Ever wonder how those karate, tumble and dance studios and gyms can offer after school care with extremely low prices and not seem to follow any state regulations? The answer is they may be “flying under the radar” with an exempt from licensing status provided to them by DECAL. “ Drop-in recreational programs” are one of the largest loop holes that after school programs have fallen under to allow this to happen. Decal will grant certain programs an exempt status based upon their business model and will only investigate if they receive complaints. This exemption list, which includes some summer camps, has not been updated in over 20 years.
Additionally, DECAL has proposed to loosen rules to allow national non-profits that serve low income, at-risk children further exemptions.
Click here to see what programs qualify for exempt status and which programs may be operating "outside" of the law.
GCCA believes that these rules need to be strengthened so that after school programs and camps adhere to the same rules and regulations that centers do to protect Georgia’s children
Studies have shown that children are safest in licensed care where providers must be properly trained, pass background checks, adhere to sanitary and safety regulations and have higher quality child-teacher interactions.
Please review a recent article in the Gwinnett Daily News regarding unlicensed care.
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/home/headlines/93212524.html?storySection=story