Informational use only — not legal advice. This page reflects CenterWorth's review of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care regulations as of 2026-08-06. Regulations change. Always confirm current requirements directly with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care before making staffing, licensing, or business decisions.
State-mandated minimum staffing ratios for licensed childcare centers in Kentucky, organized by age group with maximum group sizes and official regulatory citations.
State-specific notes:
| Age Group | Min. Staff Ratio | Max Group Size |
|---|---|---|
| Infant — under 12 months | 1:5 | 10 |
| Toddler — 12 through 24 months | 1:6 | 12 |
| Toddler — over 24 through 36 months | 1:10 | 20 |
| Preschool — 3 to 4 years | 1:12 | 24 |
| Preschool — 4 to 5 years | 1:14 | 28 |
| School age — 5 to 7 years | 1:15 | 30 |
| School age — 7 years and older, before/after school | 1:25 | 30 |
| School age — 7 years and older, full day | 1:20 | 30 |
"Min. Staff Ratio" means 1 staff member per N children. Both the ratio and group size limits must be satisfied simultaneously where both apply.
In addition to the standard age-group ratios, Kentucky regulations specify modified or additional staffing requirements for specific situations. These apply only under the conditions described.
No general reduced staffing ratio is identified in the stored record; center staffing standards remain applicable during operating hours.
Rest is required for a non-school-age child in care more than four hours. Infant safe-sleep requirements apply separately.
Citation: 922 KAR 2:120 rest/sleep provisions
Maintain the applicable staffing requirements during nighttime care.
Type I staff remain awake while on duty. In Type II care, the staff person or operator remains awake until every child in care is asleep.
Citation: 922 KAR 2:120 nighttime-care provisions
Conditional rules apply only in the specific circumstances described. Verify applicability to your facility type and program with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care.
Kentucky's staffing ratios determine the minimum number of staff members you must have on the floor at any time — which directly sets your labor cost floor. Since payroll typically represents 50–65% of a childcare center's total operating expenses, the ratio requirement for your primary age group is one of the most important numbers in your business model.
For example, if you operate an infant room in Kentucky at 1:5and enroll 12 infants, you need at least 3 staff members on the floor at all times. If you expand to 16 infants, your required staff count increases accordingly — and your payroll jumps before you see any additional tuition revenue.
CenterWorth's staffing cost calculator lets you model your Kentucky center's exact staffing requirement by age group, enrollment level, and hours of operation — so you can see payroll as a percentage of revenue before you commit to a lease or license.
CenterWorth's Kentucky data was compiled from the following official sources. Always verify current rules at the primary source before making operational or legal decisions.
Kentucky Division of Child Care — Regulations
Official state index for 922 KAR 2:090, 2:100, 2:120 and related rules
922 KAR 2:090 — Child-care center licensure
Licensed child-care-center requirements
922 KAR 2:120 — Child-care center health and safety standards
Sections 1-4 and physical-plant provisions
Staffing Cost Calculator
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Kentucky’s stored center ratio is 1:5 for infants under 12 months, with a maximum group size of 10, under the staff-to-child table in 922 KAR 2:120 §2(2).
Yes. For children age seven and older, the stored table distinguishes before/after-school care at 1:25 from full-day care at 1:20. Both rows carry a maximum group size of 30.
The stored regulatory record identifies no general reduced rest-time ratio. Applicable staffing standards remain in force, with separate rest, infant safe-sleep, and nighttime awake-staff provisions.
Kentucky’s table pairs every ratio with a maximum group size. Adding staff does not allow a classroom to exceed that separate ceiling, so both constraints belong in capacity and payroll planning.
Enter your center's capacity, enrollment, and tuition to get a complete financial model — including payroll, break-even enrollment, and operating margin — for your Kentucky center.
About this data
This page reflects CenterWorth's review of official Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Child Care regulations. CenterWorth compiles data exclusively from primary government and regulatory sources — never from secondary aggregators or advocacy estimates. Data is captured as of the date shown and may not reflect subsequent regulatory amendments. This page is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.