Des Moines, Iowa — Republicans in the Iowa Senate have voted to let 16 and 17 year olds be in charge of school age children at child care centers, without direct adult supervision.
Senator Craig Johnson of Independence, a Republican, says Iowa teens are already allowed to work as lifeguards and certified nursing assistants.
The bill also raises staffing ratios, so one adult child care worker could oversee up to 10 three-year-olds. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says these changes could become a nightmare for parents.
If the bill becomes law, one adult could oversee a room of seven two-year-olds. The upper limit under current law is six two-year-olds per child care staffer. Democrats opposed the bill. Senator Claire Celsi of Des Moines says better pay and benefits are the answer to Iowa’s child care crisis.
Senator Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, says these proposed staffing ratios would not be requirements, but options.
The bill now goes back to the House for consideration of Senate changes.
