Arkansas Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers — publication PUB-002 (the governing standards document; Rev. 12/01/2020) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Signed Application for a Child Care Facility License with a designated person assuming legal responsibility (MLR Section 103), submitted to the Office of Early Childhood (Child Care Licensing Unit) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check request — DHS Division of Children and Family Services (MLR Section 109; required at application/employment and every two (2) years thereafter) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Arkansas State Police statewide criminal records check plus nationwide FBI fingerprint criminal background check, applied through the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police (MLR Sections 109/110; individual bears the cost of the nationwide check) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Staff current health card or licensed physician's statement (MLR Section 603 staff records; physician's statement may be required by Child Care Licensing) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child enrollment/children's record including emergency contacts and written parental authorization for emergency medical care and for transportation/field trips (MLR Section 604) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

Arkansas childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Authorized record of up-to-date immunizations, or documentation of a religious or medical exemption (MLR Section 604, item h) for every enrolled child (per Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE)).

What forms are required for childcare enrollment in Arkansas?

Arkansas requires the following forms for each enrolled child: Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers — publication PUB-002 (the governing standards document; Rev. 12/01/2020); Signed Application for a Child Care Facility License with a designated person assuming legal responsibility (MLR Section 103), submitted to the Office of Early Childhood (Child Care Licensing Unit); Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check request — DHS Division of Children and Family Services (MLR Section 109; required at application/employment and every two (2) years thereafter); Arkansas State Police statewide criminal records check plus nationwide FBI fingerprint criminal background check, applied through the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police (MLR Sections 109/110; individual bears the cost of the nationwide check); Staff current health card or licensed physician's statement (MLR Section 603 staff records; physician's statement may be required by Child Care Licensing); Child enrollment/children's record including emergency contacts and written parental authorization for emergency medical care and for transportation/field trips (MLR Section 604); Authorized record of up-to-date immunizations, or documentation of a religious or medical exemption (MLR Section 604, item h).

How long must Arkansas childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?

Arkansas childcare licensing rules require that child records, including all required enrollment forms, be kept on file for the duration of enrollment and for a retention period after the child leaves. Contact the Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Child Care Licensing Unit (functions formerly administered by the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education / DCCECE) to confirm the exact retention schedule.

What happens if a Arkansas center is missing required child forms during an inspection?

Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a Arkansas childcare licensing inspection. Civil monetary penalties under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-203 (Penalties): Class A violations (essential standards — fire, health, safety, nutrition, staff-to-child ratio, space; operating unlicensed = Class A) = $100 per violation; Class B violations (administrative standards) = $50 per violation; each day of noncompliance is a separate offense and aggregate fines in any one month shall not exceed $500. Criminal penalty (§ 20-78-203): any person violating the subchapter or assisting a violation is guilty of a violation and upon conviction fined not less than $25.00 and not more than $100.00. License actions — the Division may issue a provisional license, deny, suspend, or revoke a license under Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-213 and MLR Section 103 (items on Suspension/Revocation) and Section 105 (Appeal of Licensing Actions). Unpaid fines/penalties are a debt owed the State collectible by civil action; collected fines/penalties are special revenues deposited to the Child Care Fund (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-78-219 and 20-78-224).

Does TotReady provide templates for Arkansas required forms?

TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate Arkansas-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.