An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

Chapter 21 – Child Care Centers/Preschools

 A signed consent form for emergency medical treatment unless the child's authorized representative has signed the religious faith statement exempting this requirement; 2960  Record of any illness or injury requiring treatment by a physician, or dentist and for which the center provided assistance to the child in meeting his or her necessary medical or dental needs;  Record of current medications, including the name of the prescribing physician, and instructions, if any, regarding control and custody of medications;  Signed and dated authorization from the child's authorized representative for each activity away from the center; and  Date of termination of services. 2961

Children’s records must also contain any documentation related to injuries which required first- aid services as well as up to date immunization information. 2962 Preschools must also record in the child’s record, and report to the child’s parents, any unusual behavior or signs of illness observed by the preschool. 2963 The file should also contain any and all verifications or acknowledgments signed by the child’s parents. All children’s records must be kept by the preschool for at least three years following termination of service to the child. 2964 LCW Practice Advisor Title 22 is silent as to what preschools must do with children records after three years following

termination of service to that child. However, we recommend that preschools keep records for at least five years, as those records may be useful to defend against certain claims brought by students, parents or employees of the preschool.

CCLD V ISITS , E VALUATIONS , A ND C ITATIONS

Section 7

A. S ITE E VALUATIONS DSS must ensure that licensed child care centers are in compliance with licensing laws and regulations. DSS therefore has the authority to enter and inspect child care center facilities to ensure this compliance. 2965 DSS may make these compliance inspections at any time. 2966 All DSS site visits will be unannounced to the child care center. 2967 DSS’ inspection authority also permits it to interview children and staff without prior preschool or parent/guardian consent, to inspect, audit, and copy all child or employee records, and to observe the physical condition of the children, including conditions that could indicate abuse, neglect, or inappropriate placement. 2968

An Administrator’s Guide to California Private School Law ©2019 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 655