Candidacy Requirements for Educational Qualifications of Program Administrators and Teaching Staff
Candidacy Requirements for NAEYC Accreditation
To become a candidate, the program must do the following:
- Submit a completed Candidacy materials (including the Program Self-Assessment Report)
- Maintain good standing in its licensing or regulatory status by having no serious issues of noncompliance within the last year or since its last inspection
- Demonstrate necessary early childhood and management and leadership expertise among its teaching and leadership staff (see Tables below)
- Provide documentation of a collaborative process used to complete its Candidacy Materials (including program self assessment report), which has actively engaged the program administrator, teaching staff, families and the program’s a governing body (when applicable)
- Believe that it can meet each of the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and that it can document satisfactory performance on at least 80 percent of the NAEYC Accreditation Criteria for each standard.
Table 1. Candidacy Requirements for Educational Qualifications of Program Administrators and Teaching Staff |
Program Administrator |
Must have at least a baccalaureate degree with
- at least 9 credit-bearing hours of specialized college-level course work in administration, leadership, and/or management, and
- at least 24 credit-bearing hours of specialized college-level course work that addresses child development and learning from birth through kindergarten in early childhood education, child development, elementary education or early childhood special education
Documents that a plan is in place to meet these qualifications within 5 years.
OR
Documents meeting an appropriate combination of relevant education and work experiences as outlined in Table 2 |
Teachers |
If the criteria related to qualifications of teaching staff (teachers and assistant teachers/teaching assistants) are not met, the program must describe how it is ensuring the provision of early childhood expertise to guide curriculum and learning, by providing a detailed professional development plan.
In addition, 75% of the teachers must meet one of the following:
- Have a minimum of CDA awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition or equivalent (see Note below)
- Be working on an Associate's or higher degree in early childhood education, child development/family studies, early childhood special education, or elementary education with a concentration in early childhood education or the equivalent (see Note below)
- Have a degree (Associate's or higher) outside of the early childhood field and 3 or more years work experience in an NAEYC-accredited program
- Have a degree (Associate's or higher) outside of the early childhood field with 3 or more years work experience in non-accredited program, and at least 30 contact hours of relevant training during that past 3 years
|
Assistant Teachers/Aides |
If the criteria related to qualifications of teaching staff (teachers and assistant teachers/teaching assistants) are not met, the program must describe how it is ensuring the provision of early childhood expertise to guide curriculum and learning, by providing a detailed professional development plan.
In addition, 50% of all assistant teachers and/or teaching assistants must have or be working on a CDA or equivalent (see Note below) or an Associate's or higher degree in ECE/CD, or the equivalent (see Note below) |
Notes: The candidacy requirements will apply to programs seeking NAEYC Accreditation or reaccreditation. They are used in the Annual Reporting process and in verification visits of programs accredited (or reaccredited) after September 16, 2006.
For further information about the CDA credential, see www.cdacouncil.org. The equivalent of a CDA credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition is defined as a minimum of 12 college credits (semester hours) in child development, early education, elementary education, or early childhood special education that encompasses the following: child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; family and community relationships; observing, documenting and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development, including relevant field-based experience.
The equivalent of an associate’s degree is defined as 60 college credits (semester hours) with 30 college credits (semester hours) in child development, early education, elementary education, or early childhood special education that encompasses the following: child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; family and community relationships; observing, documenting and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development, including relevant field-based experience.
Baccalaureate degrees should be in early childhood education, child development, elementary education or early childhood special education that encompasses the following: child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; family and community relationships; observing, documenting and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development. Equivalence is defined as a baccalaureate degree in any discipline with a minimum of 36 college credits (semester hours) in early childhood education, child development, elementary education or early childhood special education that encompasses the following: child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development, including relevant field-based experience. |
Table 2. Alternative Pathways to Achieve Educational Qualifications of a Program Administrator
Individuals who can provide documentation of having achieved a combination of formal education, experience and relevant training equaling at least 100 points by the values assigned below are considered to meet the qualifications identified in the NAEYC Accreditation Criteria. |
| Formal Education |
Experience |
Relevant Training/Credentials |
| Must be able to document educational experiences equaling a minimum of 50 points and a maximum of 70 points from this column |
Must be able to document work experiences equaling a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 50 points from this column |
Must be able to document a minimum of 5 points and a maximum of 35 points from this column |
| Baccalaureate degree or higher in early childhood education, child development & family studies, early childhood special education, or elementary education that encompasses development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; but lacking 9 credit hours in leadership, management and/or administration |
70 |
At least 5 years experience as a program administrator that includes leading a program through and maintaining NAEYC Accreditation for at least 2 years |
50 |
College credits or training hours must be related to management knowledge/skills and early childhood knowledge/skills
1 college credit = 4 points
4 contact hours of training within past 5 years = 1 point
State director credential approved by NAEYC = 35 pts
NAEYC - Approved State Director/Administrator Credentials
|
| Baccalaureate degree or higher in educational leadership, management or a related field (human services administration, business administration, organizational development, public administration) but lacking 24 credit hours that encompass development and learning of children birth through kindergarten |
65 |
At least 3 years experience as a program administrator that includes successfully leading the program through the NAEYC Accreditation process (at least 12 months prior to visit) |
40 |
| |
|
At least three years experience as a program administrator in a NAEYC-accredited program during which accreditation has been consistently maintained. (Updated April 2006) |
30 |
| Baccalaureate degree or higher in ECE-related field (social work, psychology) without 24 credit hours that encompass development and learning of children birth through kindergarten and without 9 credit hours in leadership, management, and/or administration |
60 |
At least 5 years of experience as a program administrator in a program not accredited by NAEYC |
25 |
| Associate degree in ECE/CD |
55 |
At least 3 years of experience as a program administrator in a program not accredited by NAEYC |
15 |
| Baccalaureate degree or higher in any other field |
50 |
|
