A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT clarifying the meaning of public school buildings as related to after‑school child care programs and establishing procedures for approving education criteria for after‑school child care program coordinators and group leaders.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Division of Child Development of the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish and implement a policy that defines any building which is currently approved for school occupancy and which houses a public or private elementary school to include the playgrounds and athletic fields as part of the school building when that building is used to serve school‑age children in after‑school child care programs.  Playgrounds and athletic fields included in this section and not meeting the current star rating standards shall be exempt from evaluation of playgrounds and athletic fields under the star rating system, and this shall be noted on the information available regarding the program's rating.
SECTION 2.  The Division of Child Development shall establish procedures for approving education criteria for after‑school child care program coordinators and group leaders. The procedures shall consider general education coursework, including sociology, psychology, and teacher education courses, as eligibility requirements that may enhance the star rating of a child care facility.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.