Types of Licensed Care

Group Day Care Home

A child care facility in which care is provided for a maximum of 12 children under 16 years of age and includes children under 11 years of age related to the provider. This could require 2 providers depending on  the total number and ages of children in care. 

• The license is usually issued for the provider's own home but may be issued at a location other than the provider's home such as a commercial setting. The license identifies the address of the child care facility.
  
  
• The licensee must be 18 years of age, a high school graduate or the equivalent, have an understanding of children, complete certified first aid and CPR as well as childcare-related training in health and safety topics.
  
  
• A KBI criminal history and child abuse and neglect background check is processed on all persons living, working or volunteering in the licensed daycare facility.
  
  
• State Licensing fee $87. Local fees may also apply.
  
  
• The licensed group daycare home is inspected to check compliance with regulations to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the children in care at least once every 12 months. 
  
  
• The licensed group daycare home must be approved for fire safety.
  
  
• View Chart for Group Day Care Home's Total Number of Children by Age (PDF)

Child Care Center

A child care facility in which care and educational activities are provided for 13 or more children two weeks to 16 years of age for more than three hours and less than 24 hours per day including day time, evening, and night-time care, or which provides before and after school care for school-age children.

• A qualified program director must be employed at the center full-time. Each unit must have qualified staff at all times when children are in care. Qualifications are stated by regulation and are based on the number of children in care.
  
  
• Staff caring for children must have an understanding of children and complete certified first aid and CPR as well as child care-related training in health and safety topics.
  
  
• A KBI criminal history and child abuse and neglect background check is processed on all persons living, working or volunteering in the licensed child care center facility.
  
  
• State licensing fee $75 plus $1 for each child in the total capacity. For example, for a capacity of 60 children, the required initial and annual fee is $135. Local fees may also apply.
  
  
• The child care center is inspected to check compliance with regulations to protect the health, safety and well-being of the children in care at least once every 12 months. 
  
  
• View Staff to Child Ratios (PDF)
  
  
• View chart of Staff Qualification Options (PDF)

Preschool

A child care facility in which learning experiences for children who have not attained the age of eligibility to enter kindergarten as prescribed in K.S.A. 72-1107(c) and any amendments thereto, and who are 30 months of age or older; which conducts sessions not exceeding three hours per session; which does not enroll any child more than one session per day; and which does not serve a meal.

• A qualified program director must be employed at the center full-time. Each unit must have qualified staff at all times when children are in care. Qualifications are stated by regulation and are based on the number of children in care.
  
  
• Staff caring for children must have an understanding of children and complete certified first air and CPR as well as child care-related training in health and safety topics.
  
  
• A KBI criminal history and child abuse and neglect background check is processed on all persons living, working, or volunteering in the licensed child care center facility.
  
  
• State licensing fee $75 plus $1 for each child in the  total capacity. For example, for a capacity of 60 children, the required initial and annual fee is $135. Local fees may also apply.
  
  
• The child care center is inspected to check compliance with regulations to protect the health, safety and well-being of the children in care at least once every 12 months.
  
  
• View Staff to Child Ratios (PDF)
  
  
• View chart of Staff Qualification Options (PDF)

School Age Program

A child care facility that serves exclusively school-age children and youth. This may include a building based program, mobile summer program or outdoor summer camp (this does not include a drop-in program).

• A qualified program director must be employed by the program. 
  
  
• Each program must have qualified group leaders and assistant group leaders as required by regulation at all times when children are in care.
  
  
• Staff caring for children and youth must have knowledge in child and youth development and complete certified first aid and CPR as well as child and youth-related training in health and safety topics.
  
  
• A KBI criminal history and child abuse and neglect background check is processed on each individual at least 14 years of age who works or regularly volunteers in the program and any other individual in the program whose activities involve either supervised or unsupervised access to children.
  
  
• State licensing fee $20. Local fees may also apply.
  
  
• A school age program is inspected to check compliance with regulations to protect the health, safety and well-being of the children in care at least once every 12 months.

Drop-In Program

A child care facility that is not located in an individual’s residence, that serves exclusively school-age children and youth, and in which the operator permits children and youth to arrive at and depart from the program at their own volition and at unscheduled times.

• A KBI criminal history and child abuse and neglect background check is processed on each individual who works or regularly volunteers in the program and any other individual in the program whose activities involve either supervised or unsupervised access to children.
  
  
•  State licensing fee $20. Local fees may also apply.
  
  
• A drop-in program is inspected to check compliance with regulations to protect the health, safety and well-being of the children in care at least once every 12 months.

Day Care Referral Agency

An association, organization, individual, or corporation receiving, caring for, and finding homes for children under 16 years of age who need day care.

Unregulated Care

Licensing for home-based daycare is not required as follows:

• When child care is provided for children in their own home
  
  
• When child care is provided for children who are all relatives of the child care provider
  
  
• When child care is arranged between friends or neighbors on an irregular basis
  
  
• When child care is provided for not more than two children unrelated to the child care provider for not more than 20 care hours a week. The total hours shall be determined by adding the hours each child is cared for during the week.

For all other inquiries regarding licensure for programs serving children and youth, please submit form CCL 309 Inquiry Regarding Licensure CCC/PS/Mother's Day Out or form CCL 360 Inquiry Regarding Licensure: SAP to KDHE for review.

The inquiry form should include detailed information about the program's purpose and a description of services offered for children or youth.

• CCL 309 Inquiry Regarding Licensure CCC, PS, Mother’s Day Out (PDF)
  
  
• CCL 360 Inquiry Regarding Licensure SAP (PDF)