Mississippi Childcare Daycare Inspection Prep (2026)

licenses may be renewed annually (not to exceed one year) — Rule 1.2.7.

not to exceed one year

A facility is also subject to inspection at any time at the discretion of the licensing agency — Rule 1.1.2(4).

4

MSDH maintains a complaint hotline and investigates each complaint received — Rule 1.1.2(5).

5

Monetary penalties under Rule 1.25.9 (authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8).

authority Miss

Class I violations (e.g., failure to prevent death/burns/dismemberment/permanent disability of a child

authority Miss

child left unattended) — $500 first occurrence, $1,000 each subsequent occurrence of the same violation

authority Miss

two Class I citations on separate occasions may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(2)–(3)).

Rule 1.25.9(2)–(3)

Class II violations (e.g., personnel requirements/records, emergency preparedness/evacuation planning, staff-to-child ratio/group size/supervision, discipline and guidance, exceeding capacity, releasing a child to an unauthorized individual, environmental health, failure to report a serious occurrence or communicable disease, transportation, immunization documentation in child/employee records, nutrition standards) — $50 first occurrence, $100 each subsequent occurrence within the same licensure term

e.g., personnel requirements/records, emergency preparedness/evacuation planning, staff-to-child ratio/group size/supervision, discipline and guidance, exceeding capacity, releasing a child to an unauthorized individual, environmental health, failure to report a serious occurrence or communicable disease, transportation, immunization documentation in child/employee records, nutrition standards

four Class II citations on separate inspection dates may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(4)–(5)).

Rule 1.25.9(4)–(5)

Class III violations (any violation not listed as Class I or II) — $25 each occurrence (Rule 1.25.9(6)).

Rule 1.25.9(6)

Penalties payable within 30 business days

authority Miss

appeal of a monetary penalty must be filed within 10 business days (Rule 1.25.9(7)–(8)).

Rule 1.25.9(7)–(8)

No license is granted or renewed for an operator with outstanding monetary penalties (Rule 1.25.9(9)).

Rule 1.25.9(9)

License may also be denied, suspended (including emergency suspension), restricted, or revoked under Subchapter 25 (Rules 1.25.1–1.25.2), and MSDH may seek an injunction (Rule 1.25.7).

Rule 1.25.7

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the Less than 1 year (infants, birth through 12 months) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:5 (max group size 10, min 2 caregivers, 40 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 1 year (toddlers, 12 months to under 24 months) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:9 (max group size 18, min 2 caregivers, 45 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 2 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:12 (max group size 24, min 2 caregivers, 35 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 3 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:14 (max group size 28, min 2 caregivers, 35 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 4 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:16 (max group size 32, min 2 caregivers, 35 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 5 through 9 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:20 (max group size 40, min 2 caregivers, 35 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the 10 through 12 years age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:25 (max group size 50, min 2 caregivers, 35 sq ft/child); Rule 1.8.2 / Rule 1.8.3.

During a Mississippi childcare inspection, staff-to-child ratios are verified: the Transport vehicle 10,000+ lbs GVWR (e.g., school bus) age group must be staffed at no looser than 1:25 (driver not counted as caregiver, except in dually-licensed facilities when the vehicle carries only school-age children); Rule 1.15.4(2). On vehicles under 10,000 lbs GVWR the classroom ratio applies and the driver is not counted — Rule 1.15.4(1).

Mississippi inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Hours of Operation policy (Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(1)(f) (hours/days of operation, holidays and other times closed, disclosed in Parental Information before enrollment); enabling authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(1)(f) (hours/days of operation, holidays and other times closed, disclosed in Parental Information before enrollment); enabling authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8

Mississippi inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy policy (Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Subchapter 14, Rules 1.14.1–1.14.4 (Discipline and Guidance: prohibited behavior, restraint of a child, time out, children shall not discipline other children); policy-disclosure requirement at Rule 1.4.1(3)(b); behavior-altering medication only per licensed physician at Rule 1.14.2.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Subchapter 14, Rules 1.14.1–1.14.4 (Discipline and Guidance: prohibited behavior, restraint of a child, time out, children shall not discipline other children); policy-disclosure requirement at Rule 1.4.1(3)(b); behavior-altering medication only per licensed physician at Rule 1.14.2

Mississippi inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Illness and Exclusion Policy policy (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.12.2 (Child Health — isolation and return of child to parent for serious contagious condition, no return until physician-certified no longer contagious, parent notification of contagious illness); see also Rule 1.7.3 (Communicable Disease reporting to MSDH).

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.12.2 (Child Health — isolation and return of child to parent for serious contagious condition, no return until physician-certified no longer contagious, parent notification of contagious illness); see also Rule 1.7.3 (Communicable Disease reporting to MSDH)

Mississippi inspectors verify that the parent handbook includes a written Medication Administration Policy policy (Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements.) per Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(4)(a) (procedures for storing and giving a child medication) and Rule 1.6.3(8) (medication administration record: date, time, signature of dispensing employee); parental authorization to administer medication at Rule 1.6.7(3)(a); behavior-altering medication only per physician instruction at Rule 1.14.2.

Miss. Admin. Code Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Ch. 1, Rule 1.4.1(4)(a) (procedures for storing and giving a child medication) and Rule 1.6.3(8) (medication administration record: date, time, signature of dispensing employee); parental authorization to administer medication at Rule 1.6.7(3)(a); behavior-altering medication only per physician instruction at Rule 1.14.2

How often does Mississippi inspect licensed childcare centers?

An agency representative inspects each child care facility prior to issuing or renewing a license to assure compliance — Rule 1.2.5; licenses may be renewed annually (not to exceed one year) — Rule 1.2.7. A facility is also subject to inspection at any time at the discretion of the licensing agency — Rule 1.1.2(4). MSDH maintains a complaint hotline and investigates each complaint received — Rule 1.1.2(5). Inspection findings are recorded on an official inspection form and furnished to the operator/director at the time the inspection is made — Rule 1.2.6.

What do Mississippi inspectors check during a childcare inspection?

Mississippi childcare inspectors typically verify: (1) staff-to-child ratios are met for every age group, (2) staff CPR/First Aid certifications and background checks are current, (3) each child's file contains required enrollment, immunization, and emergency-contact records, (4) fire-drill logs are complete, (5) the parent handbook covers all required policy sections, and (6) the physical environment is free of hazards such as unsecured cleaning supplies and missing outlet covers.

What happens if a Mississippi childcare center fails an inspection?

Monetary penalties under Rule 1.25.9 (authority Miss. Code Ann. §43-20-8). Class I violations (e.g., failure to prevent death/burns/dismemberment/permanent disability of a child; child left unattended) — $500 first occurrence, $1,000 each subsequent occurrence of the same violation; two Class I citations on separate occasions may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(2)–(3)). Class II violations (e.g., personnel requirements/records, emergency preparedness/evacuation planning, staff-to-child ratio/group size/supervision, discipline and guidance, exceeding capacity, releasing a child to an unauthorized individual, environmental health, failure to report a serious occurrence or communicable disease, transportation, immunization documentation in child/employee records, nutrition standards) — $50 first occurrence, $100 each subsequent occurrence within the same licensure term; four Class II citations on separate inspection dates may cause suspension/revocation (Rule 1.25.9(4)–(5)). Class III violations (any violation not listed as Class I or II) — $25 each occurrence (Rule 1.25.9(6)). Penalties payable within 30 business days; appeal of a monetary penalty must be filed within 10 business days (Rule 1.25.9(7)–(8)). No license is granted or renewed for an operator with outstanding monetary penalties (Rule 1.25.9(9)). License may also be denied, suspended (including emergency suspension), restricted, or revoked under Subchapter 25 (Rules 1.25.1–1.25.2), and MSDH may seek an injunction (Rule 1.25.7).

How can I prepare my Mississippi childcare center for an unannounced inspection?

Use the /inspection-check tool on TotReady to run a pre-inspection self-audit. Key areas: confirm all staff ratios are met and documented, verify CPR and background-check expiration dates, audit every child file for completeness, check that fire-drill logs are current, and walk the facility for physical hazards (unsecured chemicals, missing outlet covers, blocked exits).

Which handbook sections do Mississippi inspectors verify?

Mississippi inspectors check that the parent handbook includes these required sections: Hours of Operation, Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy, Illness and Exclusion Policy, Medication Administration Policy. Each must be present and comply with the cited Mississippi administrative code.