Statewide Iowa — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have approved a regulatory change that would allow child care centers to have higher staff-to-child ratios.
The rules for caregivers in rooms with babies would not change, but if the bill passes, one person could oversee up to 10 three year olds and Republican Senator Jeff Edler of State Center says one person could oversee up to seven two-year-olds.
Democrats opposed the move. Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque says the bill is a recipe for disaster.
The bill now goes to the House where members have already begun considering changing the staff-to-child ratios in Iowa child care centers.
