Mississippi Childcare Licensing Requirements (2026)

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Hours of Operation section in the parent handbook (Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(1)(f) (hours/days of operation, holidays and other times closed, disclosed in Parental Information before enrollment); enabling authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(1)(f) (hours/days of operation, holidays and other times closed, disclosed in Parental Information before enrollment); enabling authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy section in the parent handbook (Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Subchapter 14, Rules 1.14.1–1.14.4 (Discipline and Guidance: prohibited behavior, restraint of a child, time out, children shall not discipline other children); policy-disclosure requirement at Rule 1.4.1(3)(b); behavior-altering medication only per licensed physician at Rule 1.14.2.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Subchapter 14, Rules 1.14.1–1.14.4 (Discipline and Guidance: prohibited behavior, restraint of a child, time out, children shall not discipline other children); policy-disclosure requirement at Rule 1.4.1(3)(b); behavior-altering medication only per licensed physician at Rule 1.14.2

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Illness and Exclusion Policy section in the parent handbook (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.12.2 (Child Health — isolation and return of child to parent for serious contagious condition, no return until physician-certified no longer contagious, parent notification of contagious illness); see also Rule 1.7.3 (Communicable Disease reporting to MSDH).

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.12.2 (Child Health — isolation and return of child to parent for serious contagious condition, no return until physician-certified no longer contagious, parent notification of contagious illness); see also Rule 1.7.3 (Communicable Disease reporting to MSDH)

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Medication Administration Policy section in the parent handbook (Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(4)(a) (procedures for storing and giving a child medication) and Rule 1.6.3(8) (medication administration record: date, time, signature of dispensing employee); parental authorization to administer medication at Rule 1.6.7(3)(a); behavior-altering medication only per physician instruction at Rule 1.14.2.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(4)(a) (procedures for storing and giving a child medication) and Rule 1.6.3(8) (medication administration record: date, time, signature of dispensing employee); parental authorization to administer medication at Rule 1.6.7(3)(a); behavior-altering medication only per physician instruction at Rule 1.14.2

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Emergency Procedures section in the parent handbook (Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.9 (Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning — comprehensive written multi-hazard plan, monthly fire/tornado drills, evacuation pack); see also Rule 1.4.1(4)(c)–(e) (emergency medical care, evacuation plan with relocation-site parent notification, dangerous-situations procedures).

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.9 (Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Planning — comprehensive written multi-hazard plan, monthly fire/tornado drills, evacuation pack); see also Rule 1.4.1(4)(c)–(e) (emergency medical care, evacuation plan with relocation-site parent notification, dangerous-situations procedures)

Mississippi childcare centers must include a written Arrival and Departure Procedures section in the parent handbook (Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(2)(a)–(d) (Arrival and departure procedures — all children signed in/out by an authorized individual, protection from traffic/hazards, release only to persons with written authorization, late/uncollected-child policy).

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(2)(a)–(d) (Arrival and departure procedures — all children signed in/out by an authorized individual, protection from traffic/hazards, release only to persons with written authorization, late/uncollected-child policy)

Which agency regulates childcare licensing in Mississippi?

Childcare licensing in Mississippi is regulated by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Child Care Facilities Licensure Branch (Bureau of Child Care Facilities). Official licensing information is published at https://msdh.ms.gov/page/30,0,183.html.

How many handbook policy sections does Mississippi require?

Mississippi requires at least 13 mandatory policy sections in a licensed center's parent handbook, each backed by a specific state regulatory citation.

How often does Mississippi inspect licensed childcare centers?

An agency representative inspects each child care facility prior to issuing or renewing a license to assure compliance — Rule 1.2.5; licenses may be renewed annually (not to exceed one year) — Rule 1.2.7. A facility is also subject to inspection at any time at the discretion of the licensing agency — Rule 1.1.2(4). MSDH maintains a complaint hotline and investigates each complaint received — Rule 1.1.2(5). Inspection findings are recorded on an official inspection form and furnished to the operator/director at the time the inspection is made — Rule 1.2.6.

What happens if a Mississippi center is out of compliance?

Monetary penalties under Rule 1.25.9 (authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8). Class I violations (e.g., failure to prevent death/burns/dismemberment/permanent disability of a child; child left unattended) — $500 first occurrence, $1,000 each subsequent occurrence of the same violation; two Class I citations on separate occasions may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(2)–(3)). Class II violations (e.g., personnel requirements/records, emergency preparedness/evacuation planning, staff-to-child ratio/group size/supervision, discipline and guidance, exceeding capacity, releasing a child to an unauthorized individual, environmental health, failure to report a serious occurrence or communicable disease, transportation, immunization documentation in child/employee records, nutrition standards) — $50 first occurrence, $100 each subsequent occurrence within the same licensure term; four Class II citations on separate inspection dates may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(4)–(5)). Class III violations (any violation not listed as Class I or II) — $25 each occurrence (Rule 1.25.9(6)). Penalties payable within 30 business days; appeal of a monetary penalty must be filed within 10 business days (Rule 1.25.9(7)–(8)). No license is granted or renewed for an operator with outstanding monetary penalties (Rule 1.25.9(9)). License may also be denied, suspended (including emergency suspension), restricted, or revoked under Subchapter 25 (Rules 1.25.1–1.25.2), and MSDH may seek an injunction (Rule 1.25.7).