DSS Child Care Licensing (ARSD Chapter 67:42) Compliant

South Dakota ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with South Dakota DSS Child Care Licensing (ARSD Chapter 67:42) regulations. Bloomily helps South Dakota childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for South Dakota licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
infant_toddler Birth to under 3 years; ARSD 67:42:17:19 states '5:1 for children up to three years of age'; no max group size specified in regulation (ARSD 67:42:17:18 ties group size to licensed room capacity)	1:5	—	ARSD 67:42:17:19 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Center and school-age program ratio
Preschool (3-5 years) 3 through 4 years; ARSD 67:42:17:19 states '10:1 for children three years through four years'; no max group size specified	1:10	—	ARSD 67:42:17:19 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Center and school-age program ratio
School Age (5+ years) 5 years and over; ARSD 67:42:17:19 states '15:1 for five years and over'; upper bound set to 156 months (13 years) per convention; no max group size specified	1:15	—	ARSD 67:42:17:19 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Center and school-age program ratio

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

Required Certifications

Certifications required for South Dakota childcare staff

Annual Training (South Dakota)

South Dakota requires minimum 20 clock hours annual professional development

Renew annuallyDocument required

Child Abuse/Neglect Registry Check (South Dakota)

South Dakota DSS child abuse and neglect registry check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Criminal Background Check (South Dakota)

South Dakota DCI and FBI fingerprint background check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Director Qualifications (South Dakota)

Director qualifications per ARSD including education and experience requirements

Document required

First Aid (South Dakota)

Pediatric first aid certification required

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Food Handler Certification (South Dakota)

Food safety training for staff preparing food

Renew every 3 yearsDocument required

Lead Caregiver Qualifications (South Dakota)

Lead caregiver qualifications per ARSD regulations

Document required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Mandatory Reporter Training (South Dakota)

South Dakota mandatory reporter training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Orientation Training (South Dakota)

Initial orientation training within first 90 days of employment

Document required

Pediatric CPR (South Dakota)

Infant and child CPR certification required for all caregivers

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Safe Sleep Training (South Dakota)

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 South Dakota childcare facilities

Required Drills

Lockdown/Security

Twice per year

Same provision as evacuation — minimum twice per calendar year per ARSD 67:42:17:36

Ref: ARSD 67:42:17:36 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Emergency preparedness and response planning

Shelter in Place

Twice per year

Same provision as evacuation — minimum twice per calendar year per ARSD 67:42:17:36

Ref: ARSD 67:42:17:36 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Emergency preparedness and response planning

Evacuation

Twice per year

ARSD 67:42:17:36 requires practicing evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures 'a minimum of twice each calendar year' with dates documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:17:36 (eff. July 3, 2023) — Emergency preparedness and response planning

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

South Dakota Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DSS Child Care Licensing (ARSD Chapter 67:42) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

Current DSS license posted in visible location

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

License capacity not exceeded

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

Parent handbook current and available

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Written policies and procedures current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Fee schedule posted or provided to parents

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Liability insurance current and adequate

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:07

Required postings visible (license, emergency plans, menus)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

DSS contact information posted

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Reporting requirements met (incidents, changes)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:08

Staff

All staff have current background clearances (DCI and FBI)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:04

Child Abuse/Neglect Registry checks completed

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:04

Director meets education/experience requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:02

Lead caregivers meet qualification requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:03

All staff have current CPR certification

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

All staff have current First Aid certification

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Mandatory reporter training completed (all staff)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Annual training requirements met (20 hours)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:06

Orientation training completed within 90 days

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:06

Safe sleep training for infant caregivers

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Staff health assessments current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:07

Staff files complete with required documentation

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:08

Records

Enrollment forms complete for all children

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Emergency contact information current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Immunization records current (SDIIS verified)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:02

Health assessments on file

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:02

Authorized pickup persons documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Allergy and special health needs documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:03

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:06

Individual health care plans current (if applicable)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:03

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:08

Parent rights acknowledgment signed

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Health

First aid kit fully stocked and accessible

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:07

Medications stored properly (locked, labeled)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:06

Cleaning and hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:08

Handwashing procedures followed and documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:04

Diapering and toileting procedures posted

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:05

Safe sleep practices followed (infants on back)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:06:02

Food handling and safety requirements met

Ref: ARSD 67:42:07:01

Illness exclusion policy current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:09

Water temperature safe (120°F max)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:05

Tobacco, alcohol, and weapons prohibited

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:09

Emergency

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Tornado drill records current (quarterly)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency evacuation plan posted and current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:06

Emergency contact lists readily available

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Operations

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:04

Indoor and outdoor space meets requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:01

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

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on South Dakota DSS Child Care Licensing (ARSD Chapter 67:42) requirements

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

Current DSS license posted in visible location

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

Licensing

License capacity not exceeded

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:02

Licensing

Parent handbook current and available

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Licensing

Written policies and procedures current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Licensing

Fee schedule posted or provided to parents

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Licensing

Liability insurance current and adequate

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:07

Licensing

Required postings visible (license, emergency plans, menus)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Licensing

DSS contact information posted

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Licensing

Reporting requirements met (incidents, changes)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:08

Licensing

All staff have current background clearances (DCI and FBI)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:04

Staff

Child Abuse/Neglect Registry checks completed

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:04

Staff

Director meets education/experience requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:02

Staff

Lead caregivers meet qualification requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:03

Staff

All staff have current CPR certification

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Staff

All staff have current First Aid certification

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Staff

Mandatory reporter training completed (all staff)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Staff

Annual training requirements met (20 hours)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:06

Staff

Orientation training completed within 90 days

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:06

Staff

Safe sleep training for infant caregivers

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:05

Staff

Staff health assessments current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:07

Staff

Staff files complete with required documentation

Ref: ARSD 67:42:02:08

Staff

Enrollment forms complete for all children

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Records

Immunization records current (SDIIS verified)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:02

Records

Health assessments on file

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:02

Records

Authorized pickup persons documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:01

Records

Allergy and special health needs documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:03

Records

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:06

Records

Individual health care plans current (if applicable)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:03

Records

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:08

Records

Parent rights acknowledgment signed

Ref: ARSD 67:42:01:05

Records

First aid kit fully stocked and accessible

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:07

Health

Medications stored properly (locked, labeled)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:06

Health

Cleaning and hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:08

Health

Handwashing procedures followed and documented

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:04

Health

Diapering and toileting procedures posted

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:05

Health

Safe sleep practices followed (infants on back)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:06:02

Health

Food handling and safety requirements met

Ref: ARSD 67:42:07:01

Health

Illness exclusion policy current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:09

Health

Water temperature safe (120°F max)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:05

Health

Tobacco, alcohol, and weapons prohibited

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:09

Health

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency

Tornado drill records current (quarterly)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency

Emergency evacuation plan posted and current

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:06

Emergency

Emergency contact lists readily available

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:12

Emergency

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: ARSD 67:42:05:04

Operations

Indoor and outdoor space meets requirements

Ref: ARSD 67:42:04:01

Operations

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South Dakota 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

Iowa Minnesota Montana Nebraska North Dakota Wyoming

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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