SECTION .2100 ‑ RELIGIOUS-SPONSORED CHILD CARE CENTER REQUIREMENTS

10A NCAC 09 .2101         CENTERS OPERATING UNDER G.S. 110-106

(a)  At least 30 days prior to the first day of operation of a new religious-sponsored child care center, the prospective operator shall send a "Letter of Intent to Operate" to the Division. That letter shall include the following:

(1)           the name, address, and telephone number of the operator and the center, if known;

(2)           the proposed number and age range of children to be served;

(3)           the center's scheduled opening date; and

(4)           required criminal history records check documentation for the prospective operator and all known staff members as set forth in G.S. 110-90.2.

A representative of the Division shall contact the prospective operator no later than seven calendar days after the Letter of Intent is received to advise the prospective operator of the applicable requirements and procedures in G.S. 110, Article 7 and this Chapter.

(b)  A prospective operator who has not previously operated a religious-sponsored child care center in North Carolina shall attend a pre-licensing workshop provided by the Division before the center's opening date. Prospective operators shall download, complete, and submit the pre-licensing registration form to the Division. The Division provides regularly scheduled pre-licensing workshops for potential operators. A schedule of these workshops may be found online at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/P/Prelicensing_Workshops_Child_Care_Centers.pdf?ver=2019-06-05-112026-907. The pre-licensing registration form contains demographic information and workshop location preferences. The pre-licensing registration form can be found online at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/P/Prelicensing_Workshops_Child_Care_Centers.pdf?ver=2019-06-05-112026-907.

(c)  The Division shall conduct an announced pre-licensing visit prior to the opening of the center, an unannounced visit within 30 days after the facility opens, and unannounced visits annually thereafter in order to ensure compliance with applicable requirements in G.S. 110, Article 7 and this Section.

(d)  Within 30 days of opening, the prospective operator shall submit reports indicating that the facility meets the minimum standards for facilities as specified in G.S. 110-91 regarding local ordinances, including a building inspection, a fire inspection, and a sanitation inspection.

(e)  The Division shall send a Notice of Compliance letter to the prospective operator when compliance with minimum standards for facilities as specified in G.S. 110, Article 7 has been determined. The Notice of Compliance letter shall be issued instead of a star rated license. The Notice of Compliance is not required to be posted at the child care facility.

(f)  Religious-sponsored child care centers shall comply with all child care center requirements in this Chapter except as follows:

Age Appropriate Activities	Rules .0508, through .0510 and .2508
Staff Qualifications and Training Requirements	Rules .0703(c) through (f), .0704, .0710, .0711, .0714(a) through (d) and .1101, .1102(a), (b), (e), and (g), and .1103 through .1106.
Staff Qualifications if working with school aged children only	Rule .2510

Compliance shall be documented annually using the same forms and in the same manner as for all other centers.

(g)  The Division shall notify the prospective operator in writing as to whether the facility complies or does not comply with the requirements.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-88; 110-106; 143B-168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2011; April 1, 2001; April 1, 1992; January 1, 1991; November 1, 1989; July 1, 1988;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2109.