Oklahoma Childcare Licensing Requirements
Oklahoma childcare centers must include 13 mandatory sections in parent handbooks per OAC 340:110-3-278(d)(2)(C) (Policy — days and hours of operation, including days closed) [verified against OKDHS Pub. 14-05 eff. 11-1-2025].
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRequired Handbook Sections
The following sections must appear in every Oklahoma 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. | OAC 340:110-3-278(d)(2)(C) (Policy — days and hours of operation, including days closed) [verified against OKDHS Pub. 14-05 eff. 11-1-2025] | Required |
| Behavior Guidance and Discipline PolicyGuide → | Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps. | OAC 340:110-3-288 (Discipline) [verified] | Required |
| Illness and Exclusion PolicyGuide → | Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures. | OAC 340:110-3-294 (Health protection and disease control), exclusion criteria at OAC 340 Appendix JJ (Exclusion Criteria for Children Who Are Ill) [both verified; 294(e)(2) cross-references Appendix JJ] | Required |
| Medication Administration PolicyGuide → | Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements. | OAC 340:110-3-295 (Medication) [verified] | Required |
| Emergency ProceduresGuide → | Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes. | OAC 340:110-3-279 (Emergency preparedness) [verified] | Required |
| Arrival and Departure Procedures | Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees. | OAC 340:110-3-287(h) (Supervision — transportation custody begins/ends) together with OAC 340:110-3-278(d)(2)(L)(ii) (procedures for receiving and releasing children, including caller-ID for authorized pick-up) [both verified verbatim] | Required |
| Nutrition and Meals Policy | Meals and snacks provided; food allergy procedures; outside food policy. | OAC 340:110-3-298 (Nutrition); food service requirements at OAC 340:110-3-299 (Food service) [both verified] | Required |
| Parent Communication Policy | Daily report procedures; how to reach staff; parent conference schedule. | OAC 340:110-3-293 (Parent communication and family engagement) [verified] | Required |
| Grievance and Complaint Procedure | Steps for resolving concerns; contact for unresolved complaints. | OAC 340:110-1-9.2 (Complaint investigations — DHS handling of complaints against programs) [verified]; provider/applicant appeal of agency action under 10 O.S. § 408 (Appeals) [verified verbatim in the Act] | Required |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting | Mandatory reporter obligations; reporting procedures; state hotline. | OAC 340:110-3-280(b)(1) (Reporting), implementing 10A O.S. § 1-1-105 (mandatory report to DHS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1-800-522-3511) [verified — rule text cites the hotline and § 1-1-105 / § 1-2-101] | Required |
| Enrollment, Fees, and Payment Policy | Enrollment process; tuition rates; payment schedule; refund policy. | OAC 340:110-3-278(d)(2)(A)-(C) (Policy — program description, ages accepted, days/hours, provided to parents upon enrollment) [verified]; child/enrollment records at OAC 340:110-3-281.4 (Child records and documentation) [verified]. Note: licensed-center rules set no fee-schedule provision; fees are program-set. | Required |
| Health and Safety Policies | Handwashing procedures; diapering; sunscreen; rest time policies. | OAC 340:110-3-294 (Health protection and disease control); facility safety at OAC 340:110-3-300 (Facility) and OAC 340:110-3-303 (Hazards) [all three verified] | Required |
| Nondiscrimination Policy | Statement of equal access; protected classes covered. | UMBRELLA: OAC 340:110-1 (Child Care Services general provisions; CCDF program). Verified that the licensed-center rules (OAC 340:110-3, Part 15) contain NO standalone 'admission without regard to race' section — no discrimination/civil-rights/Title VI language appears in the Part-15 rules. Only related prohibition is on derogatory remarks about a child's family, race, gender, religion, or cultural background at OAC 340:110-3-288(c)(2)(B) [verified verbatim]. Federal civil-rights obligations apply via Title VI/CCDBG. | Required |
| Transportation Policy | Vehicle safety requirements; car seat policy; authorization procedures. | OAC 340:110-3-305 (Transportation) [verified] | Recommended |
| Field Trip Policy | Authorization requirements; supervision ratios during off-site activities. | OAC 340:110-3-281.4(b)(12) (Field trip permission / records) [verified verbatim] together with OAC 340:110-3-287(g) (off-site/field-trip supervision) [verified] and OAC 340:110-3-278(d)(2)(L)(xiv)-(xv) (notifying parents of field trips; receiving children arriving late for field trips) [verified verbatim] | Recommended |
Staff-to-Child Ratios
Oklahoma mandates the following maximum staff-to-child ratios by age group.
| Age Group | Staff-to-Child Ratio |
|---|---|
| Infants (single-age group) | 1:4 (max group size 8) |
| 1-year-olds (single-age group) | 1:6 (max group size 12) |
| 2-year-olds (single-age group) | 1:8 (max group size 16) |
| 3-year-olds (single-age group) | 1:12 (max group size 24) |
| 4-year-olds (single-age group) | 1:15 (max group size 30) |
| 5-year-olds and older (single-age group) | 1:20 (max group size 40) |
| Mixed-age: Infants, 1s, and 2s only | 1:6 (max 12; no more than two infants per teaching personnel) |
| Mixed-age: Infants and older | 1:8 (max 16; no more than two under age 2 per teaching personnel) |
| Mixed-age: 1-year-olds and older | 1:8 (max 16; no more than two 1-year-olds per teaching personnel) |
| Mixed-age: 2-year-olds and older | 1:12 (max 24; no more than four 2-year-olds per teaching personnel) |
| Mixed-age: 3-year-olds and older | 1:15 (max 30; no more than six 3-year-olds per teaching personnel) |
| Mixed-age: 4-year-olds and older | 1:18 (max 36; no more than eight 4-year-olds per teaching personnel) |
| Out-of-School Time (youngest 5+) | 1:20 (youngest 3yo 1:12 / max 24; youngest 4yo 1:15 / max 30) |
| Swimming/wading (youngest infant or 1-year-old) | 1:1 (2yo 1:2; 3yo 1:6; 4yo 1:7; 5yo 1:7; 6yo and older 1:10) |
Immunization Requirements
- Hepatitis B (Hep B)
- Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (DTaP)
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Polio (IPV)
- Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)
- Varicella/Chickenpox (not required if a parent or treating physician statement confirms the child had chickenpox)
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
- Hepatitis A (Hep A)
- Required per OAC 340 Appendix II (Immunizations) and 10 O.S. § 411; child care immunization mandate is in 10 O.S. § 411 (not § 281.4). Records or a valid OSDH Form ODH 216A exemption (medical/religious/personal) must be maintained; a one-time 30-calendar-day grace period is allowed. Schedule administered per Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).
Background Check Requirements
- Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN) criminal records search conducted by OKDHS (per 10 O.S. § 404.1) [verified]
- National criminal history records search based on fingerprint submission (FBI fingerprint-based check, processed through OKDHS Office of Background Investigations) per OAC 340:110-3-282(a) and 10 O.S. § 404.1 [verified]
- Restricted Registry (Joshua's List) online search conducted by the facility (OAC 340:110-3-282(b)) [verified]
- Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act / Department of Corrections sex offender registry search (state and national repositories) [verified]
- Mary Rippy Violent Crime Offenders Registration Act registry search [verified]
- Child abuse and neglect registry search for any state of residence within the last 5 years [per 10 O.S. § 404.1]
- Nontechnical services worker abuse registry (OSDH) and community services worker registry (OKDHS) searches [verified in 10 O.S. § 404.1 as reproduced in Pub. 14-05]
- Out-of-state criminal history / sex offender search if individual lived outside Oklahoma in the last 5 years; criminal history review repeated every 5 years [verified — OAC 340:110-3-282(a) requires re-check every five years]
Inspection Frequency
Unannounced monitoring visits: minimum of three (3) per year for programs operating full-year, and two (2) per year for programs operating less than a full-year, per OAC 340:110-1-9 (Case management) [verified verbatim]. Licensing staff varies visit times, including a lunch observation and an evening visit to centers with extended hours [verified verbatim]. Fire inspections at least every two years by the local/state fire authority, and health inspections at least every two years by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), per OAC 340:110-3-276 [verified verbatim]. Complaint-triggered investigations conducted under OAC 340:110-1-9.2 (Risk Level I within 24 hrs / II within 10 days / III within 15 days) [verified].
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act (10 O.S. §§ 401-418). (1) General violation: misdemeanor on conviction, punished per 21 O.S. § 10, and conviction is grounds for license revocation (10 O.S. § 410) [verified verbatim]. (2) DHS administrative enforcement: emergency order, license revocation/denial, and injunctive proceedings (10 O.S. § 407) [verified]; aggrieved licensees may appeal to district court within 10 days (10 O.S. § 408) [verified]. (3) CLEET-certified officer citation fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for every day a facility continues to operate/receive children after an emergency order is issued or after a license is denied/revoked (10 O.S. § 407(F)); one-half of fines go to the Quality of Care Development Fund (10 O.S. § 407(G), fund established at § 410.1) [verified verbatim]. (4) Background/sex-offender violations under 10 O.S. § 404.1(F) [CORRECTED from draft's § 404.2(F)]: emergency order, license revocation/denial, injunctive proceedings, administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000, and referral for criminal proceedings (§ 404.1(F)(2)); sex offenders who work with/provide services to children or reside in a facility commit a felony punishable by up to 5 years and a fine up to $5,000 (§ 404.1(F)(1)); violators may also be liable for civil damages (§ 404.1(F)(3)) [all verified verbatim]. Injunction available via the Attorney General or a district attorney (10 O.S. § 409) [verified verbatim]. Note: § 404.2 is 'Demarion's Law — Short title' only and contains none of these penalty provisions; the draft's § 404.2(F) was incorrect.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many sections must be in a Oklahoma childcare parent handbook?
Oklahoma childcare centers are required to include at least 13 mandatory sections in their parent handbooks per state licensing regulations enforced by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), Child Care Services (CCS) / Licensing.
Who oversees childcare licensing in Oklahoma?
Childcare licensing in Oklahoma is regulated by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), Child Care Services (CCS) / Licensing. You can find official licensing information at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/services/child-care-services/child-care-licensing.html.
What happens if a Oklahoma childcare center doesn't have a compliant handbook?
Non-compliance with Oklahoma parent handbook requirements can result in: Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act (10 O.S. §§ 401-418). (1) General violation: misdemeanor on conviction, punished per 21 O.S. § 10, and conviction is grounds for license revocation (10 O.S. § 410) [verified verbatim]. (2) DHS administrative enforcement: emergency order, license revocation/denial, and injunctive proceedings (10 O.S. § 407) [verified]; aggrieved licensees may appeal to district court within 10 days (10 O.S. § 408) [verified]. (3) CLEET-certified officer citation fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for every day a facility continues to operate/receive children after an emergency order is issued or after a license is denied/revoked (10 O.S. § 407(F)); one-half of fines go to the Quality of Care Development Fund (10 O.S. § 407(G), fund established at § 410.1) [verified verbatim]. (4) Background/sex-offender violations under 10 O.S. § 404.1(F) [CORRECTED from draft's § 404.2(F)]: emergency order, license revocation/denial, injunctive proceedings, administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000, and referral for criminal proceedings (§ 404.1(F)(2)); sex offenders who work with/provide services to children or reside in a facility commit a felony punishable by up to 5 years and a fine up to $5,000 (§ 404.1(F)(1)); violators may also be liable for civil damages (§ 404.1(F)(3)) [all verified verbatim]. Injunction available via the Attorney General or a district attorney (10 O.S. § 409) [verified verbatim]. Note: § 404.2 is 'Demarion's Law — Short title' only and contains none of these penalty provisions; the draft's § 404.2(F) was incorrect.
How often are Oklahoma childcare centers inspected?
Oklahoma childcare centers are subject to the following inspection schedule: Unannounced monitoring visits: minimum of three (3) per year for programs operating full-year, and two (2) per year for programs operating less than a full-year, per OAC 340:110-1-9 (Case management) [verified verbatim]. Licensing staff varies visit times, including a lunch observation and an evening visit to centers with extended hours [verified verbatim]. Fire inspections at least every two years by the local/state fire authority, and health inspections at least every two years by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), per OAC 340:110-3-276 [verified verbatim]. Complaint-triggered investigations conducted under OAC 340:110-1-9.2 (Risk Level I within 24 hrs / II within 10 days / III within 15 days) [verified].
Detailed Oklahoma Requirements
Go deeper on a single Oklahoma licensing topic — each page covers the statute-cited specifics for that requirement.
Related Tools
Free tools to help your Oklahoma childcare center stay compliant.
Staff-to-Child Ratio Calculator
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