DELACARE Regulations (Delaware Regulations for Early Care and Education) Compliant

Delaware ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Delaware DELACARE Regulations (Delaware Regulations for Early Care and Education) regulations. Bloomily helps Delaware childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for Delaware licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
Infants (0-12 months) Under 12 months. Staff-child ratio for infants must be maintained at all times; staff assigned to specific infants/toddlers within their group.	1:4	8 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)
Young Toddlers (12-24 months) 12 through 23 months (1 year old). Regulation uses inclusive 12-23; exclusive-max equivalent is 12-24.	1:6	12 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)
Older Toddlers (24-36 months) 24 through 35 months (2 year old). Regulation uses inclusive 24-35; exclusive-max equivalent is 24-36.	1:8	16 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)
preschool_3 36 through 47 months (3 year old). Regulation uses inclusive 36-47; exclusive-max equivalent is 36-48.	1:10	20 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)
preschool_4 48 months or older and not yet attending kindergarten or higher (4 year old / pre-K). Band end 60mo is standard K-entry approximation; regulation is attendance-based not strictly month-based.	1:12	24 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)
School Age (5+ years) Attending kindergarten or higher. Variance to 1:20 allowed when a currently certified Delaware teacher is teaching; max group of 30 never waived. Upper bound 156mo (13yr) used per default; regulation says 'under 18' but CCDBG/licensing practice caps at 13.	1:15	30 children	14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE: Regulations for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers), Section 27 — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (2022 version, effective per Delaware Dept. of Education OCCL)

Bloomily automatically monitors staff-to-child ratios in real-time and alerts you when you're approaching limits.

Required Certifications

Certifications required for Delaware childcare staff

Annual Training (Delaware)

Delaware requires minimum 18 clock hours annual professional development

Renew annuallyDocument required

Child Protection Registry Check (Delaware)

Delaware DSCYF Child Protection Registry check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Criminal Background Check (Delaware)

Delaware State Police and FBI fingerprint background check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Director Qualifications (Delaware)

Director qualifications per DELACARE including education and experience requirements

Document required

First Aid (Delaware)

Pediatric first aid certification required

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Food Handler Certification (Delaware)

Food safety training for staff preparing food

Renew every 3 yearsDocument required

Lead Teacher Qualifications (Delaware)

Lead teacher qualifications per DELACARE regulations

Document required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Mandatory Reporter Training (Delaware)

Delaware mandatory reporter training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Medication Administration (Delaware)

Training for staff who administer medications to children

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Orientation Training (Delaware)

Initial orientation training within first 90 days of employment

Document required

Pediatric CPR (Delaware)

Infant and child CPR certification required for all caregivers

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Safe Sleep Training (Delaware)

Safe sleep training required for infant caregivers

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Bloomily tracks certification expiration dates and sends automated renewal reminders before they lapse.

Emergency Drill Requirements

Required safety drills for Delaware childcare facilities

Required Drills

Evacuation

Monthly

Section 66.B: 'Monthly evacuation drills must be practiced from all exit locations during different times of the day, including nap time.' Documentation must include date/time, number of children and staff, exits used, and total evacuation time. This is the only drill type with an explicit frequency mandate in Section 66.

Ref: 14 DE Admin. Code 933 (DELACARE), Section 66 — Emergency Planning (2022 version); Sections 66.B and 66.D

Bloomily automatically schedules drills and tracks completion to ensure you never miss a requirement.

Delaware Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DELACARE Regulations (Delaware Regulations for Early Care and Education) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

Current OCCL license posted in visible location

Ref: DELACARE 1.1

License capacity not exceeded

Ref: DELACARE 1.2

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: DELACARE 1.3

Parent handbook current and available

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Written policies and procedures current

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Fee schedule posted or provided to parents

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Liability insurance current and adequate

Ref: DELACARE 1.8

Required postings visible (license, emergency plans, menus)

Ref: DELACARE 1.9

OCCL contact information posted

Ref: DELACARE 1.9

Reporting requirements met (incidents, changes)

Ref: DELACARE 1.10

Staff

All staff have current background clearances (DSP and FBI)

Ref: DELACARE 2.5

Child Protection Registry checks completed

Ref: DELACARE 2.5

Director meets education/experience requirements

Ref: DELACARE 2.10

Lead teachers meet qualification requirements

Ref: DELACARE 2.15

All staff have current CPR certification

Ref: DELACARE 2.20

All staff have current First Aid certification

Ref: DELACARE 2.20

Mandatory reporter training completed (all staff)

Ref: DELACARE 2.22

Annual training requirements met (18 hours)

Ref: DELACARE 2.25

Orientation training completed within 90 days

Ref: DELACARE 2.30

Safe sleep training for infant caregivers

Ref: DELACARE 2.35

Medication administration training current

Ref: DELACARE 2.40

Staff files complete with required documentation

Ref: DELACARE 2.45

Records

Enrollment forms complete for all children

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Emergency contact information current

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Immunization records current (DelVAX verified)

Ref: DELACARE 4.15

Health assessments on file

Ref: DELACARE 4.15

Authorized pickup persons documented

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Allergy and special health needs documented

Ref: DELACARE 4.20

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: DELACARE 4.25

Individual health care plans current (if applicable)

Ref: DELACARE 4.20

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: DELACARE 4.30

Parent rights acknowledgment signed

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Health

First aid kit fully stocked and accessible

Ref: DELACARE 5.5

Medications stored properly (locked, labeled)

Ref: DELACARE 5.10

Cleaning and hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: DELACARE 3.35

Handwashing procedures followed and documented

Ref: DELACARE 5.25

Diapering and toileting procedures posted

Ref: DELACARE 5.30

Safe sleep practices followed (infants on back)

Ref: DELACARE 5.35

Food handling and safety requirements met

Ref: DELACARE 5.40

Illness exclusion policy current

Ref: DELACARE 5.20

Water temperature safe (120°F max)

Ref: DELACARE 3.30

Tobacco, alcohol, and weapons prohibited

Ref: DELACARE 3.40

Emergency

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Severe weather drill records current (quarterly)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency evacuation plan posted and current

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency contact lists readily available

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Operations

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: DELACARE 3.25

Delaware STARS rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Delaware STARS

This checklist is provided for reference only. Always verify requirements with your state licensing agency.

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Delaware DELACARE Regulations (Delaware Regulations for Early Care and Education) requirements

Licensing(10)Staff(12)Records(10)Health(10)Emergency(6)Operations(2)

Current OCCL license posted in visible location

Ref: DELACARE 1.1

Licensing

License capacity not exceeded

Ref: DELACARE 1.2

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: DELACARE 1.3

Licensing

Parent handbook current and available

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Licensing

Written policies and procedures current

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Licensing

Fee schedule posted or provided to parents

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Licensing

Liability insurance current and adequate

Ref: DELACARE 1.8

Licensing

Required postings visible (license, emergency plans, menus)

Ref: DELACARE 1.9

Licensing

OCCL contact information posted

Ref: DELACARE 1.9

Licensing

Reporting requirements met (incidents, changes)

Ref: DELACARE 1.10

Licensing

All staff have current background clearances (DSP and FBI)

Ref: DELACARE 2.5

Staff

Child Protection Registry checks completed

Ref: DELACARE 2.5

Staff

Director meets education/experience requirements

Ref: DELACARE 2.10

Staff

Lead teachers meet qualification requirements

Ref: DELACARE 2.15

Staff

All staff have current CPR certification

Ref: DELACARE 2.20

Staff

All staff have current First Aid certification

Ref: DELACARE 2.20

Staff

Mandatory reporter training completed (all staff)

Ref: DELACARE 2.22

Staff

Annual training requirements met (18 hours)

Ref: DELACARE 2.25

Staff

Orientation training completed within 90 days

Ref: DELACARE 2.30

Staff

Safe sleep training for infant caregivers

Ref: DELACARE 2.35

Staff

Medication administration training current

Ref: DELACARE 2.40

Staff

Staff files complete with required documentation

Ref: DELACARE 2.45

Staff

Enrollment forms complete for all children

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Records

Immunization records current (DelVAX verified)

Ref: DELACARE 4.15

Records

Health assessments on file

Ref: DELACARE 4.15

Records

Authorized pickup persons documented

Ref: DELACARE 4.10

Records

Allergy and special health needs documented

Ref: DELACARE 4.20

Records

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: DELACARE 4.25

Records

Individual health care plans current (if applicable)

Ref: DELACARE 4.20

Records

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: DELACARE 4.30

Records

Parent rights acknowledgment signed

Ref: DELACARE 1.5

Records

First aid kit fully stocked and accessible

Ref: DELACARE 5.5

Health

Medications stored properly (locked, labeled)

Ref: DELACARE 5.10

Health

Cleaning and hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: DELACARE 3.35

Health

Handwashing procedures followed and documented

Ref: DELACARE 5.25

Health

Diapering and toileting procedures posted

Ref: DELACARE 5.30

Health

Safe sleep practices followed (infants on back)

Ref: DELACARE 5.35

Health

Food handling and safety requirements met

Ref: DELACARE 5.40

Health

Illness exclusion policy current

Ref: DELACARE 5.20

Health

Water temperature safe (120°F max)

Ref: DELACARE 3.30

Health

Tobacco, alcohol, and weapons prohibited

Ref: DELACARE 3.40

Health

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Severe weather drill records current (quarterly)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Emergency evacuation plan posted and current

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Emergency contact lists readily available

Ref: DELACARE 5.15

Emergency

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: DELACARE 3.25

Operations

Delaware STARS rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Delaware STARS

Operations

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Delaware compliance and operations resources

Health and safety featuresTrack incidents, medication, immunizations, and safety workflows.Ratio calculatorCalculate staff-to-child ratios for your classrooms.Attendance softwareMonitor rosters, ratios, check-in, and pickup in real time.Daycare management softwareRun compliance, attendance, billing, and parent communication together.Daily reports guideImprove parent communication with consistent daily reports.Meal tracking guidePlan meal records, parent updates, and billing connections.

Nearby State Requirements

Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania

Requirements vary by state. Click to view specific licensing requirements.

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Real-time staff-to-child ratio monitoring

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Pre-inspection checklist management

Emergency drill scheduling and tracking

Digital parent communication

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