Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
This section of the Monitoring module is intended to provide certification workers with guidance for monitoring transportation-related rules outlined below. Please note that not all transportation-related rules are included in this module and certification workers should be familiar with the requirements under DCF 202.08(9).
The rules under DCF 202.08 (9) TRANSPORTATION applies to all transportation of children in care, including both regularly scheduled transportation to and from the premises and field trip transportation, if any of the following apply:
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
However, the following requirements do not apply to transportation provided in vehicles owned and driven by parents or volunteers:
DCF 202.08(9)(a)2.a. The requirement that the certification agency obtain a copy of the driver’s driving record under par. (f).
DCF 202.08(9)(a)2.b. The requirements related to child care vehicle safety alarms under pars. (p) to (s).
A certification agency shall do all of the following if the operator provides transportation services:
DCF 202.04(3)(b)12.a. Inspect a child vehicle safety alarm, at least annually, to determine whether the child safety alarm is in good working order as required under s. DCF 202.08(9)(p) to (s).
DCF 202.04(3)(b)12.b. Review the driving record of each driver of a vehicle used to transport children in care to ensure the driver has no accidents or traffic violations that would indicate that having children ride with the driver could pose a threat to the children. In determining whether a driver may pose a threat to children, the certification agency shall consider the totality of the driver’s record and any other relevant facts under DCF 202.08(9)(f).
Note: Information on how to obtain driving records may be obtained by contacting the Department of Transportation at (608) 261-2566.
Under DCF 202.08(1m)(d) Approval for changes, an operator shall submit a request to the certification agency if the operator wishes to change any of the following:
DCF 202.08(1m)(d) 5. Transportation services.
Note: When transportation is provided by the center/operator (including contracted transportation services), a child is considered to be “in the care of the center/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. (Also, see Supervision Module 6 for additional guidance). Additionally, if children under age 5 are in care, during transportation, and there is no other qualified provider in the vehicle, the driver must complete training in abusive head trauma.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)2.b. Prior to beginning to work with children in care each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency backup providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under 5 years of age, shall complete department-approved training on shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children.
28.2 Auto Insurance Requirements
28.5 Transportation Permission
This page last updated 07/2021.