Operational Procedures for Infant and Toddler Classrooms: Comparison of Teacher-Child Ratios, June 2007

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Comparison of Teacher-Child Ratios

Early Childhood Education providers are encouraged to research Teacher-Child Ratios further before adjusting their local policy. Extensive information is available at the web links listed below. Consultation with your organization is also recommended.

**Comparison of Teacher-Child Ratios**
Texas Minimum Standards For Child-Care Centers Licensed to Care for 13 or More Children		NAEYC Accreditation Criteria, Based on Group Size (Group size refers to the number of children who are assigned for most of the day to a teacher or a team of teaching staff and who occupy an individual classroom or well-defined space that prevents intermingling of children from different groups within a larger room or area.)			Texas Education Code Class Size Requirements
Child’s Age	Number of Children per Staff Member	Child’s Age	Number of Children per Staff Member	Group Size	Child’s Age	Number of Children per Class/Teacher
0-11 months	4	Birth to 15 months	4	8
12-17 months	5	12-28 months	4	12
18-23 months	9	12-28 months	4	12
2 years	11	21-36 months	6	12
3 years	15	2.5 year-olds to 3 year olds (30-48 months)	6	12
4 years	18	4-year-olds	8	16
5 years	22	5-year-olds	8	16
5 years	22	Kindergarten	10	20	Kindergarten	22
6-8 years	26				First Grade	22
					Second Grade	22
					Third Grade	22
9-12 years	26				Fourth Grade	22

Sources

Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers, http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Documents/Child_Care/Child_Care_Standards_and_Regulations/Centers746.pdf {PDF document} Adobe® Acrobat® Reader

National Association for the Education of Young Children, http://www.naeyc.org/academy/criteria/teacher_child_ratios.html

Texas Education Code, Sections 25.111 and 25.112, http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/ed.toc.htm