INDIANA CHILD CARE
CENTER DIRECTOR
Exam Practice Questions
2026-2027 Edition
Verified Answers Plus Rationales
Q&A; | Instant Download PDF
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 2.5 Hours
Total Questions: 100 Questions on State Exam
Question Format: Multiple Choice with Rationales
Minimum Competency: 75% Required to Pass
Core Focus: Leadership, Licensing, Curriculum, Personnel, Finance
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
Indiana Child Care Center Director certification covers leadership, program administration, Indiana
licensing rules 470 IAC 3-4.7, curriculum planning, personnel management, fiscal operations, and
family engagement. Based on Indiana FSSA requirements for licensed child care center directors.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• Leadership & Program Administration (25%) — Vision, mission, policies, strategic planning,
quality improvement, accreditation
• Licensing & Regulatory Compliance (25%) — 470 IAC 3-4.7, inspections, variances,
enforcement, recordkeeping, reporting
• Personnel Management (20%) — Hiring, supervision, evaluation, training, staff development, labor
laws, retention
• Curriculum & Child Development (15%) — DAP, Indiana Early Learning Standards, assessment,
inclusion, family engagement
• Fiscal & Risk Management (15%) — Budgeting, tuition, CACFP, insurance, liability, marketing,
enrollment
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options. Correct answers are highlighted in green with checkmark (✓).
Every question includes detailed rationale with Indiana director standards. Indiana FSSA requires
75% to pass Director exam.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master 470 IAC 3-4.7 director requirements and ratios. Know staff qualification requirements and
training. Understand budgeting and CACFP. Review curriculum planning and DAP. Study leadership,
supervision, and family engagement. Review risk management and liability.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect 2026-2027 standards: Indiana Administrative Code 470 IAC 3-4.7, Indiana Code
12-17.2, FSSA Office of Early Childhood, NAEYC Program Administrator Standards, Caring for Our
Children 4th Ed, and Indiana Early Learning Standards.
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 2
, SECTION I: Leadership & Program Administration
1. Director must be on-site at child care center:
A. 100% of operating hours
✓ B. At least 50% of operating hours
C. 25% of operating hours
D. No requirement
Rationale: 470 IAC 3-4.7: Director must be on premises at least 50% of hours of operation. When absent,
qualified designee must be in charge. Director responsible for overall operation, compliance, staff
supervision. Must be accessible by phone when off-site. Document designee.
2. Written policies required by Indiana licensing include:
A. Tuition only
✓ B. Admission, discipline, illness, emergency, transportation, confidentiality
C. No policies required
D. Verbal policies only
Rationale: 470 IAC 3-4.7: Written policies: admission/enrollment, discipline/guidance, illness exclusion,
medication, emergencies, transportation, field trips, confidentiality, abuse reporting, grievance. Parent
handbook required. Staff handbook. Reviewed annually, signed by parents/staff.
3. Quality improvement plan for child care center should address:
A. Profit only
✓ B. Health/safety, curriculum, family engagement, staff development, compliance
C. Enrollment only
D. No planning needed
Rationale: CQI: Continuous Quality Improvement. Assess program in health/safety, curriculum,
environment, family partnerships, staff qualifications, administration. Use data: inspections, assessments,
parent surveys. Action plan with goals, timelines. NAEYC accreditation requires CQI.
4. Strategic planning for child care center includes:
A. Daily schedule only
✓ B. Mission, vision, goals, SWOT, budget, marketing, 3-5 year plan
C. No planning
D. Staff schedule only
Rationale: Strategic plan: Mission/vision, SWOT analysis, goals (enrollment, quality, financial), budget
projections, marketing, facility, staffing. 3-5 year horizon. Board involvement if non-profit. Reviewed
annually. Guides decision-making. Differs from daily operations.
5. NAEYC accreditation requires:
A. License only
✓ B. Meeting 10 program standards beyond licensing
C. No requirements
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 3
CENTER DIRECTOR
Exam Practice Questions
2026-2027 Edition
Verified Answers Plus Rationales
Q&A; | Instant Download PDF
EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
Time Allocation: 2.5 Hours
Total Questions: 100 Questions on State Exam
Question Format: Multiple Choice with Rationales
Minimum Competency: 75% Required to Pass
Core Focus: Leadership, Licensing, Curriculum, Personnel, Finance
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 1
, Exam Overview & Content Outline
EXAM PURPOSE
Indiana Child Care Center Director certification covers leadership, program administration, Indiana
licensing rules 470 IAC 3-4.7, curriculum planning, personnel management, fiscal operations, and
family engagement. Based on Indiana FSSA requirements for licensed child care center directors.
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION
• Leadership & Program Administration (25%) — Vision, mission, policies, strategic planning,
quality improvement, accreditation
• Licensing & Regulatory Compliance (25%) — 470 IAC 3-4.7, inspections, variances,
enforcement, recordkeeping, reporting
• Personnel Management (20%) — Hiring, supervision, evaluation, training, staff development, labor
laws, retention
• Curriculum & Child Development (15%) — DAP, Indiana Early Learning Standards, assessment,
inclusion, family engagement
• Fiscal & Risk Management (15%) — Budgeting, tuition, CACFP, insurance, liability, marketing,
enrollment
QUESTION FORMAT & SCORING
Each item presents four options. Correct answers are highlighted in green with checkmark (✓).
Every question includes detailed rationale with Indiana director standards. Indiana FSSA requires
75% to pass Director exam.
STUDY STRATEGY
Master 470 IAC 3-4.7 director requirements and ratios. Know staff qualification requirements and
training. Understand budgeting and CACFP. Review curriculum planning and DAP. Study leadership,
supervision, and family engagement. Review risk management and liability.
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT
Questions reflect 2026-2027 standards: Indiana Administrative Code 470 IAC 3-4.7, Indiana Code
12-17.2, FSSA Office of Early Childhood, NAEYC Program Administrator Standards, Caring for Our
Children 4th Ed, and Indiana Early Learning Standards.
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 2
, SECTION I: Leadership & Program Administration
1. Director must be on-site at child care center:
A. 100% of operating hours
✓ B. At least 50% of operating hours
C. 25% of operating hours
D. No requirement
Rationale: 470 IAC 3-4.7: Director must be on premises at least 50% of hours of operation. When absent,
qualified designee must be in charge. Director responsible for overall operation, compliance, staff
supervision. Must be accessible by phone when off-site. Document designee.
2. Written policies required by Indiana licensing include:
A. Tuition only
✓ B. Admission, discipline, illness, emergency, transportation, confidentiality
C. No policies required
D. Verbal policies only
Rationale: 470 IAC 3-4.7: Written policies: admission/enrollment, discipline/guidance, illness exclusion,
medication, emergencies, transportation, field trips, confidentiality, abuse reporting, grievance. Parent
handbook required. Staff handbook. Reviewed annually, signed by parents/staff.
3. Quality improvement plan for child care center should address:
A. Profit only
✓ B. Health/safety, curriculum, family engagement, staff development, compliance
C. Enrollment only
D. No planning needed
Rationale: CQI: Continuous Quality Improvement. Assess program in health/safety, curriculum,
environment, family partnerships, staff qualifications, administration. Use data: inspections, assessments,
parent surveys. Action plan with goals, timelines. NAEYC accreditation requires CQI.
4. Strategic planning for child care center includes:
A. Daily schedule only
✓ B. Mission, vision, goals, SWOT, budget, marketing, 3-5 year plan
C. No planning
D. Staff schedule only
Rationale: Strategic plan: Mission/vision, SWOT analysis, goals (enrollment, quality, financial), budget
projections, marketing, facility, staffing. 3-5 year horizon. Board involvement if non-profit. Reviewed
annually. Guides decision-making. Differs from daily operations.
5. NAEYC accreditation requires:
A. License only
✓ B. Meeting 10 program standards beyond licensing
C. No requirements
Indiana Child Care Center Director Exam Prep 2026-2027 Page 3
