Section 5-A139. STAFF MEMBER REQUIREMENTS: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

139.1 Each paid employee of a Licensee serving infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers whose duties or responsibilities include the care of enrolled children shall participate in ongoing professional development, which shall include:

 

(a) Registration with and participation in OSSE’s professional development information system;

 

(b) Pre-service and orientation training in health and safety standards, as detailed in this section;

 

(c) Annual training  to maintain and update the employee’s knowledge of health and safety standards; and

 

(d) Annual professional development that:

 

(1) Incorporates the knowledge and application of the District’s early learning and developmental guidelines;

 

(2) Promotes the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children; and

 

(3) Improves the knowledge and skills of directors, teachers, and caregivers in working with children and their families.

 

139.2 Within thirty (30) calendar days of date of hire, each staff member shall receive pre-service training in the health and safety standards of licensed Child Development Facilities in the District of Columbia that, at a minimum, shall include:

 

(a) Child abuse and neglect, prevention, detection and reporting;

 

(b) Emergency preparation and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event;

 

(c) Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices, as applicable;

 

(d) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, as applicable; and

 

(e) First aid and CPR.

 

139.3 Within ninety (90) calendar days of date of hire, each staff member shall receive orientation training in the additional health and safety standards of licensed Child Development Facilities in the District of Columbia that, at a minimum, shall include:

 

(a) Developmentally appropriate programming for infants, toddlers, preschool, and/or school-age children, as applicable;

 

(b) Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunization;

 

(c) Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental or guardian consent;

 

(d) Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions;

 

(e) Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; and

 

(f) Poison prevention, including the handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants.

 

139.4 The following critical health and safety training must be completed before staff members are allowed to care for children unsupervised:

 

(a) Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices, as applicable;

 

(b) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, as applicable;

 

(c) First aid and CPR;

 

(d) Poison prevention, including the handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants; and

 

(e) Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunization.

 

139.5 All staff members responsible for transporting children shall receive additional orientation training in the following areas prior to assuming their transportation duties:

 

(a) Transportation regulations, including the modeling of how to properly conduct a vehicle passenger check and demonstration by staff to director on how to conduct a vehicle passenger check;

 

(b) Proper use of child safety restraints required by District law;

 

(c) Proper loading, unloading, and monitoring of children;

 

(d) Location of first aid supplies; and

 

(e) Emergency procedures for the vehicle, including actions to be taken in the event of accidents or breakdowns.

 

139.6 Each paid employee of a Facility serving infants, toddlers, and/or preschoolers whose duties or responsibilities include the care of enrolled children shall participate in annual professional development, including annual training that maintains and updates the health and safety standards, as follows:

 

(a) Child Development Center staff shall participate in at least twenty-one (21) hours of professional development annually;

 

(b) Child Development Home Caregivers and staff shall participate in at least twelve (12) hours of professional development annually; and

 

(c) Expanded Home Caregivers and staff shall participate in at least fifteen (15) hours of professional development annually.

 

139.7 Annual training that maintains and updates the health and safety standards shall include:

 

(a) Child abuse and neglect, prevention, detection and reporting;

 

(b) Emergency preparation and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event;

 

(c) Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices;

 

(d) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma;

 

(e) First aid and CPR;

 

(f) Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunization;

 

(g) Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental or guardian consent; 

 

(h) Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions;

 

(i) Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic;

 

(j) Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants; and

 

(k) Identifying, approaching and referring students showing signs of psychological distress to appropriate support services pursuant to Section 115b of the Department of Mental Health Establishment Amendment Act of 2001,  effective December 18, 2001 (D.C. Law 14-56; D.C. Official Code § 7-1131.17).

 

139.8 Annual professional development, beyond the health and safety standards, may include:

 

(a) Developmentally appropriate programming for infants, toddlers, preschool, and/or school-age children, as applicable;

 

(b) Developmentally appropriate methods of positive behavior intervention and support;

 

(c) Inclusion of children with special needs, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and

 

(d) Communication and collaboration with parents, guardians, and families;

 

(e) Community health and social services resources for children and families;

 

(f) Planning developmentally appropriate programs and activities for children and families;

 

(g) Enhancing self-regulation and self-esteem in children;

 

(h) Montessori curriculum, pedagogy, classroom management and other topics specific to the Montessori program, if applicable;

 

(i) Basic or advanced business practices; and

 

(j) Any other area as determined by OSSE.

 

139.9 Each staff member may receive the required pre-service training, orientation training, and professional development in a variety of settings, including but not limited to seminars, in person or online courses, workshops, conferences, or association meetings:

 

(a) Conducted by an OSSE approved trainer or training organization through OSSE’s Trainer Approval Program, or any similar program established by OSSE; or

 

(b) Conducted by institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

 

139.10 Licensee shall maintain, and make available for inspection by OSSE upon request, adequate documentation of each staff member’s completion of the required pre-service training, orientation training, and professional development. Acceptable documentation shall include one (1) or more of the following:

 

(a) A transcript from an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation;

 

(b) Certification of participation from a training source approved by OSSE;

 

(c) Written documentation verifying completion of training in First Aid for children, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for children, or common childhood illnesses, from acceptable sponsoring entities, including the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the National Safety Council, and other similarly recognized organizations; or

 

(d) A signed and dated statement from the trainer, on a form approved by OSSE, verifying the staff member’s participation in a training program conducted by a trainer licensed, certified, or otherwise approved by OSSE.

 

139.11 A private, parochial, or independent school is exempt from complying with the requirements of Sections 139.1(c), 139.5, and 139.7, if the school:

 

(a) Is an elementary/secondary educational program, as defined in this chapter;

 

(b) Cares for infants and toddlers on the same premises as the instructional program offered to school-age children;

 

(c) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body or other body satisfying similar standards as approved by OSSE; and

 

(d) Does not offer subsidized child care.

 

139.12 [RESERVED].

 

 

authority

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.), and regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99.

source

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