Arkansas daycare ratios by age
Arkansas's child care center rule (Arkansas DHS Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers (PUB-002, rev. 12/01/2020) §301.2, §301.13) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 12 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 24. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Arkansas child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 8 | 16 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 12 | 24 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 15 | 30 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 18 | 36 |
How many adults does my room need in Arkansas?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Birth-18 mo 1:5; 18-36 mo 1:8; 2 1/2-3 yr 1:12; 4 yr 1:15; 5 yr to kindergarten 1:18; kindergarten and above 1:18. Group size limited to 2x the number allowed with one staff (301.13). 30-36 mo children may be placed in the group best suited to them. (mapped: toddler 12-24 mo split evenly between 1:5 [12-18 mo] and 1:8 [18-24 mo], stricter 1:5 used; threes = '2 1/2-3 years' row; groups computed as 2x ratio)
Rule: Arkansas DHS Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers (PUB-002, rev. 12/01/2020) §301.2, §301.13. Read on 2026-10-31 at humanservices.arkansas.gov. Where the rule's ages split one of ours, the younger, stricter figure is shown. This is the rule for licensed centers; family child care homes, school-age care and mixed-age groups have their own rules. A reading of public regulations, not licensing advice.
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