Arkansas Childcare Daycare Inspection Prep (2026)

Unannounced on-site monitoring visits at least three (3) times per year for child care centers

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family/registered homes one to three times annually depending on program type.

Ark. Code Ann. § 2

Conducted by the Office of Early Childhood Child Care Licensing Unit (Licensing Specialists).

Licensing Specialists

Statutory inspection/investigation authority: Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-214 (Investigating child care facilities) and MLR Section 108 Licensing Investigations.

Ark. Code Ann. § 2

NOTE: the 'three times per year' frequency is the Division's stated monitoring policy (per DESE/ADE), not a number fixed in § 20-78-214.

in § 20-78-214.

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

Civil monetary penalties under Ark. Code Ann. § 2

operating unlicensed = Class A) = $100 per violation

administrative standards

Class B violations (administrative standards) = $50 per violation

administrative standards

each day of noncompliance is a separate offense and aggregate fines in any one month shall not exceed $500.

administrative standards

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.

§ 20-78-203

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).

or revoke a license under Ark. Code Ann. § 2

Unpaid fines/penalties are a debt owed the State collectible by civil action

administrative standards

collected fines/penalties are special revenues deposited to the Child Care Fund (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-78-219 and 20-78-224).

Ark

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the Birth – 18 months (infants) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:5.

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 18 months – 36 months (toddlers) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:8.

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 2½ – 3 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:12.

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 4 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:15.

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 5 years to Kindergarten age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:18.

During a Arkansas childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the Kindergarten and above (school age) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:18 (also 1:18 for transporting children kindergarten and above only; driver may be counted).

Arkansas inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Hours of Operation policy (Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy.) per Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 100/102 General Requirements (umbrella; the MLR has no dedicated 'hours of operation' section). Parent access during hours of operation is governed by Section 401 item 10 ('Parents shall not be denied access to their child at any time during hours of operation'). The 'fewer than 10 hours/week' threshold is part of the Section 202 Definitions/exemption framework (no more than 5 hours/day or 10 hours/week), not a numbered hours-of-operation section..

Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 100/102 General Requirements (umbrella; the MLR has no dedicated 'hours of operation' section). Parent access during hours of operation is governed by Section 401 item 10 ('Parents shall not be denied access to their child at any time during hours of operation'). The 'fewer than 10 hours/week' threshold is part of the Section 202 Definitions/exemption framework (no more than 5 hours/day or 10 hours/week), not a numbered hours-of-operation section.

Arkansas inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy policy (Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps.) per Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 500 Behavior Guidance (Section 501 Behavior Guidance Requirements; Section 502 Infant & Toddler Behavior Guidance Requirements) — confirmed verbatim, incl. no physical punishment and time-out not to exceed 1 minute per year of age..

Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 500 Behavior Guidance (Section 501 Behavior Guidance Requirements; Section 502 Infant & Toddler Behavior Guidance Requirements) — confirmed verbatim, incl. no physical punishment and time-out not to exceed 1 minute per year of age.

Arkansas inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Illness and Exclusion Policy policy (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 1100 Health / Section 1101 General Health Requirements (no child/staff with a contagious or infectious disease admitted; temporary exclusion for fever, diarrhea, contagious disease; fever over 103°F)..

Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 1100 Health / Section 1101 General Health Requirements (no child/staff with a contagious or infectious disease admitted; temporary exclusion for fever, diarrhea, contagious disease; fever over 103°F).

Arkansas inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Medication Administration Policy policy (Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements.) per Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 1100 Health / Section 1101 General Health Requirements (medication in original container with child-resistant cap, written parental permission, no dosages exceeding label recommendations; administering staff initials permission slip and records date/time/dosage)..

Arkansas MLR 016.22.20-005, Section 1100 Health / Section 1101 General Health Requirements (medication in original container with child-resistant cap, written parental permission, no dosages exceeding label recommendations; administering staff initials permission slip and records date/time/dosage).

How often does Arkansas inspect licensed childcare centers?

Unannounced on-site monitoring visits at least three (3) times per year for child care centers; family/registered homes one to three times annually depending on program type. Conducted by the Office of Early Childhood Child Care Licensing Unit (Licensing Specialists). Statutory inspection/investigation authority: Ark. Code Ann. § 20-78-214 (Investigating child care facilities) and MLR Section 108 Licensing Investigations. NOTE: the 'three times per year' frequency is the Division's stated monitoring policy (per DESE/ADE), not a number fixed in § 20-78-214.

What do Arkansas inspectors check during a childcare inspection?

Arkansas childcare inspectors typically verify: (1) staff-to-child ratios are met for every age group, (2) staff CPR/First Aid certifications and background checks are current, (3) each child's file contains required enrollment, immunization, and emergency-contact records, (4) fire-drill logs are complete, (5) the parent handbook covers all required policy sections, and (6) the physical environment is free of hazards such as unsecured cleaning supplies and missing outlet covers.

What happens if a Arkansas childcare center fails an 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).

How can I prepare my Arkansas childcare center for an unannounced inspection?

Use the /inspection-check tool on TotReady to run a pre-inspection self-audit. Key areas: confirm all staff ratios are met and documented, verify CPR and background-check expiration dates, audit every child file for completeness, check that fire-drill logs are current, and walk the facility for physical hazards (unsecured chemicals, missing outlet covers, blocked exits).

Which handbook sections do Arkansas inspectors verify?

Arkansas inspectors check that the parent handbook includes these required sections: Hours of Operation, Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy, Illness and Exclusion Policy, Medication Administration Policy. Each must be present and comply with the cited Arkansas administrative code.