All school-age providers must meet the following requirements prior to working:

(1) School-age program licensees must meet the requirements of a program director listed in subsection (2) of this section or hire a program director who meets the qualifications prior to being granted an initial license. School-age program licensees who fulfill the role of program director in their school-age program must complete all trainings and requirements for program director.

(2) Program directors manage the overall school-age program operations and facilities and set appropriate program and staff expectations. The program director is not responsible for being on-site at the program, unless the program director is filling in for an on-site role.

(a) A program director must meet the following qualifications:

(i) Be at least eighteen years old;

(ii) Complete forty-five college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent as approved and verified in the electronic workforce registry by the department as follows:

(A) A program director working at the time this chapter becomes effective must have completed at least twelve college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent and complete an additional thirty-three college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent within five years of the date this section becomes effective.

(B) A program director hired or promoted after this chapter becomes effective must have completed twelve college credits in any one hundred-level or above coursework or equivalent prior to being hired or promoted, and complete an additional thirty-three college credits in any one hundred-level or above coursework or equivalent within five years of the time of hire or promotion.

(iii) Complete the applicable preservice requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105; and

(iv) Have their continued professional development progress documented annually.

(b) A program director must provide the following services:

(i) A program director may fill in as a site director or teacher if acting in this role does not interfere with the responsibilities of managing the school-age program;

(ii) Comply with foundational quality standards;

(iii) Develop a program philosophy, communicate the philosophy to all school-age program staff, parents, and guardians, and train staff to ensure the philosophy serves all children in the program (or designate a site director with this responsibility);

(iv) Have knowledge of community resources available to families, including resources for children with special needs and be able to share these resources with families (or designate a site director with this responsibility); and

(v) Oversee professional development plans for school-age program staff including, but not limited to:

(A) Providing support to staff for creating and maintaining staff records;

(B) Setting educational goals with staff and locating or coordinating state-approved training opportunities for staff; and

(C) Mentoring the site director.

(3) Site directors plan and implement the school-age program services under the oversight of a program director. The site director is responsible for being on-site during the program's operating hours.

(a) A site director must meet the following qualifications:

(i) Be at least eighteen years old;

(ii) Complete thirty college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent as approved and verified in the electronic workforce registry by the department as follows:

(A) A site director working at the time this chapter becomes effective must have completed at least twelve college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent and complete an additional eighteen college credits in any one hundred-level or above coursework or equivalent within five years of the date this section becomes effective;

(B) A site director hired or promoted after this chapter becomes effective must have completed twelve college credits in any one hundred-level or above coursework or equivalent prior to being hired or promoted, and complete an additional eighteen college credits in any one hundred-level or above coursework or equivalent within five years of the time of hire or promotion.

(iii) Complete the applicable preservice requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105; and

(iv) Have their continued professional development progress documented annually.

(b) A site director performs the following duties:

(i) Plan and implement curriculum and environmental design of the school-age program;

(ii) Be on-site providing regular supervision of staff and volunteers;

(iii) Comply with foundational quality standards;

(iv) Act as a teacher as long as it does not interfere with the site director's primary responsibilities; and

(v) Observe and mentor staff.

(c) One person may be the program director and the site director when qualified for both positions, provided that all requirements of subsection (2)(a) of this section are met.

(d) For program continuity, a lead teacher can fill in for a site director up to two weeks. If longer than two weeks, the licensee or program director must notify the department with a plan for how the site director's responsibilities will be managed during the site director's absence.

(4) Lead teachers are responsible for implementing the school-age program. Lead teachers develop and provide a nurturing and responsive environment that meets the needs of enrolled children. A lead teacher must meet the following qualifications:

(a) Be at least eighteen years old;

(b) Have a high school diploma or equivalent;

(c) Have completed twelve college credits in any one hundred-level or above college coursework or equivalent as approved and verified in the electronic workforce registry by the department within five years of the date this section becomes effective, or five years from being employed or promoted into this position at any licensed school-age program, whichever comes later;

(d) Complete the applicable preservice requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105; and

(e) Have their professional development progress documented annually.

(5) Assistant teachers help a lead teacher provide instructional support to children and implement developmentally appropriate programming.

(a) An assistant teacher must meet the following qualifications:

(i) Be at least eighteen years old;

(ii) Have a high school diploma or equivalent; and

(iii) Complete the applicable preservice requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105.

(b) Assistant teachers may work alone with children with regular, scheduled, and documented oversight and on-the-job training from the lead teacher who is primarily responsible for the care of the same group of children for the majority of their day.

(c) For continuity of care, assistant teachers can act as a substitute lead teacher up to two weeks. If longer than two weeks, the program director or site director must notify the department with a plan for how the lead teacher's responsibilities will be managed during the lead teacher's absence.

(6) Aides provide classroom support to an assistant teacher, lead teacher, site director, or program director. Aides must meet the following qualifications:

(a) Be at least fourteen years old;

(b) Have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be currently enrolled in high school or an equivalent education program;

(c) Complete the applicable preservice requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105; and

(d) Aides may be counted in the staff-to-child ratio if they are working under the continuous supervision of a lead teacher, site director, or program director.

(7) Other personnel who do not directly care for children and are not listed in subsections (1) through (6) of this section must meet the following qualifications:

(a) Complete and pass a background check, pursuant to chapter 110-06 WAC;

(b) Have a negative TB test, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105; and

(c) Complete program based staff policies and training, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0110.

(8) Volunteers help at a school-age program. Volunteers must meet the following qualifications:

(a) Be at least fourteen years old and have written permission to volunteer from their parent or guardian if under eighteen years old;

(b) Work under the continuous supervision of a lead teacher, site director, or program director;

(c) Regular, ongoing volunteers may count in staff-to-child ratio if they:

(i) Complete and pass a background check, pursuant to chapter 110-06 WAC;

(ii) Complete a TB test, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0105;

(iii) Complete the training requirements, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0106; and

(iv) Complete program-based staff policies and training, pursuant to WAC 110-301-0110.

(d) Occasional volunteers must comply with (a) and (b) of this subsection and cannot count in staff-to-child ratio. Occasional volunteers may include, but are not limited to, a parent or guardian helping on a field trip, special guest presenters, or a parent or guardian, family member, or community member helping with a cultural celebration.