1. Serving the Community Options
In the Beginning… 
Serving the Community Options
Pacific Union Conference Office of Education
Early Childhood Education & Care Division

2. Serving the Community Options
When considering the possibility of operating an early childhood program, there are several factors that will determine what type of care a particular facility can provide. For instance: indoor/outdoor space, staffing options, and outside support and needs. Performing a feasibility study will help in the decision making process.
The following slides provide ideas of different types of child care options that have been successfully implemented by service-minded individuals with varying situations.

3. Licensure is a MUST
Remember: All early childhood programs – including pre-kindergarten and transitional kindergarten programs – within the Pacific Union Conference must be registered through the Pacific Union Conference Office of Education, Early Childhood Education and Care Division in addition to any applicable state agency requirements.

4. Options
When providing care and education for young children, there are many options. The options are limited by the facility’s space, and an individual’s time and effort. The following slides provide examples and definitions of many of the early childhood education and care options available.

5. Traditional Care Centers
Infant Only Center
Infant/Toddler Center
Infant/Toddler/Pre-School Center
Infant/Toddler/Pre-School/ Before and/or After School Care
Child Care Only
Pre-School Only
Pre-Kindergarten Only
Transitional Kindergarten Only
Before and/or After School Care Only

6. Infant Only Center An infant-only center cares for infants:
Between 6 weeks and 24 months of age
All the children are under 24 months of age
Teacher to child ratio is no greater than1 teacher to 4 infants*
Teachers/caregivers have specialized training and certification(s) in the care of infants.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

7. Infant/Toddler Center
An infant/toddler center cares for children:
Between 6 weeks and 36 months of age
All the children are under 36 months of age
When caring for infants, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than1 teacher to 4 infants*
When caring for toddlers, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than1 teacher to 6 toddlers*
Teachers/caregivers have specialized training and certification(s) in the care of infants and toddlers.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

8. Infant/Toddler/Preschool Center AKA: Child Care, Day Care, Early Childhood Program, Preschool, etc.
An infant/toddler/preschool center cares for children:
Between 6 weeks and 60 months of age
All children are younger than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance
When caring for infants, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 4 infants*
When caring for toddlers, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 6 toddlers*
When caring for preschool children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 10 preschoolers*
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

9. Infant/Toddler/Preschool Center AKA: Child Care, Day Care, Early Childhood Program, Preschool, etc.
The preschool component most often includes, 3 year olds, 4 year olds (pre-kindergarten) and 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
Teachers/caregivers have specialized training and certification(s) in the care of infants and toddlers and early childhood education.
This type of program may or may not have an academic focus for children.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

10. Infant/Toddler/Preschool/ Before and/or After School Care
An infant/toddler/preschool/B&A center cares for children:
Between 6 weeks and third grade (typically)
When caring for infants, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 4 infants*
When caring for toddlers, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 6 toddlers*
When caring for preschool children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 10 preschoolers*
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

11. Infant/Toddler/Preschool/ Before and/or After School Care
The preschool component most often includes, 3 year olds, 4 year olds (pre-kindergarten) and 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
Teachers/caregivers have specialized training and certification(s) in the care of infants and toddlers and early childhood education.
School-age children are required to have a separate classroom from the younger children* (separate scheduling and transportation requirements may also apply)*
This type of program may or may not have an academic focus for children.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

12. Child Care Only (School-Age child care is dealt with in a separate slide)
A child care center provides care for children:
Between 6 weeks and 60 months (typically)
When caring for infants, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 4 infants*
When caring for toddlers, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 6 toddlers*
When caring for preschool children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 10 preschoolers*
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

13. Child Care Only (School-Age child care is dealt with in a separate slide)
The preschool component most often includes, 3 year olds, 4 year olds (pre-kindergarten) and 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
Teachers/caregivers have specialized training and certification(s) in the care of infants and toddlers and early childhood education.
If present, school-age children are required to have a separate classroom from the younger children* (separate scheduling and transportation requirements may also apply)*
This type of program does not claim to have an academic program for teaching young children. Their main focus is on providing custodial care.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

14. Preschool Only A preschool only program provides for children:
Between 36 and 60 months (typically)
When caring for preschool children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 10 preschoolers*
The preschool component most often includes, 3 year olds, 4 year olds (pre-kindergarten) and 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

15. Preschool Only
This type of program claims to have an academic program for teaching young children and preparing them for Kindergarten entrance. Their main focus is on providing foundational academic knowledge.
Teachers have specialized training and certification(s) in early childhood education.
Curriculum approval is required prior to use within the classroom.
Teachers are knowledgeable of early childhood learning standards and indicators.
Child assessment and parent/teacher conferences are regularly scheduled.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

16. Pre-Kindergarten Only
A pre-kindergarten only program provides for children:
Between 48 and 60 months (typically)
When caring for pre-kindergarten children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 12 children*
The pre-kindergarten component includes 4 year olds (pre-kindergarten) and 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
This type of program has an academic program for teaching young children and preparing them for Kindergarten entrance. Their main focus is on providing foundational academic knowledge.
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

17. Pre-Kindergarten Only
Teachers have specialized training and certification(s) in early childhood education.
Curriculum approval is required prior to use within the classroom.
Teachers are knowledgeable of early childhood learning standards and indicators.
Child assessment and parent/teacher conferences are regularly scheduled.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

18. Transitional Kindergarten Only
In a transitional kindergarten program :
The transitional kindergarten component includes 5 year olds whose birth date is later than the state’s minimum age limit for kindergarten entrance (transitional kindergarten)
When caring for transitional kindergarten children, the teacher to child ratio is no greater than 1 teacher to 12 children*
This type of program has an academic program for teaching young children and preparing them for Kindergarten entrance. Their main focus is on providing foundational academic knowledge.
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

19. Transitional Kindergarten Only
Teachers have specialized training and certification(s) in early childhood education.
Curriculum approval is required prior to use within the classroom.
Teachers are knowledgeable of early childhood learning standards and indicators.
Child assessment and parent/teacher conferences are regularly scheduled.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

20. Before and After School Care Only AKA: School-Age Child Care
A school-age child care program cares for children:
Between kindergarten and third grade (typically) before the start of the school day and after school has let out for the day
School-age children are required to have a separate classroom from the younger children* (separate scheduling and transportation requirements may also apply)*
Teachers/caregivers may or may not have specialized training early childhood education. Child care duties are often shared by the school’s elementary teachers.
Continued on next slide
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

21. Before and After School Care Only AKA: School-Age Child Care
This type of program is closer in definition to a child care center
This type of program may or may not have an academic focus for children; may or may not provide tutoring and/or homework assistance.
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

22. Non-Traditional Care Several types of early childhood
programs require special training
and licenses, such as:
Mildly Ill Care*
Evening/Night Care*
Overnight Care*
Weekend Care*
Shift Care*
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

23. Specific Need Care These types of programs for young children
typically do not need to be licensed*:
Art Classes
Math Prep Class
Intro to Music Class
Intro to Science Class
Cooking with Kids Class
Healthy Body or Phys Ed Class
Intro to Sign Language Classes
Literacy and Language Arts Class
Tutorial program for after school children
Literacy program for struggling students
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations pertaining to licensure and for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

24. Date and Time Specific Care
Some options allow for more freedom while at the
same time providing a service to the community.
Weekly, Monthly or Annual:
Mother’s Center*
Parent Co-op*
Play Group*
Volunteer Child Care*
Children’s Story Hour*
Bible School *
*Operators are required to know and follow local government regulations pertaining to licensure and for teacher to child ratios and group size limitations.

25. Choosing Type of Service
If help is needed in choosing which type of service would best benefit a particular community, begin with the provided feasibility study and survey forms (found in the Feasibility PPT.)
As always, the Pacific Union Conference Office of Education is ready to provide assistance and guidance. Feel free to contact our office.

26. Pacific Union Conference Office of Education
“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Pacific Union Conference Office of Education
Early Childhood Education & Care Division
PO Box 5005, Westlake Village, CA 91361
 2010 by C. Gillan Byrne is the Early Childhood Education and Care Division Coordinator for the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Office of Education. responses and/or questions to: