Pennsylvania daycare ratios by age
Pennsylvania's child care center rule (55 Pa. Code §3270.51 (definitions §3270.4)) 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.
Pennsylvania child care center ratios and group sizes
| Age | Children per adult | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (under 12 months) | 1 to 4 | 8 |
| Toddlers (12 to 24 months) | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 6 | 12 |
| 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 Pennsylvania?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Infant (birth-1 yr) 1:4 group 8; young toddler (1-2 yr) 1:5 group 10; older toddler (2-3 yr) 1:6 group 12; preschool (3 yr to kindergarten entry) 1:10 group 20; young school-age (K-3rd grade) 1:12 group 24; older school-age 1:15 group 30 (age definitions from §3270.4; fives=preschool row)
Rule: 55 Pa. Code §3270.51 (definitions §3270.4). Read on 2026-10-31 at pacodeandbulletin.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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