Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
When transportation rules apply when children in care are transported under the following conditions:
DCF 202.08(9)(a)1.a. The operator owns or leases the vehicle used.
DCF 202.08(9)(a)1.b. The operator contracts with another individual or organization that owns or leases the vehicle used.
DCF 202.08(9)(a)1.c. Employees, parents, or volunteers are transporting children other than their own at the direction of, request of, or on behalf of the operator.
DCF 202.02(9g) “In care” means a child care provider is responsible for the supervision, safety and developmental needs of children, on or off the premises, including during transportation provided by the certified child care operator. For purposes of this paragraph, “children” includes children under 7 years of age who reside in the certified child care home.
DCF 202.08(5)(i) If children are transported to or from the premises or school by the operator or other provider on behalf of the operator, the daily attendance record shall include the actual time the child was picked up or dropped off.
DCF 202.08(9)(e) Before a driver who is not the operator first transports children, the operator shall review all of the following with the driver: 2. The procedure for loading, unloading, and tracking of children being transported.
DCF 202.08(9)(m) The operator shall be responsible for a child from the time the child is placed in a vehicle until the child reaches his or her destination and is released to a person responsible for the child.
DCF 202.08(9)(n) Children may not be left unattended in a vehicle.
A child is considered to be “in care” of the operator when the child is placed in the vehicle at the pick-up location and is released from care when the child is dropped off at his/her final location at the end of the child care day. As such, the operator is responsible for a child’s supervision/safety both on and off the premises. Therefore, a child in transport (operator-provided transport) is counted in the group size.
After transporting a child to his / her destination an adult shall ensure the child is in the custody of a provider, a parent, or other adult designated by the parent.
There are several vehicular and transportation related standards under DCF 202.08(9) that a certification worker and operator who transports children must comply with. Those mentioned above most directly relate to supervision of children in care.
See Module 7 section 28 for additional guidance regarding monitoring of transportation-related rules.
This page last updated 01/2020.