Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education

Bureau of Early Care Regulation

Child Care Licensing Procedure Manual

4.2.3 Probationary Centers with No Children in Care

Sometimes a child care center with a probationary license is open for business, but does not have any children enrolled in the center. It is possible that this circumstance continues for an extended period of time and thereby prevents the BECR licensing specialist from monitoring the operation of the center while children are present. While the licensee can continue to hold the probationary license during the period of time when there are no children in care, certain requirements must still be met in order to issue a second probationary license or a regular non-expiring license (e.g., the center must meet the same minimum licensing requirements that permit licensure).

Although there are no children in care, the terms and conditions of licensure are still in effect. This means that the licensing specialist will continue to make unannounced monitoring visits to the premises, though it will not be possible to complete some portions of the licensing checklist because children will not be present during the visit.

If a licensing specialist has been unable to complete all monitoring requirements during the first six-month probationary period because the child care center has had no children in care, the licensee may be given a second six-month probationary license if the licensee has been making otherwise acceptable progress toward completion of probationary license requirements. Alternatively, the licensee should be given the option of surrendering his/her probationary license, withdrawing his/her regular license request, or having a regular license denied.

If no children were in care during the entire first six-month probationary licensing period and the entire second six-month probationary licensing period, the licensee’s request for a regular license should be denied. The licensee may be given the option of surrendering his/her probationary license and closing or withdrawing his/her regular license request.

This page last updated 05/2018.