Im a preschool teacher

[Brittany Snow]

I worked in a mixed aged facility of 4 teacher 1 director..and 48 children ages 2-5. When I first started working I taught the 2 year olds. And I had 6 toddlers, and no aid. Last year I found out in mixed age facilities the ratio is 1 : 12, but typically it should be 6:1 for toddlers 8:1 for age 3, 12:1 for age 4...An aid only should allow 2 more children...Just imagine how crazy you would go if you were alone caring for 12 toddlers...and then you can get an idea if your child is in the right program...a ratio that high is not right at all..your child will not be getting the right one on one care they deserve..lower ratio is better,,for your child

[lauren]

There are state laws about these things, so a facility can be reported if they are not adhering to the ratio.
 

[ashleyhaugh]

and some places the ratios are ungodly high.... here in texas, the ratios are

1:4- infants under 12 months
1:5- toddlers 12-18 months
1:9- toddlers 18-54 months
1:11- 2's
1:15- 3's
1:18 -4's
1:22- 5's
1:26- schoolagers, which is k-5 in the center i work

and if you work in a for profit center like i do, they are all about keeping the ratios maxed. it sucks

[philomom]

I work in a well known name center. The ratios under two are 1 to 4. Over two the ratio is ten to one. I feel that is acceptable most days.

[ashleyhaugh]

those are really good ratios... the last center i worked at was a nayec accredited army center, and while the ratios werent quiet as low as yours, they were better that where im at now. i loved it. its so much easier to do fun stuff by yourself with 10 preschoolers (or even 2:20) than when youre alone with 18

ETA- my center is a pretty well known name as well i think. theyre nation wide

[thatgirliknew]

Ratios in my state are

Age Range	Ratio For Center-based Care in Indiana State
Infants	(1:4)
Toddlers	(1:5)
2 years	(1:5)
3 years	(1:10)
4 years	(1:12)
5 years	(1:15)
6 years and up	(1:20)

and they go by the youngest child in the room. If there is even one child under one, there can only be four children.

Age Range	Ratio For Family Child Care in Indiana State
Birth to 24 months	(1:6) two of the 6 children must be at least 16 months and walking. Otherwise the ratio is 1:4
Birth to 6 years	(1:10) No more than 3 of the 10 children may be under sixteen months of age and must be walking
3-10 years	(1:12)
All ages	(1:12) the maximum capacity in a child care home is 1:12 plus 3 children during the school year who are enrolled at least in Grade 1