2025 Early Child Care and Education Legislative and Rule Changes
Effective July 1, 2025, new laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly will update health and safety standards, staff training, licensing practices, and participation rules for early childhood education programs. These changes aim to modernize regulations, reduce administrative burden, and expand access to quality child care. A summary of the changes is provided below.
Implementation Timeline
Unless otherwise noted, all changes described here take effect on July 1, 2025. Rule changes related to staff-to-child ratios and mixed-age groups are expected to be finalized in the second half of 2025, with implementation anticipated prior to December 1. Programs will receive formal notice once new rules take effect.
School Corporations Contracting for Preschool Programming
SEA 1102 removes the restrictions for school corporations to enter into a contract with a religiously affiliated nonprofit preschool program. If a school corporation enters into a contract for a preschool program, the entity that operates the program must submit the application and the program must be licensed by OECOSL.
Health & Safety Requirements
Tuberculosis (TB) Testing No Longer Required
Senate Enrolled Act 486 TB testing for staff and volunteers in specific child care settings. Unlicensed registered ministries and legally licensed exempt providers (LLEPs) no longer need to administer or document TB testing as part of their CCDF compliance. During monitoring visits or file reviews, TB records will not be required.
For licensed centers and homes, TB testing requirements remain in effect under current administrative rules. However, OECOSL is in the process of updating these rules. In the interim, providers in these categories must submit a single variance per site to omit TB testing. Programs can reach out to their licensing consultant to start the variance progress.
Workforce Training Requirements
Pediatric CPR and First Aid Training Timeline Requirements
All child care providers—including centers, homes, ministries, and LLEPs—must ensure that individuals are trained in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid within 90 days of starting employment or volunteer duties. Training must apply to all age groups served by the program.
Programs must also ensure that at least one certified individual is present at all times when children are in care. Child care centers are also still required to have all infant and toddler staff currently certified in pediatric CPR. All accepted pediatric CPR certifications must include a live return demonstration of skills.
Licensing, Exemptions & Structural Updates
School-Operated Programs Now Qualify for Exemption
House Bill 1253 updates eligibility for child care programs operated by public or private schools. These programs may now qualify for licensing exemption if they meet all of the following:
- Operate on school property for children of the school corporation;
- Meet health, safety, and sanitation standards (or have an approved variance); AND
- Substantially comply with fire and life safety rules.
Variance Duration Extended for Centers
Licensed centers receiving waivers or variances from standard requirements will now have these approvals valid for three years from the effective date.
Stability for Approved Structures
To reduce regulatory uncertainty, programs will not be subject to new or revised building, fire safety, or equipment requirements for two years following an inspection or plan review. This protection applies to any review conducted before July 1, 2025, or within the two years following that date.
Group Size & Ratio Definition Changes (This effects centers and CCDF programs that accept more than 16 children)
These updates are pending until the rules take effect. Until then, standard licensing rules remain in place.
Updated Definitions for Groups and Ratios
Senate Enrolled Act 463 clarifies how programs define and apply staff-to-child ratios. A “group” is now formally defined as children supervised in the same space by the same staff member(s). “Staff-to-child ratio” is defined as a fraction based on the number of children per staff member, according to state law.
Mixed-Age Classrooms for Infants and Toddlers
Licensed centers may group children ages 6 weeks to 36 months in a single classroom under specific conditions:
- A staff-to-child ratio of 1:5 must be maintained
- The maximum group size is 12 children
Volunteers and Student Workforce Changes
High School Student Volunteers Permitted at Child Care Centers with Supervision
Students at least 15 years old who attend a school corporation that operates a child care center may volunteer before completing full caregiver training as long as:
- They are supervised by an adult who is authorized to provide care
- They complete all required training within three months of starting
Practicum Students Count Toward Ratios (If Supervised)
High school students in early childhood practicum placements may be included in staff-to-child ratios when:
- They are age 15 or older
- They are supervised at all times by qualified adult staff
- They are formally participating as volunteers pursuing a career in early childhood education
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ provides additional detail on Indiana’s 2025 legislative and rule changes related to early child care and education programs. It is designed to support providers, administrators, and staff as they implement new requirements related to training, eligibility, health and safety, and more.
TB Testing Requirements (Senate Enrolled Act 486)
- Do licensed centers and homes still need TB test documentation?
Yes—for now. The statutory requirement has been removed for ministries and Legally Licensed Exempt Providers (LLEPs), but administrative rules for centers and homes remain in effect. These will be updated through a separate rulemaking process. Until then, a site-specific variance must be submitted.
- Will licensing consultants be checking for TB test results?
Not for ministries or LLEPs. However, centers and homes must continue to maintain documentation unless a variance has been approved.
- Once the rules are changed, will TB testing be eliminated for all provider types?
That is the intent, but until rule changes are formally adopted, programs should follow current guidance for their setting and submit variances as needed.
CPR and First Aid Training Updates
- What is the difference between pediatric CPR training and certification?
Pediatric CPR training is not a formal designation and may be completed through a variety of methods, including an online training or the H&S Safety Module #3. Pediatric CPR certification is a formal certification in which the certified individual has completed a live return demonstration of skills.
- Does every employee need to be certified in pediatric CPR and first aid before starting work?
No. All staff and volunteers must be trained within 90 days of starting. At least one certified adult must always be present when children are in care. All infant and toddler teachers at child care centers must also be certified in pediatric CPR.
- Does this apply to ministries and LLEPs as well?
Yes. These training requirements apply to all provider types, including centers, homes, ministries, and legally licensed exempt providers.
Licensing Exemptions for School-Based Programs (HB 1253)
- Can a private school-operated child care program now operate without a license?
Yes, if it meets specific criteria including: location on school property, service to children of that school corporation, and compliance with health and safety standards, including fire and life safety rules as determined by the state fire marshal, or approved variances.
- What documentation is required to show substantial compliance with fire and life safety rules?
Programs must meet fire marshal standards or have an approved variance. Documentation may include inspection reports or written determinations.
- Will these programs still be monitored?
Exempt programs are not subject to the same licensing reviews, but may still be visited to ensure compliance with safety standards. Programs must ensure they are meeting all aspects of the exemption to be operating legally.
Staff-to-Child Ratio and Group Size Changes (Senate Enrolled Act 463)
Note: These updates are pending until the rules take effect. More information will be provided at that point. Until then, standard licensing rules will remain in place.
- Can I submit a variance for mixed-age classrooms now?
No, variance requests will not be accepted for this at this time. Rule changes related to staff-to-child ratios and mixed-age groups are expected to be finalized in the second half of 2025, with implementation anticipated prior to December 1.
Student Volunteer and Practicum Policies
- Can a high school student volunteer in my child care center without full caregiver training?
Yes, if the student is at least 15 years old, attends the school corporation operating the child care program, is supervised by qualified adult staff and completes full training within three months. Students may only volunteer at child care centers.
- Can a high school student volunteer in my child care center without full caregiver training?
Yes, if they meet all criteria: age 15 or older, supervised at all times, and actively engaged in an approved practicum role.
- Do we need to document volunteer hours or training for these students?
Yes. Programs must maintain documentation showing supervision, training timelines, and alignment with volunteer/practicum status.
Find Support
Email OECOSLproviderinquiry@fssa.in.gov with any questions that are not addressed in the FAQs. FAQs on this page will continue to be updated as OECOSL receives additional questions.