Section 400.8113. Program director qualifications; responsibilities.

Rule 113. (1) As used in this rule:

(a)   “Child-related field” for an early childhood program director means elementary education, child guidance/counseling, child psychology, family studies, and social work.

(b)    “Child-related field” for a school-age program director means early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, physical education and recreation, child development, child guidance/counseling, child psychology, family studies, social work, human services, and youth development.

(c)       “Child care administration” means child care administration, education administration, or business administration.

(d)  “Child development associate credential (CDA)” means a credential awarded by the council for professional recognition or similar credential approved by the department.

(e)     “Early childhood program director” means the program director of a center serving children of all ages.

(f)    “Hours of experience” means experience serving the ages and developmental abilities of children for which the center is licensed.

(g)   “Montessori credential” means a credential issued by the association Montessori internationale (AMI), American Montessori society (AMS), or any Montessori teaching training institution recognized by the Montessori accreditation council for teacher education (MACTE) that meets or exceeds 270 hours of academic training.

(h)   “Michigan school-age/youth development credential” means a credential issued by the Michigan afterschool association or similar credential approved by the department.

(i)    “School-age program director” means the program director of a center serving only school-age children.

(2)   Before hiring a new program director, a center shall submit the credentials of the proposed program director to the department for review and approval.

(3)   A program director shall be present in the center in the following manner:

(a)  Full time for programs operating less than 6 continuous hours.

(b)   At least 50% of the time children are in care but not less than a total of 6 hours per day for programs operating 6 or more continuous hours.

(4)   All program directors are responsible for the general management of the center, including the following minimum responsibilities:

(a)  Developing, implementing, and evaluating center policies and program.

(b)   Administering day-to-day operations including being available to address parent, child, and staff issues.

(c)   Monitoring staff, including an annual evaluation of each staff member.

(5)   A program director may also serve as a caregiver, provided that role does not interfere with management and supervisory responsibilities.

(6)   If absent from the center, the program director shall designate a staff member to be in charge who at least meets the qualifications of caregiver.

(7)   A substitute program director shall be appointed for a program director who has left employment or has a temporary absence that exceeds 30 consecutive workdays until return or replacement. A substitute program director shall at least meet the qualifications of lead caregiver. The department shall be notified when a substitute program director is appointed.

(8)   All program directors shall have all of the following qualifications:

(a)   Be at least 21 years of age.

(b)   Have earned a high school diploma or GED.

(9)   Early childhood program directors shall meet 1 of the following qualifications:

	Education	Coursework in Early Childhood Education or Child Development	Hours                   of Experience
(a)	Bachelor’s degree  or higher in early childhood education or child development
(b)	Bachelor’s degree  or higher in a child-related field including	18 semester hours and	480 hours
(c)	Associate’s degree in early childhood education or child                        development including	18 semester hours and	480 hours
(d)	Montessori credential with	18 semester hours and	960 hours
(e)	Valid   child            development associate credential with	18 semester hours and	960 hours

(f)

Sixty semester hours with

18 semester hours and

1,920 hours

(10)   School-age program directors shall meet 1 of the following qualifications:

	Education	Coursework   in   a   Child- Related Field	Hours                   of Experience
(a)	Bachelor’s degree  or higher in a child-related field
(b)	Associate’s    degree     in    a child-related field and		480 hours
(c)	Montessori credential with	12 semester hours and	480 hours
(d)	Valid Michigan school- age/youth development credential with	12 semester hours and	480 hours
(e)	Valid   child            development associate credential with	12 semester hours and	480 hours
(f)	Sixty semester hours with	12 semester hours and	720 hours
(g)	High school diploma/ GED with	6 semester hours and	2,880 hours

(11)   Program directors qualified under subrule (9)(e) or (10)(e) of this rule with an expired child development associate credential have 1 year from the effective date of these rules to obtain a valid child development associate credential.

(12)   Program directors qualified under subrule (10)(d) of this rule with an expired Michigan school-age/youth development credential have 1 year from the effective date of these rules to obtain a valid Michigan school-age/youth development credential.

(13)   All program directors shall have at least 2 semester hours or 3.0 CEUs in child care administration or have an administrative credential approved by the department. These semester hours may satisfy a portion of the requirements of subrules (9) and (10) of this rule.

(14)    An early childhood program director employed as a program director since December 7, 2004 without a break in service is exempt from the requirements in subrules

(9)   and (13) of this rule.

(15)   A school-age program director meeting the qualifications of subrule (10)(a) or (10)(b) of this rule or having 5 years of experience as a program director before December 7, 2006 is exempt from the requirements of subrule (13) of this rule.

(16)   A program director is exempt from the requirements of subrule (13) of this rule with verification that all duties required by subrule (4)(a) and (c) of this rule are handled by a central administrator and the central administrator meets the requirements of subrule

(13)   of this rule. Verification of the duties and education of the central administrator shall be made available to the department upon request.

(17) Verification of the education, credentials, and experience of the program director shall be kept on file at the center.

History: 2013 AACS.