Private prekindergarten educators get set qualification deadlines

An assistant teacher may qualify with a credential earned within three years after hire, or through a separate route requiring a credential within three months after hire. These routes apply to early childhood teaching assistants at eligible private prekindergarten providers. The three-year route requires a high school diploma and a preschool Child Development Associate credential or an associate degree in early childhood education or child development. A separate route requires a high school diploma and the same credential or degree within three months after hire. Another listed route is 15 years of documented early childhood education experience, with at least 20 hours per week and 180 days per year. The three-year period and the separate three-month period each start when the assistant teacher is hired.

A lead teacher who qualifies through the experience route must earn an associate degree in early childhood education. This applies to prekindergarten lead teachers who qualify through the documented experience route. The experience route requires at least 10 years of documented early childhood education work, with at least 20 hours per week and 180 days per year. Level-three teachers must mentor and support these lead teachers as they work toward the degree. Teachers who qualified through this route on or before July 1, 2024, must earn the degree by July 1, 2030. Those who qualified after July 1, 2024, must earn it within six months after qualifying.