DCF CHILD CARE FACILITIES CORE REVIEW 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔All areas of the child care facility must have adequate lighting - ✔✔A minimum of 20
foot-candles of lighting are required to ensure adequate brightness
In areas where children are working, such as reading and art areas, 50 foot-candles at
the work surface are required
✔✔temperature inside facility - ✔✔An inside temperature of 65F-82F must be
maintained
✔✔Key Point: The licensed capacity of the child care facility - ✔✔is the number of
children that may attend the program at one time, including transportation and field trips.
✔✔Total Interior Space - Unusable Space = Useable Indoor Floor Space - ✔✔Useable
Indoor Floor Space divided by Square Foot per Child = Licensed Capacity
✔✔Child care programs are required to have a minimum - ✔✔35 square feet of usable
indoor space for each child or 20 square feet of usable indoor space for each child
before October 1, 1992
✔✔Key Point: Usable floor space for facilities - ✔✔is calculated by first measuring the
wall-to-wall interior space at floor level and then subtracting the non-usable space.
, ✔✔Child care programs are required to have a minimum of - ✔✔45 square feet of
outdoor space for each child
The child care program is required to have enough outdoor space to allow half of the
licensed capacity (excluding infants) to play at one time.
✔✔Key Point: Outdoor square footage cannot be calculated - ✔✔until the indoor square
footage has been determined.
✔✔Key Point: Each child must have their own bedding to reduce the spread of germs -
✔✔If the linens are used by only one child then they must be washed at least once a
week or when soiled or dirty. If more than one child uses the linens, they must be
washed after each usage.
✔✔Children must have their own designated sleeping area where they can sleep or
quietly rest - ✔✔A minimum of 18 inches must be maintained around the individual
napping or sleeping spaces. Two sides may be against a solid barrier such as a wall;
however, a solid crib side does not meet this requiremen
✔✔Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS - ✔✔Back to Sleep
✔✔There must be a sufficient number of toilets and sinks for the number of children in
care. - ✔✔For the first 15 children in care, the program must have one toilet and one
sink.
Then for every 30 children thereafter, there must be one additional toilet and sink and If
only diapered infants are in care, the program must have one toilet and two sinks for
every 30 infants
✔✔Licensing capacity is based on the number of toilets and sinks in the child care
facility - ✔✔If there are 64 children in the child care program, there must be at least 3
toilets and 3 sinks.
1 toilet and 1 sink (first 15 children) + 1 toilet and 1 sink (additional 30 children) + 1
toilet and 1 sink (additional 19 children) = 3 toilets and 3 sinks for 64 children
✔✔Every child care facility must have at least - ✔✔one portable or permanent bath
facility available in case a child needs to be bathed. The bath must be in good condition,
and must be cleaned and sanitized or disinfected after each use.
✔✔Child care programs are required to be inspected by the Fire Marshal - ✔✔once per
year
✔✔fire drills - ✔✔required to be conducted as part of the monthly required emergency
drills
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔All areas of the child care facility must have adequate lighting - ✔✔A minimum of 20
foot-candles of lighting are required to ensure adequate brightness
In areas where children are working, such as reading and art areas, 50 foot-candles at
the work surface are required
✔✔temperature inside facility - ✔✔An inside temperature of 65F-82F must be
maintained
✔✔Key Point: The licensed capacity of the child care facility - ✔✔is the number of
children that may attend the program at one time, including transportation and field trips.
✔✔Total Interior Space - Unusable Space = Useable Indoor Floor Space - ✔✔Useable
Indoor Floor Space divided by Square Foot per Child = Licensed Capacity
✔✔Child care programs are required to have a minimum - ✔✔35 square feet of usable
indoor space for each child or 20 square feet of usable indoor space for each child
before October 1, 1992
✔✔Key Point: Usable floor space for facilities - ✔✔is calculated by first measuring the
wall-to-wall interior space at floor level and then subtracting the non-usable space.
, ✔✔Child care programs are required to have a minimum of - ✔✔45 square feet of
outdoor space for each child
The child care program is required to have enough outdoor space to allow half of the
licensed capacity (excluding infants) to play at one time.
✔✔Key Point: Outdoor square footage cannot be calculated - ✔✔until the indoor square
footage has been determined.
✔✔Key Point: Each child must have their own bedding to reduce the spread of germs -
✔✔If the linens are used by only one child then they must be washed at least once a
week or when soiled or dirty. If more than one child uses the linens, they must be
washed after each usage.
✔✔Children must have their own designated sleeping area where they can sleep or
quietly rest - ✔✔A minimum of 18 inches must be maintained around the individual
napping or sleeping spaces. Two sides may be against a solid barrier such as a wall;
however, a solid crib side does not meet this requiremen
✔✔Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS - ✔✔Back to Sleep
✔✔There must be a sufficient number of toilets and sinks for the number of children in
care. - ✔✔For the first 15 children in care, the program must have one toilet and one
sink.
Then for every 30 children thereafter, there must be one additional toilet and sink and If
only diapered infants are in care, the program must have one toilet and two sinks for
every 30 infants
✔✔Licensing capacity is based on the number of toilets and sinks in the child care
facility - ✔✔If there are 64 children in the child care program, there must be at least 3
toilets and 3 sinks.
1 toilet and 1 sink (first 15 children) + 1 toilet and 1 sink (additional 30 children) + 1
toilet and 1 sink (additional 19 children) = 3 toilets and 3 sinks for 64 children
✔✔Every child care facility must have at least - ✔✔one portable or permanent bath
facility available in case a child needs to be bathed. The bath must be in good condition,
and must be cleaned and sanitized or disinfected after each use.
✔✔Child care programs are required to be inspected by the Fire Marshal - ✔✔once per
year
✔✔fire drills - ✔✔required to be conducted as part of the monthly required emergency
drills
