An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

Chapter 21 – Child Care Centers/Preschools

4. E MPLOYEE AND V OLUNTEER I MMUNIZATION R EQUIREMENTS As of September 1, 2016, preschools may not employ any person, or permit any person to provide care and supervision to children as a volunteer, unless that person has provided the preschool evidence of current immunizations against influenza, pertussis, and measles, or exemption from immunization requirements. 2752 Preschools may employ or permit a volunteer to work conditionally for up to 30 days if that person signs a written statement stating he or she received the required immunizations but needs additional time to obtain or provide the immunization records. 2753 Each employee and volunteer must receive an influenza vaccination (flu shot) between August 1 and December 1 of each year. 2754 This requirement does not retroactively apply to individuals hired or volunteering after December 1 of the previous year or before August 1 of the current year. 2755 An employee or volunteer may be exempt from obtaining an influenza vaccination (flu shot) by providing the preschool a written declaration that he or she declined the influenza vaccination. 2756 However, individuals may not voluntarily opt out of the pertussis or measles vaccinations. Employees and volunteers are exempt from these immunization requirements if they submit a written statement from a licensed physician declaring that: (i) immunization is not safe for the individual based upon his or her physical condition or medical circumstances; or (ii) the person has evidence of current immunity to influenza, pertussis, and measles. 2757 Preschools are required to maintain documentation of their employee and volunteer immunizations, or exemptions from immunization, in the person’s personnel file. 2758 B. D IRECTOR All child care centers must have a qualified director who is responsible for the operation of the center and ensuring its compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations. The director is also responsible for communications with DSS and most other operational aspects of the child care center. 2759 The preschool must maintain, and make available to DSS upon request, a clear written statement of the director’s responsibilities and the authority delegated to the director. 2760 The director, or a substitute director as discussed in this Section, must be on the premises during the preschool’s hours of operation. 2761 The director must have completed, at a minimum, one of the following educational and experience options prior to employment: Option 1:  High school graduation or GED;

 15 semester units at an accredited college in specified early childhood education classes. Three of those 15 units must be in administration or staff relations; the other 12 must include courses that cover the areas of child

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