Alabama
Counts toward the 6 until lawful school age at 5; a provider’s own child then stops counting while living in the home. 660-5-27-.02(16), -.03(7)(c)
One age, every verified state
Daycare ratio for 4 year olds in home care, state by state
Verified September 1, 2026Four-year-olds carry no special caps anywhere we have verified, but they sit one birthday from the school-age boundary, and that boundary moves real numbers: Alabama stops counting the provider’s own school-age children, Virginia halves the point cost at five, Iowa reserves separate school-age slots. Here is the map for the last preschool year.
State by state
California
A standard mix member; children under 10 who live in the home keep counting either way. 22 CCR 102416.5(b)
Iowa
Not-in-school until kindergarten; categories reserve separate school-age slots of 2, 4 and 2 on top. 441 IAC 110.13 to 110.15
Maryland
Runs on the same 1-to-10 same-age row as 3 year olds; at five the five-plus rows of 1 to 13 take over. COMAR 13A.18.08.03C
Missouri
The last preschool year; at 60 months the school-age band begins. 5 CSR 25-400.105
Oklahoma
An ordinary group member, and a provider’s own child under 5 still occupies a slot. OAC 340:110-3-84(a)
Pennsylvania
A preschooler; the staffing changes come later, in the group-home school-age rows. 55 Pa. Code 3290
Texas
Pre-kindergarten through 59 months; the after-school seats at registered homes require actual elementary enrollment. 26 TAC 747.113, .1801
Virginia
The final 2-point year; from five the cost halves to 1 point. 8VAC20-800-570(A)
Washington
An ordinary member of the 3-through-12 groups at every level. WAC 110-300-0355(9)
Real questions, short answers
Do 4 year olds have their own ratio anywhere?
Not in any verified state: they ride the preschool or general bands. The interesting line is at five, where Alabama drops the provider’s own children from the count, Virginia halves the point price, and Maryland switches to its 1-to-13 five-plus rows.
Does pre-K enrollment change the count?
Only actual school enrollment does: Texas after-school seats and Iowa school-age slots require it, and Alabama’s lawful school age turns on the September 1 cutoff, not on preschool attendance.
Other ages
DaycareRules is an informational reference about home child care licensing rules in the United States. It reprints thresholds, capacity limits, ratios and citations from state statutes and regulations, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and rules change. Confirm with your state licensing agency before acting on any number printed here.