Alaska Childcare Licensing Requirements
Alaska childcare centers must include 13 mandatory sections in parent handbooks per 7 AAC 57.410(3) (hours and days of operation, including holidays, in the written information for parents); see also 7 AAC 57.220 (Child care facility operation and management).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRequired Handbook Sections
The following sections must appear in every Alaska childcare parent handbook per state licensing rules.
| Section | Description | Citation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of Operation | Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy. | 7 AAC 57.410(3) (hours and days of operation, including holidays, in the written information for parents); see also 7 AAC 57.220 (Child care facility operation and management) | Required |
| Behavior Guidance and Discipline PolicyGuide → | Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps. | 7 AAC 57.535 (Behavior guidance) | Required |
| Illness and Exclusion PolicyGuide → | Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures. | 7 AAC 57.550 (Health) — exclusion/mildly-ill provisions at 7 AAC 57.550(g)-(i); see also 7 AAC 57.545 (Reducing the spread of disease) | Required |
| Medication Administration PolicyGuide → | Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements. | 7 AAC 57.540 (Medications) (incorporating storage/administration standards of 7 AAC 10.1070) | Required |
| Emergency ProceduresGuide → | Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes. | 7 AAC 57.610 (Environmental health and safety), incorporating 7 AAC 10.1000-10.1095; 7 AAC 10.1010 (Life and fire safety) — disaster preparedness/emergency evacuation plan and drills | Required |
| Arrival and Departure Procedures | Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees. | 7 AAC 57.500 (Supervision of children); see also 7 AAC 57.410(4) (supervision plan in written information for parents) | Required |
| Nutrition and Meals Policy | Meals and snacks provided; food allergy procedures; outside food policy. | 7 AAC 57.560 (Nutrition) | Required |
| Parent Communication Policy | Daily report procedures; how to reach staff; parent conference schedule. | 7 AAC 57.410 (Information for parents); see also 7 AAC 57.240 (Reports), 57.240(c) (immediate report to parent of death, injury/illness requiring outside medical attention, or exposure to a contagious condition/communicable disease) | Required |
| Grievance and Complaint Procedure | Steps for resolving concerns; contact for unresolved complaints. | 7 AAC 57.410(16) (complaint-investigation role of the department and contact information disclosed to parents); umbrella complaint/enforcement authority 7 AAC 57.900 (Compliance and enforcement) under AS 47.32 | Required |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting | Mandatory reporter obligations; reporting procedures; state hotline. | AS 47.17.020 (Persons required to report; child care providers are mandatory reporters) — report immediately (no later than 24 hours); penalty for failure to report is a class A misdemeanor under AS 47.17.068 | Required |
| Enrollment, Fees, and Payment Policy | Enrollment process; tuition rates; payment schedule; refund policy. | 7 AAC 57.400 (Admission and planning for care); 7 AAC 57.410(1)-(2) (enrollment requirements and procedures; fees and payment requirements in the written information for parents) | Required |
| Health and Safety Policies | Handwashing procedures; diapering; sunscreen; rest time policies. | 7 AAC 57.550 (Health) and 7 AAC 57.610 (Environmental health and safety), incorporating 7 AAC 10.1000-10.1095 | Required |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Statement of equal access; protected classes covered. | No standalone nondiscrimination section exists in 7 AAC 57; 7 AAC 57.940 (Children with special needs) cited as the closest verified umbrella section (note: 57.940 itself contains no nondiscrimination language) | Required |
| Transportation Policy | Vehicle safety requirements; car seat policy; authorization procedures. | 7 AAC 57.565 (Transportation) | Recommended |
| Field Trip Policy | Authorization requirements; supervision ratios during off-site activities. | 7 AAC 57.810 (Specialized program activities) — health/safety precautions for activities away from the facility; see also 7 AAC 57.410(12) (parental permission policy for activities away from the facility) | Recommended |
Staff-to-Child Ratios
Alaska mandates the following maximum staff-to-child ratios by age group.
| Age Group | Staff-to-Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| Infants — through 18 months | 10 children : 2 caregivers (1:5) in a child care center (7 AAC 57.505) |
| Toddlers — 19 through 36 months | 12 children : 2 caregivers (1:6) (7 AAC 57.505) |
| Preschool — 3 and 4 years | 20 children : 2 caregivers (1:10) (7 AAC 57.505) |
| Kindergarten — 5 and 6 years | 28 children : 2 caregivers (1:14) (7 AAC 57.505) |
| School age — 7 through 12 years | 36 children : 2 caregivers (1:18) (7 AAC 57.505) |
| Family child care home | One caregiver may care for not more than 8 children younger than 13 (incl. caregiver's own under 13); of the total, not more than 3 younger than 30 months and not more than 2 nonambulatory (7 AAC 57.505) |
| Group child care home | At least 2 caregivers for not more than 12 children younger than 13; of the total, not more than 5 younger than 30 months and not more than 4 nonambulatory (one caregiver permitted if 8 or fewer children with the same under-30-months/nonambulatory limits) (7 AAC 57.505) |
Immunization Requirements
- Before admission, the facility must obtain from the parent a valid immunization certificate or evidence the child is exempt (7 AAC 57.550(a))
- Acceptable documentation: the child's original immunization record or a physician/provider-documented record showing the dates each required immunization was administered (7 AAC 57.550(b))
- Required immunizations follow the Alaska childhood immunization schedule (e.g., DTaP/Tdap, polio/IPV, MMR, Hib, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal/PCV) per the Alaska Division of Public Health childhood schedule
- Exemptions permitted: medical exemption, religious exemption, and provisional/temporary exemption for homeless or foster children lacking records (7 AAC 57.550(c)); provisional 30-day enrollment for children lacking available records (7 AAC 57.550(k)); up to 60-day provisional admission in medically underserved communities (7 AAC 57.550(e))
Background Check Requirements
- Fingerprint-based criminal history check (state APSIN and FBI national) for the provider and each associated individual 16 or older, processed through the Alaska Department of Health Background Check Program (AS 47.05.300-.390; 7 AAC 10.900-10.990)
- Barrier crimes and conditions screening under 7 AAC 10.905 — disqualifying offenses/findings bar association with the facility
- Provider must request a background check (or show a valid fingerprint-based check) for each individual associated with the provider per 7 AAC 10.900(b); requests made under 7 AAC 10.910
- A fingerprint-based background check is valid for five years for an individual continuously marked valid in APSIN whose check has not been revoked or made invalid
Inspection Frequency
No fixed numeric inspection interval is set in 7 AAC 57. The department's monitoring/inspection authority is in 7 AAC 57.040 (Inspections and evaluations by an individual or agency) and 7 AAC 57.900 (Compliance and enforcement) under AS 47.32; the department monitors and investigates facilities for compliance and conducts complaint-driven investigations, and may conduct announced and unannounced on-site monitoring. Licenses are issued/renewed on a biennial (2-year) basis under 7 AAC 57.030 (Application for license; biennial renewal).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Enforcement is governed by 7 AAC 57.900 under AS 47.32 (Centralized Licensing). Under AS 47.32.140, a civil fine may not exceed $2,500 a day for each day of a continuing violation, or $25,000 for a single violation, and does not preclude a criminal penalty. The department may also take enforcement actions including license conditions, provisional licensure, suspension, revocation, or non-renewal (grounds at 7 AAC 57.035, Grounds for nonrenewal or revocation of license). Failure to report suspected child abuse/neglect is separately a class A misdemeanor under AS 47.17.068.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections must be in a Alaska childcare parent handbook?
Alaska childcare centers are required to include at least 13 mandatory sections in their parent handbooks per state licensing regulations enforced by the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office (CCPO) — Child Care Licensing Program.
Who oversees childcare licensing in Alaska?
Childcare licensing in Alaska is regulated by the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office (CCPO) — Child Care Licensing Program. You can find official licensing information at https://health.alaska.gov/en/division-of-public-assistance/child-care-program-office/.
What happens if a Alaska childcare center doesn't have a compliant handbook?
Non-compliance with Alaska parent handbook requirements can result in: Enforcement is governed by 7 AAC 57.900 under AS 47.32 (Centralized Licensing). Under AS 47.32.140, a civil fine may not exceed $2,500 a day for each day of a continuing violation, or $25,000 for a single violation, and does not preclude a criminal penalty. The department may also take enforcement actions including license conditions, provisional licensure, suspension, revocation, or non-renewal (grounds at 7 AAC 57.035, Grounds for nonrenewal or revocation of license). Failure to report suspected child abuse/neglect is separately a class A misdemeanor under AS 47.17.068.
How often are Alaska childcare centers inspected?
Alaska childcare centers are subject to the following inspection schedule: No fixed numeric inspection interval is set in 7 AAC 57. The department's monitoring/inspection authority is in 7 AAC 57.040 (Inspections and evaluations by an individual or agency) and 7 AAC 57.900 (Compliance and enforcement) under AS 47.32; the department monitors and investigates facilities for compliance and conducts complaint-driven investigations, and may conduct announced and unannounced on-site monitoring. Licenses are issued/renewed on a biennial (2-year) basis under 7 AAC 57.030 (Application for license; biennial renewal).
Detailed Alaska Requirements
Go deeper on a single Alaska licensing topic — each page covers the statute-cited specifics for that requirement.
Related Tools
Free tools to help your Alaska childcare center stay compliant.
Staff-to-Child Ratio Calculator
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Open tool →Inspection Checklist
Step-by-step checklist to prepare your center for a state licensing inspection.
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