December is the right month to walk your program’s compliance one more time before the year closes. Not because anything specific is required — but because going into January with quiet gaps is harder than going into January clean. A focused afternoon now saves a stressful month later.
Here’s the sweep, in order.
In California, compliance starts with the California child care licensing regulations. The goal is not to run a center in fear, but to keep licensing basics visible, current, and supported by steady routines.
Providers can also use CDSS child care licensing laws and regulations as a reference point when reviewing handbooks, files, supervision systems, and facility practices.
Staff files. For every employee: current fingerprint clearance, current CPR/First Aid, current TB clearance, current ID, signed handbook acknowledgment, current ECE units summary if applicable. Anything expired or expiring in the first quarter? Note it with a deadline.
Child files. For every enrolled child: current emergency contact, current immunization record (or signed exemption), current notice of action (for subsidized children), allergy/medical info, signed enrollment paperwork. Anything missing or out of date? Note it for January follow-up.
Daily logs. Are sign-in/sign-out logs filed for every day of the year? Are they signed and dated? If anything is missing, this is the time to catch it.
Incident reports. Pull the year’s incidents. Confirm each one was filed properly, communicated to the family, and includes follow-up notes if relevant. Spot-check for any that need final closure.
Fire drills. Confirm you’ve held the required number this year and documented each. If a drill is short, schedule one for early December.
Site walks. Look at the building with fresh eyes. Smoke alarms working? Outlet covers in place? Playground equipment safe? Gates secure? Cleaning supplies stored correctly? Diapering area properly stocked? Take notes. Fix what’s quick. Schedule what isn’t.
Renewals. Pull your renewal calendar. What’s expiring in Q1? Business license? Liability insurance? Workers’ comp? Health permits? Food handler certifications? Note each with a 60-day-before reminder.
Parent handbook. Have you updated it this year? Are the rates, schedule, and policies current? Does it reflect any policy changes you made in 2024?
Subsidy contracts. Pull your CCRC or other agency contracts. Is anything up for renewal? Are there changes you’ve been meaning to discuss? Plan one conversation with each agency contact for January.
Insurance and benefits. When did you last shop your liability insurance? Are your workers’ comp classifications current? An annual review prevents quiet drift.
Tax preparation. Are your business records in order for tax season? Is your accountant set up with what they need? Is your owner pay documented properly?
Make a one-page list of anything that surfaced. Date it. Schedule the fixes across the next two months.
Then file the list. And take the rest of December a little easier than you might have. Year-end sweeps done in November are why January feels manageable.