10A NCAC 09 .3206 Classroom and instructional quality pathway for family child care homes

(a) This Rule shall apply to family child care homes that choose to earn two through five-star rated license using the classroom and instructional quality licensure pathway.

(b) For a family child care home to earn two-star rated license, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) The operator shall meet education standards at the two-star level as set forth in Rule .3217 of this Section or higher.

(2) The operator shall implement the family and community engagement foundational practices set forth in Rule .3220 of this Section for a two-star rated license.

(3) The operator shall implement the continuous quality improvement standards set forth in Rule .3221 of this Section.

(4) The operator shall implement a curriculum for all ages served that is:

(A) aligned with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development;

(B) child focused;

(D) culturally and linguistically appropriate.

(5) In curriculum planning, the operator shall ensure modifications and adaptations are made to involve all children with special health and developmental needs.

(1) The operator shall meet education standards at the three-star level as set forth in Rule .3217 of this Section or higher.

(2) The operator shall implement the family and community engagement standards set for in Rule .3220 of this Section for a three-star rated license.

(3) The operator shall implement the continuous quality improvement standards set forth in Rule .3221 of this Section.

(4) The operator shall implement a curriculum for all ages served that is:

(A) aligned with the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development;

(B) child focused;

(D) culturally and linguistically appropriate.

(5) In curriculum planning the operator shall ensure modifications and adaptations are made to involve all children with special health and developmental needs.

(6) The operator shall ensure child observations are conducted for each child enrolled in the family child care home. Child observations shall include evidence of the child's activities and may include the following:

(A) anecdotal notes;

(B) portfolio of child's work samples;

(D) formative assessment tools; or

(E) photographs, audio, pr video recordings with permission from the child's family.

(7) The operator participates in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices:

(A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by a center administrator of a licensed child care center with a star-rating of three stars or higher, an operator of another licensed family child care home with a star-rating of three stars or higher, or a community resource partner;

(B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section; or

(C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section.

(d) For a family child care home to earn a four-star rated license, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) The operator shall meet education standards at the four-star level as set forth in Rule .3217 of this Section or higher.

(2) The operator shall implement the family and community engagement standards set forth in Rule .3220 of this Section for a four-star rated license.

(3) The operator shall implement the continuous quality improvement standards set forth in Rule .3221 of this Section.

(4) The operator shall implement a curriculum that has been approved by the Commission as defined in Rule .0102(13) of this Chapter for all ages served. A list of curricula that has been approved by the Commission is available at http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Curriculum.

(5) In curriculum planning, the operator shall ensure modifications and adaptations are made to involve all children with special health and developmental needs.

(6) The operator shall conduct on-going formative assessments to gather information about each child's growth and skill development based on individual development and learning needs and maintain evidence of each child's on-going assessment. The operator shall use a formative assessment(s) that has been approved by the Commission, available at http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Curriculum. Evidence of formative assessments shall include documentation required or contemplated by the approved formative assessment and may also include:

(A) anecdotal notes;

(B) portfolio of child's work samples;

(D) photographs, audio, or video recordings with permission from the child's family.

(7) The operator shall share the results of the formative assessment with families at least once annually. The manner in which the results are shared shall be convenient for the family such as by telephone, email, virtually, or in-person.

(8) The operator shall complete training related to the curriculum and formative assessment tool that is used by center staff with children, in addition o applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter. Verification of this training shall be maintained in the operator's personnel file.

(9) The operator participates in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices:

(A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by a center administrator of a licensed child care center with a star-rating of four or five stars, an operator of another licensed family child care home with a star-rating or four or five stars, or a community resource partner;

(B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section; or

(C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section.

(e) For a family child care home to earn a five-star rated license, the following requirements shall be met:

(1) If the family child care home is meeting license capacity requirements in G.S. 110-91(7)(b)(1), no more than four children shall be under the age of twenty-four months of the children who are birth to five years of age. This requirement shall not reduce the licensed capacity of the family child care home.

(2) The operator shall meet the education standards at the five-star level set forth in Rule .3217 of this Section, or higher.

(3) The operator shall implement the family and community engagement standards set forth in Rule .3220 of this Section for a five-star rated license.

(4) The operator shall implement the continuous quality improvement standards set forth in Rule .3221 of this Section.

(5) The operator shall implement a curriculum that has been approved by the Commission as defined in Rule .0102(13) of this Chapter for all ages served. A list of curricula that has been approved by the Commission is available at http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Curriculum.

(6) In curriculum planning, the operator shall ensure modifications and adaptations are made to involve all children with special health and developmental needs.

(7) The operator shall conduct on-going formative assessments to gather information about each child's growth and skill development based on individual development and learning needs and maintain evidence of each child's on-going assessment. The operator shall use a formative assessment(s) that has been approved by the Commission, available at http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Services/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Curriculum. Evidence of formative assessments shall include documentation required or contemplated by the approved formative assessment and may also include:

(A) anecdotal notes;

(B) portfolio of child's work samples;

(D) photographs, audio, or video recordings with permission from the child's family.

(8) The operator shall share the results of the formative assessment with families at least twice annually. While sharing the results, the operator shall provide an opportunity for families to contribute additional information to the formative assessment. The manner in which the results are shared shall be convenient for the family such as by telephone, email, virtually, or in-person.

(9) The operator shall complete training related to the curriculum and formative assessment tool that is used, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter. Verification of this training shall be maintained in the operator's personnel file.

(10) The operator participates in one of the following activities regarding classroom and instructional quality practices:

(A) annual completion of five hours of coaching or mentoring by a center administrator of a licensed child care center with a star-rating of five stars, an operator of another licensed family child care home with a star-rating of five stars, or a community resource partner;

(B) annual completion of five on-going training hours, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section; or

(C) annual completion of 0.5 continuing education unit, in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1703(f) of this Chapter and Rule .3217 of this Section.

History Note: Authority G.S. 110-85(3); 110-88(7); 110-90(4); 143B-168.3; S.L. 2011-145, s.10.7(b) and (d); S.L. 2024-32; 42 USCS 9858e; 45 CFR 98.45;

Eff. July 1, 2025.