An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

Chapter 21 – Child Care Centers/Preschools

requirement is based on the licensed capacity of 100 for the preschool, not on the actual amount of children attending. The preschool must offer at least 7,500 outdoor square feet even if less than 100 children are actually attending the preschool. Swimming pools, pool decking, or natural or man-made hazards such as canals or cliffs cannot be included in the calculation of outdoor activity space. 2838 Preschools must ensure children can reach the outdoor activity space safely. 2839 The outdoor activity space must be maintained in a safe condition and free from hazards, including holes, broken glass, and dry grasses that pose a fire hazard. 2840 Preschools must also ensure the outdoor activity space adheres to the following requirements:  Children must be provided a shaded rest area; 2841  Areas around high climbing equipment, swings, slides, and similar equipment must be cushioned with material that absorbs falls, such as sand, woodchips, or rubber mats; 2842  Sandboxes must be inspected daily and kept free of hazardous or foreign materials; 2843 Preschools must notify DSS in writing of their intent to make any structural changes that would reduce the total amount of outdoor activity space. 2846 If the child care center has a toddler component, that program must be conducted in areas physically separate from those used by preschool children. Plans to alternate use of outdoor play space between toddlers and preschoolers must be approved by the CCLD. 2847 C. I NDOOR A CTIVITY S PACE Facilities must have at least 35 square feet per child of indoor activity space based on the preschool’s total licensed capacity. 2848 For example, if the preschool has a total licensed capacity of 100 children, the facility must offer at least 3,500 square feet of indoor activity space. This requirement is based on the licensed capacity of 100 children for the preschool, not on the actual amount of children attending. The preschool must offer at least 3,500 indoor square feet even if less than 100 children are actually attending the preschool. Bathrooms, halls, offices, isolation areas, food-preparation areas, storage places, and floor space occupied by shelves or cabinets may not be included in the calculation of indoor activity space. 2849 Preschools may include floor area under tables, desks, chairs, or other equipment intended for use as part of the children’s activities in the calculation of indoor activity space. 2850 The floors of all rooms must be kept safe and clean. 2851 Preschools must also provide each child with an individual storage space for his or her clothing, personal belongings, and bedding. 2852 Children’s coats and other clothing must not be stored together as this could create a breeding ground for lice.  Playgrounds must be enclosed by a fence at least four feet high; 2844 and  Any potentially hazardous construction or equipment, such as fuse-boxes or air-conditioning units, must be inaccessible to children. 2845

An Administrator’s Guide to California Private School Law ©2019 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 644