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FOR GROUP CHILDCARE CENTERS AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED OR CONTRACTED FOR BY SCHOOL  \nBOARDS With Commentary  \neffective March 2023  \nPREFACE  \nDCF 251  \nLICENSING RULES FOR GROUP CHILD CARE CENTERS  \nWith Commentary  \nRegister March 2026 No. 843A4  \nSection 48 .65, Stats., requires that persons operating child care centers which provide care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years of age for less than 24 hours a day be licensed by the Department of Children and Families. The statutes also require the department to establish rules which must be met in order to qualify for a license and which protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the children in the care of the child care center.  \nChapter DCF 251 is the administrative code governing group child care centers, which provide care and supervision to 9 or more children for less than 24 hours a day.  \nAlthough prepared primarily as a tool for licensing specialists, the purpose of the DCF 251 Group Child Care Rules with Commentary is to help all users of DCF 251 understand the intent and application of the rule. An attempt has been made to offer commentary for those rules where experience indicates clarification would be helpful. However, commentary cannot be written to cover every situation encountered. Providers who require additional information should contact their regional licensing specialist.  \nThe portion of this publication that is numbered and in regular print is the administrative code DCF 251. The portion of the publication that is within boxes and in italicized print is commentary that was prepared by staff of the Bureau of Early Care Regulation.  \nThere is a header on each page that contains the rule cite for the section of the rule beginning on that page. A table of contents and an index are also included, as are appendices that contain key statutes related to the child care rules, a copy of DCF 13 (administrative rules governing child care background checks), and other appendices referenced in the rule.  \nThis publication may be duplicated and is also available on the department’s website:  \n[https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/rules](https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/rules)  \nThe Department of Children and Families is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. If you have a disability and need to access services, receive information in an alternate format, or need information translated to another language, please contact the Bureau of Early Care Regulation at[dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov](dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov) or (608) 421-7550. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled can use the free Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS)– 711 to contact the department. For civil rights questions, call (608) 422-6889.  \nDCF yog ib tus tswv hauj lwm thiab yog ib qhov chaw muab kev pab cuam muaj vaj huam sib luag rau sawv daws. Yog tias koj muaj ib tus mob xiam oob qhab thiab xav tau cov ntaub ntawv no ua lwm hom, lossis xav kom muab txhais ua lwm yam lus, hu rau [BECR ntawm dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov](BECR ntawm dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov), 608-421- 7550 (siv dav dav), lossis Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS) 711. Rau cov lus nug txog neeg txoj cai hu rau 608-422-6889 (siv dav dav), lossis Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS) 711.  \nDCF es un empleador y proveedor de servicios que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. Si tiene algunadiscapacidad y necesita acceso a esta información en un formato alternativo, o si necesita traducción aotro idioma, por favor comuníquese con BECR al [dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov](dcfcclicreg@wisconsin.gov), 608-421-7550 (general) o Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS) 711. Para preguntas sobre derechos civiles, llame al 608-422-6889 (general) o Wisconsin Relay Service (WRS) 711.  \nTABLE OF CONTENTS  \nDCF 251.01 AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE......................................................................1  \nD","cbCairCpiwa6WipP","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCairCpiwa6WipP","pdf",2060125,171,"English","# PREFACE\n## TABLE OF CONTENTS\n### DCF 251.01 AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE\n### DCF 251.02 APPLICABILITY\n#### (1) Included and excluded care arrangements\n#### (2) Exception to a requirement\n### DCF 251.03 DEFINITIONS\n### DCF 251.04 OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS\n#### (1) Terms of a license\n#### (2) Administration\n#### (3) Reports\n#### (4) Parents\n#### (6) Children’s records\n#### (7) Confidentiality\n#### (8) Reporting child abuse or neglect\n### DCF 251.05 STAFF\n#### (1) Definitions\n#### (2) Staff Records\n#### (3) Qualifications of staff","[{\"question\":\"Who must be licensed under DCF 251?\",\"answer\":\"Persons operating child care centers providing care and supervision for 4 or more children under 7 years of age for less than 24 hours a day must be licensed by the Department of Children and Families.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the numbered text versus commentary represent in this publication?\",\"answer\":\"The portion numbered and in regular print is the administrative code DCF 251, while the portion in boxes and italicized print is commentary prepared by staff of the Bureau of Early Care Regulation.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of DCF 251 Group Child Care Rules with Commentary?\",\"answer\":\"It is intended to help users understand the intent and application of the rules, and it provides commentary where experience indicates clarification would be helpful.\"}]","WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE - DCF 251 - LICENSING RULES FOR GROUP CHILD CARE CENTERS AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS With Commentary - effective March 2023 | PDF",1790416673,431]