Teacher Qualifications and Duties

101216.1

(a) In addition to Section 101216, the following shall apply:

(b) Prior to employment, a teacher shall meet the requirements of (b)(1) or (b)(2) below:

(1) A teacher shall have completed, with passing grades, at least six postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units of the education requirement specified in (c)(1) below; or shall have obtained a Child Development Assistant Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

(A) After employment, a teacher hired under (b) above shall complete, with passing grades, at least two units each semester or quarter until the education requirement specified in (c)(1) below is met.

(2) A teacher shall meet the requirements of Health and Safety Code Section 1597.055.

Health and Safety Code Section 1597.055 states in pertinent part:

(a) Notwithstanding any other educational requirements, a person may be hired as a teacher in a day care center if he or she satisfies all of the following conditions:

(1) Is 18 years of age or older.

(2) Possesses a regional occupation program certificate of training in child care occupations issued by a regional occupational program which is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(3) Has completed at least 95 hours of classroom instruction in child care and development and child care occupations and at least 150 hours in supervised field experience in a licensed day care center or comparable group child care program.

(b) Subsequent to being hired pursuant to subdivision (a), a teacher shall make satisfactory progress towards meeting the educational requirement for a fully qualified teacher, as specified in departmental regulations. For purposes of this section, "satisfactory progress" shall mean completion, with passing grades, of a minimum of two units each semester or the equivalent number of units each quarter until the educational requirement is satisfied. Six of the required semester or equivalent number of quarter units of early childhood education from an accredited university or college shall be completed during the next two consecutive regular semesters or equivalent quarters.

(c) A teacher hired pursuant to this section shall not be exempt from satisfying any other noneducation requirements imposed by law on teachers in day care centers and shall have on-site supervision by a fully qualified teacher until six of the units specified in subdivision (b) are completed.

(c) To be a fully qualified teacher, a teacher shall have one of the following:

(1) Twelve postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development completed, with passing grades, at an accredited or approved college or university; and at least six months of work experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

(A) The units specified in (c)(1) above shall include courses that cover the general areas of child growth and development, or human growth and development; child, family and community, or child and family; and program/curriculum.

(B) Experience shall be verified as having been performed satisfactorily, at least three hours per day for a minimum of 50 days in a six-month period, as a paid or volunteer staff member under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a teacher or director under this chapter.

(2) A current and valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with the appropriate age-level endorsement issued by the CDA National Credentialing Program of the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition; and at least six months of on-the-job training and/or work experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

(A) A CDA credential shall show the appropriate preschool or infant/ toddler age-level endorsement to qualify an individual for employment in a preschool or infant care center.

(B) A CDA credential is valid for three years from the date of award. A renewal may be granted every five years thereafter upon approval by the CDA National Credentialing Program.

(C) Experience shall be verified as having been performed satisfactorily, at least three hours per day for a minimum of 50 days in a six-month period, as a paid or volunteer staff member under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a teacher or director under this chapter.

1. Individuals who possess a CDA credential may have also completed the required six months of work experience specified in (c)(2)(C) above. This work experience shall be verified to confirm that the experience requirement has been met.

(3) One of the following Child Development Permits issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:

(A) Child Development Associate Teacher Permit; or

(B) Child Development Teacher Permit; or

(C) Child Development Master Teacher Permit.

(d) Approved schools, colleges or universities, including correspondence courses offered by the same, means those approved/authorized by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, or by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

(e) Accredited schools, colleges or universities, including correspondence courses offered by the same, means those accredited by any one of the following recognized accrediting agencies:

(1) Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.

(2) Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(3) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

(4) Association of Independent Colleges and Schools.

(5) National Association of Trade and Technical Schools.

(f) Units earned through correspondence courses from approved or accredited schools, colleges or universities shall be accepted for meeting educational requirements as specified in (c) above.

(g) A photocopy of the teacher's Child Development Permit as specified in (c)(3) above, or a photocopy of the teacher's transcript(s) documenting successful completion of required course work, shall be maintained at the center.

(h) These education requirements shall not apply to teachers employed as teachers prior to May 1, 1970. A teacher who was employed prior to May 1, 1970, shall remain qualified provided that he/she has had no break in employment as a teacher in a child care center exceeding three consecutive years.

(i) A teacher shall complete 16 hours of health and safety training if necessary pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866.

(j) Each teacher shall visually observe aides under his/her supervision whenever the aide is working with children, except as provided for in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1).

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NOTE: Authority cited: Section 1596.81, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1596.72, 1596.73, 1596.866, 1596.87, 1597.05, 1597.055 and 1597.057, Health and Safety Code.