Key Element Learning

2025

1. Medium risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.4(i) — Cease the use of pacifier straps or other types of attachment devices.

   Cease the use of pacifier straps or other types of attachment devices. Regulation: Children shall not use pacifiers with straps or other types of attachment devices.

   Corrected 5/28/2025
2. Medium-High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.1(e) — Ensure that pacifiers are removed when children are crawling or walking.

   Ensure that pacifiers are removed when children are crawling or walking. Regulation: The center shall ensure that pacifiers are removed when the children are crawling or walking. 6.3 (a)12. The center shall ensure that these safety and sanitation practices are followed: i. Older infants shall not carry bottles, sippy cups, or regular cups with them while crawling or walking;

   Corrected 5/28/2025
3. Medium-High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2(c) — Provide a current health certificate as required.

   Provide a current health certificate as required. Regulation: If the center prepares meals, the center shall obtain a satisfactory Sanitary Inspection Certificate, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:24, indicating that the kitchen is in compliance with the applicable requirements of the State Sanitary Code. The center shall maintain on file the Sanitary Inspection Certificate. 6.3(a)2 If the center chooses to provide food, the center shall ensure that all food served to children is prepared by either: i. The center on-site or off-site; or ii. A caterer who is licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise approved, as appropriate, by the local or county health department or State Department of Health, as applicable.

   Corrected 6/11/2025
4. High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(d) — Ensure that all credentialed staff complete 20 hours of staff development annually. Provide additional training hours for the group teacher.

   Ensure that all credentialed staff complete 20 hours of staff development annually. Provide additional training hours for the group teacher. Regulation: The director, head teacher(s), group teacher(s), and program supervisor(s) shall each complete 20 hours of staff development each year. Recommended topics of training for these staff include educational and physical activity; special needs programming and program development; social-emotional and behavioral development for young children; legal issues, including ADA guidelines and leadership and advocacy.

   Corrected 5/29/2025
5. Medium risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.2(a)(1) — Ensure that the center has an adequate supply of materials to meet the daily activity needs of the children and the program.

   Ensure that the center has an adequate supply of materials to meet the daily activity needs of the children and the program. Regulation: The center shall provide a supply of age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate program equipment including play equipment, child-size furniture and supplies that are sufficient to meet the daily activity needs of the children and the program.

   Corrected 5/28/2025
6. High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(m)(2) — Arrange strollers at the entrance/exit to provide access to an obstructed 3-foot wide aisle that leads from the inner entrance/exit to the outer entrance/exit.

   Arrange strollers at the entrance/exit to provide access to an obstructed 3-foot wide aisle that leads from the inner entrance/exit to the outer entrance/exit. Regulation: Supplemental evacuation requirements are as follows: cribs, beds, playpens, and cots used for rest or sleep shall be arranged so as to provide access to a three-foot-wide aisle that leads to an unobstructed exit.

   Corrected 5/28/2025
7. Medium-High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3(i)(8) — Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH.

   Submit a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the DOH. Regulation: at the time of the initial application, any renewal application, relocation of an existing licensed center, and, as determined by the Office of Licensing, on a case-by-case basis, the facility operator shall submit to the Office of Licensing a Safe Building Interior Certification or other approval issued by the Department of Health that indicates that no further remediation is needed for the interior of the building in which the center is located. the Office of Licensing shall not issue licenses or renewals to child care centers that are co-located in a building or other structure that contains a dry cleaner or nail salon unless the applicant obtains indoor air sampling that demonstrates that there is no impact to the child care center.

   Corrected 9/23/2025
8. Medium-Low risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6(c)(1) — Provide documentation that the head teacher meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual.

   Provide documentation that the head teacher meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual. Regulation: For early childhood programs, the following shall apply: or all centers, the head teacher or consulting head teacher shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the seven options set forth in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6(c) for education and experience.

   Corrected 9/10/2025
9. High risk5/28/2025

   N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.4(b)(1)(ii) — Ensure cribs are free of pillows and soft bedding.

   Ensure cribs are free of pillows and soft bedding. Regulation: Sleeping equipment shall be free of pillows and soft bedding, including, but not limited to bumper pads, when occupied by a sleeping child.

   Corrected 5/28/2025
10. Medium risk5/28/2025

    N.J.A.C. 3A:52-6.1(g)(2)(iv) — Ensure that the use of infant equipment, including swings, exersaucers and bouncers, is limited to 30 minutes at a time.

    Ensure that the use of infant equipment, including swings, exersaucers and bouncers, is limited to 30 minutes at a time. Regulation: iv. The use of infant equipment including swings, exersaucers, and bouncers shall be limited to periods of 30 minutes at a time.

    Corrected 5/28/2025