Final answer:
The highest cost per child per year would likely be for an Early Childhood Educator working with infants earning $41,000 annually due to lower staff-to-child ratios required for infants and the educator's salary.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the rules of thumb from the course content, the scenario that would most likely have the highest cost per child per year is: a. An Early Childhood Educator working with infants and earning $41,000 annually.
Factors influencing the cost per child in an educational setting include staff-to-child ratios and the salaries of the educators. With infants, there is a need for a lower staff-to-child ratio, meaning more educators are required per child, coupled with the relatively high salary of the educator, which together contribute to a higher overall cost per child.