What they do during a shoot day
A studio teacher arrives at the minor's call, checks the work permit, and starts tracking time the moment the child reaches the set or base camp. They run school in a trailer or a quiet room, often in short blocks between setups, using work sent by the child's regular school. They also watch the clock on work hours and rest, and speak up when a setup would push a child past a limit or put them near a hazard. California regulations give them responsibility for the health, safety, and morals of minors under 16 in their care, in addition to teaching.
The ratios and infant rules
Title 8 sets staffing by count:
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| School days, minors 15 days to 18 (where required) | 1 studio teacher per 10 minors or fraction |
| Weekends, holidays, vacation, minors 15 days to 16 | 1 studio teacher per 20 minors or fraction |
| Infants 15 days to 6 weeks | 1 nurse and 1 studio teacher per 3 or fewer babies |
| Infants 6 weeks to 6 months | 1 nurse and 1 studio teacher per 10 or fewer infants |
So a school-day scene with 14 kids in a classroom needs two studio teachers. The same scene on a Saturday needs one.
Working the schedule with them
A 10-year-old on a school day can be at work for nine hours, with at most five hours of work, at least three hours of school, and at least one hour of rest and recreation, under Section 11760. The 1st AD and studio teacher agree on the plan the day before. On the call sheet, the teacher's name and call time go in the crew section, and minors' school blocks sometimes appear as notes next to their scenes. See scheduling around child actors for how ADs board it.
Hiring and certification
The Labor Commissioner certifies studio teachers in California. Applicants need qualifying teaching credentials, a passing score on a written exam about the state's rules for minors in entertainment, and a twelve-hour course designed by the Labor Commissioner. Certification lasts up to three years. In Los Angeles, many studio teachers are members of IATSE Local 884, and union productions hire through the local. Book early for shows with many minors or long runs, since certified teachers are limited. Outside California, on-set schooling rules and teacher requirements differ by state, so check the labor department where you're shooting.
Common mistakes
Hiring one teacher for a day that actually has eleven minors, because two background kids were added the night before. Treating the teacher as optional on a non-union shoot. The requirement comes from state regulation, not the union, so a minor work permit on a non-union set brings the same studio teacher rules.