California daycare ratios: how many children per teacher
In a California child care center, one teacher may care for at most 4 infants, 6 toddlers in a toddler program, 12 preschoolers or 14 school-age children. Aides let a teacher take on a larger group. Here is the full chart from the state’s regulations, and how often centers break it.
The California ratio chart for child care centers
| Children | Children per teacher | With aides | Nap time and outings | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 2), in an infant care center | 4 | A fully qualified teacher may oversee up to 12 infants with aides, each aide caring for no more than 4 | 1 teacher may watch 12 sleeping infants if other staff are at the center; 1 adult per 2 infants on outings | §101416.5 |
| Toddlers (18 to 30 months), in a preschool’s toddler program | 6 | Groups of no more than 12 toddlers, with two teachers or a teacher and an aide | §101216.4 | |
| Preschoolers | 12 | 1 teacher and 1 aide for 15 children; 1 fully qualified teacher and 1 qualified aide for 18 | 1 teacher may watch 24 napping children if other staff are at the center; no teacher in charge of more than 12 children on outings | §101216.3, §101230 |
| School-age children (first grade and up) | 14 | 1 teacher and 1 aide for 28 children | Mixed-age groups are staffed for the youngest child in the group | §101516.5 |
Source: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1 (Child Care Center General Licensing Requirements), as published by the California Department of Social Services (preschool rules, infant and school-age rules). The director may count toward the ratio when teaching a group. Programs funded by the California Department of Education follow Title 5 ratios instead. Family child care homes have separate rules.
How often California centers break ratio rules
Since February 2021, California has cited licensed centers for the four ratio rules 1,095 times at 836 centers. The preschool ratio rule (§101216.3) alone is the 12th most-cited rule at California centers.
| Rule | What it covers | Citations | Centers cited | Type A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| §101416.5 | Staff-infant ratio | 302 | 238 | 173 |
| §101216.3 | Teacher-child ratio (preschool) | 650 | 506 | 341 |
| §101216.4 | Toddler program ratio and group size | 77 | 64 | 23 |
| §101516.5 | Teacher-child ratio (school age) | 66 | 54 | 45 |
| §101161 | Capacity limits | 467 | 408 | 186 |
The capacity rule (§101161, more children than the license allows) is shown for comparison and not counted in the total above. Every center page on Daycare Record groups these under “Staff ratios.” Counts from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports.
Why ratios matter
Fewer children per adult means closer supervision and more attention for each child. It is also why infant care costs the most: a room of 12 babies needs three times the staff of a room of 12 preschoolers. See what daycare costs in California.
Common questions
What is the infant ratio in California daycare centers?
One teacher for every 4 infants (children under 2) in an infant care center. A fully qualified teacher can oversee up to 12 infants when aides each care for no more than 4 (22 CCR §101416.5).
What is the preschool ratio in California?
One teacher for every 12 preschoolers. With an aide, one teacher and one aide may care for 15 children, or 18 when the teacher is fully qualified and the aide meets extra qualifications (22 CCR §101216.3).
What is the toddler ratio in California?
Preschools that run a separate toddler program for children 18 to 30 months must keep one teacher for every 6 toddlers, in groups of no more than 12 (22 CCR §101216.4).
Are ratios different during nap time?
Yes. One teacher may watch up to 24 napping preschoolers, or 12 sleeping infants, as long as the other staff needed to meet the normal ratio are at the center (22 CCR §101230 and §101416.5).
Do state-funded preschools use different ratios?
Yes. Child development programs funded by the California Department of Education follow Title 5 staffing ratios instead, for example one adult for every 8 preschoolers and one teacher for every 24.
How do I know if a daycare follows the ratios?
Count the children and adults in the room when you visit, ask how many teachers your child’s room has at opening, nap time and closing, and check the center’s page on Daycare Record for “Staff ratios” citations. Since February 2021, California has cited the preschool ratio rule 650 times.