Massachusetts daycare ratios by age
Massachusetts's child care center rule (606 CMR 7.10(9)(b)) sets the staff-to-child ratios below: one adult for every 10 three-year-olds, in groups of no more than 20. Read on 2026-10-31; your licensing consultant has the last word.
Massachusetts child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 3 | 7 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 4 | 9 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 4 | 9 |
| Three-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| Four-year-olds | 1 to 10 | 20 |
| Five-year-olds (not yet in school) | 1 to 10 | 20 |
How many adults does my room need in Massachusetts?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Fixed age groups: infants up to 15 mo 1:3 group 7 (one additional educator for 4-7 infants); toddlers 15-33 mo 1:4 group 9; preschoolers 33 mo to school age full day 1:10 group 20, half day 1:12 group 24; kindergarten (first grade the following year) 1:15 group 30. (mapped: toddler 12-24 and twos 24-36 = toddler 15-33 mo; threes-fives = full-day preschool row)
Rule: 606 CMR 7.10(9)(b). Read on 2026-10-31 at law.cornell.edu. 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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