Bill > S528

This bill introduces several key reforms to child care regulations in North Carolina, focusing on improving flexibility and standards in child care settings. The bill modifies qualifications for child care staff, allowing administrators of school-age child care programs to use a School-Age Administration Credential and recognizing five years of work experience in a licensed child care facility as equivalent to the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential. It increases maximum group sizes for infant and toddler care, particularly for centers operating under enhanced voluntary requirements, and provides more lenient space and equipment standards for school-age child care programs using existing school facilities. The bill also establishes a workgroup to streamline regulatory requirements for physical structures of licensed child care facilities, adds the Weikart Youth Program Quality Assessment as an evaluation tool for out-of-school child care programs, and includes provisions for child care during state emergencies. Additionally, the legislation clarifies rules for multiuse child care centers, allowing individual licenses based on square footage and promoting the use of existing buildings for child care centers. These changes aim to provide more operational flexibility for child care providers while maintaining a focus on child safety and quality care.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S528