Licensed Group Family Day Care Homes, Day Care Center and Before and After School Programs

Group Family Day Care Home

Definition Group Family Day Care Home - Licensed

South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 26-6-14 defines a Group Family Day Care Home as the providing of group care and supervision of children on a regular basis for part of a day as a supplement to regular parental care, with or without compensation, for 13 to 20 children, including children under the age of six living in the home and children from more than one unrelated family received for day care, in any facility, including a family home.  

• A group family child care home may be located in the provider's own home or in a separate facility.
• Group family child care homes are mandated by law to be licensed prior to operation, regardless of funding source.
• Group family day care homes are inspected once per year.

Process for becoming a licensed Group Family Day Care Program 

Health and safety regulatory requirements met by a licensed group family day care provider: 

• Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) 67:42:10 Licensed day care programs  
• ARSD 67:42:11 Environmental health standards  
• ARSD 67:42:16 Scope of services for child care programs
• ARSD 61:15:06 Group family construction requirements
• SDCL Chapter 26-6 Children’s Homes and Welfare
• The Licensing Handbook
• Floor Plan Review Guide
  • Modification Existing Program
  • School Age Care (School only)

Monitoring and inspections

Sample Monitoring Forms

• Facility Safety Inspection sample
• Program Inspection sample

Background checks required

Email a request for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.

Call a licensing specialist for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.

Licensed Day Care Center

Definition of a Day Care Center - Licensed

South Dakota law defines a Day Care Center as the providing of group care and supervision of children on a regular basis for part of a day as a supplement to regular parental care, with or without compensation, for 21 or more children, including children under the age of six living in the home and children from more than one unrelated family received for care in any facility, including a family home.   

• A child care center may be located in the provider's own home or in a separate facility.
• Day care centers are mandated by law to be licensed prior to operating, regardless of funding source.
• Centers are inspected each year.
• A day care center may be operated as a nonprofit organization or as an independent, proprietary facility.

Process for becoming a licensed Day Care Program 

Health and safety regulatory requirements met by day care centers:

• Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) 67:42:10 Licensed day care programs
• ARSD 67:42:11 Environmental health standards
• ARSD 67:42:16 Scope of services for child care programs
• ARSD 61:15:05 Day Care Center construction requirements
• South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 26-6 Children’s Homes and Welfare Agencies
• The Licensing Handbook
• Floor Plan Review Guide
  • Modification Existing Program
  • School Age Care (School only)

Monitoring and inspections

Sample Monitoring Forms

• Program Inspection Sample
• Facility Safety Inspection Sample

Background checks required

Email a request for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.

Call a licensing specialist for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.

Before & After School Programs

Definition of Before & After School program - Licensed

South Dakota law defines a Before & After School Care program as the providing of care and supervision of children on a regular basis before and after regular school hours.

• Before & After School Care programs serve only school-age children and may be providing care for either part of a day or full-time during school breaks.
• Before & After School Care programs are required to become licensed, prior to operating, regardless of the funding source or location of the program.
• An exemption to licensure is only if the after school program is providing educational or recreational activities for children who come and go in the program at their own discretion.
• Programs are inspected each year.
• Floor Plan Review Guide
  • Modification Existing Program
  • School Age Care (School only)

Process for becoming a licensed Before and After School Program 

Health and Safety Regulatory Requirements Met by Before and After School Programs

• Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) 67:42:14 Before and After School Care
• ARSD 67:42:11 Environmental health standards
• ARSD 67:42:16 Scope of services for child care programs
• ARSD 61:15:07 Fire safety requirements for schools
• South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 26-6 Children’s Homes and Welfare Agencies
• The Licensing Handbook

Monitoring and inspections

Sample Monitoring Forms

• Program Inspection Sample

Non-school

• 13-20 Facility Safety Inspection Sample
• 21+ Facility Safety Inspection Sample

School

• 13-20 Facility Safety Inspection Sample
• 21+ Facility Safety Inspection Sample

Background checks required

Email a request for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.

Call a licensing specialist for more information or to obtain a packet to start the licensing process.