(1) Diapering procedures;

 

(2) Toilet training procedures; and

 

(3) Feeding procedures;

 

(p) A description of the safe sleep practices followed by the Center that includes the following information:

 

(1) When setting an infant down to sleep, the infant will be placed on his or her back;

 

(2) No covers or other soft items are allowed in cribs;

 

(3) A description of what constitutes appropriate sleep clothing for infants to be provided by parent or guardian;

 

(4) A statement that individual crib, cot or mat and bedding is provided, and the changing and cleaning practices for these items;

 

(5) A statement that infants who fall asleep in other equipment, on the floor or elsewhere will be moved to a crib to sleep; and

 

(6) A statement that no swaddling or positioning devices will be used at the Facility.

 

127.5 A Licensee shall maintain written documentation that the Facility has provided the parent(s) with a copy of the Facility’s current policies and procedures.

 

 

authority

The State Superintendent of Education (“State Superintendent”), pursuant to authority set forth in Sections 3(b)(6A), 3(b)(9), 3(b)(9A), 3(b)(11) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(6A), (b)(9), (b)(9A), and (b)(11)) (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); the Day Care Policy Act of 1979, effective September 19, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-16; D.C. Official Code §§ 4-401 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)) (“Day Care Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-3, dated January 15, 2009; the Child Development Facilities Regulation Act of 1998, effective April 13, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-215; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-2031 et seq. (2012 Repl.)) (“Facilities Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-130, dated July 16, 2009; Sections 503 and 504 of the Early Intervention Program Establishment Act of 2004, effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-863.03 and 7-863.04 (2012 Repl.)); Mayor’s Order 2009-167, dated September 28, 2009; Titles I and II of the Child and Youth, Safety and Health Omnibus Amendment Act of 2004 (“CYSHA”), effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-620.31 et seq. and §§ 4-1501.01 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); and the Healthy Tots Act of 2014, effective February 26, 2015 (D.C. Law 20-155; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-281 et seq. (2016 Supp.)); and pursuant to the Social Security Act, approved February 22, 2012 (Pub.L. 112-96; 42 U.S.C. § 618(c)); the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (“CCDBG Act”), approved November 19, 2014 (Pub.L. 113-186; 42 U.S.C. §§ 9858 et seq.).

source

Final Rulemaking at 63 DCR 14640 (December 2, 2016).