Vermont daycare ratios by age
Vermont's child care center rule (Vermont DCF Licensing Regulations for Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs (eff. 2022-04-17), Rule 6.2.1.3) 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.
Vermont 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 4 | 8 |
| Two-year-olds | 1 to 5 | 10 |
| 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 Vermont?
Type how many children of each age are in the room.
What the rule says
Birth-18 mo 1:4 group 8; 18-30 mo 1:4 group 10; 24-36 mo 1:5 group 10; 32-42 mo 1:6 group 15; 36 mo-Kindergarten 1:10 group 20; 1st grade and up 1:13 group 26 (mapped: toddler=birth-18 mo row, our band splits evenly with 18-30 mo 1:4/10, ratio same, smaller group chosen; twos=24-36 mo row; fives=36 mo-Kindergarten row for pre-K fives)
Rule: Vermont DCF Licensing Regulations for Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs (eff. 2022-04-17), Rule 6.2.1.3. Read on 2026-10-31 at outside.vermont.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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