Teacher Qualifications Mandate

ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-96-10	2. Issuance Date: 05/17/96
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Teacher Qualification Mandate

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachment at the bottom]

TO: Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Teacher Qualifications Mandate

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to remind grantees of the statutory mandate concerning the qualifications that Head Start classroom teachers of children 3-5 years of age must possess by September 30, 1996.

BACKGROUND:

The 1994 Head Start Reauthorization Act 42 USC 9801 et. seq. extended by two years, the deadline by which time Head Start classroom teachers must possess certain qualifications.

Sec. 648A. (a) CLASSROOM TEACHERS.--
(1) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS.-- The Secretary shall ensure not later than September 30, 1996, each Head Start classroom in a center-based program is assigned one teacher who has

(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential that is appropriate to the age of the children being served in center-based programs;

(B) a State-awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for a Child Development Associate credential (CDA);

(C) an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early childhood education; or

(D) a degree in a field related to early childhood education with experience teaching preschool children and a State-awarded certificate to teach in a preschool program.

(2) WAIVER.-- On request, the Secretary shall grant a 180 day waiver of the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to an individual who

(A) is first employed after September 30, 1996, by a Head Start agency as a teacher for a Head Start classroom;

(B) is enrolled in a program that grants any credential, certificate, or degree specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1); and

(C) will receive such credential under the terms of such program not later than 180 days after beginning employment as a teacher with such agency.

(3) LIMITATION.-- The Secretary may not grant more than one such waiver with respect to such individual.

INFORMATION:

To assist grantees and delegate agencies in determining which classroom teachers are qualified, the following clarification of legislative terms contained in Secs. (A) - (D) is provided.

(A) "A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential that is appropriate to the age of the children being served in center-based programs." The CDA credential as discussed in this memorandum is awarded to Preschool Caregivers who work with children ages 3-5 in a center-based setting. An optional bilingual specialization is available to candidates.

(B) "A State-awarded certificate for preschool teachers that meets or exceeds the requirements for CDA" means a certificate, permit, diploma or license issued by an agency or department of State government or a State Commission. A certificate of program completion is not a State-awarded certificate.

Minimum requirements for a CDA or State-awarded certificate, permit, diploma or license must be completed by someone who is 18 years or older, holds a high school diploma or GED; and has completed 480 hours or more of work experience with young children within the past five years.

Individuals must also have completed 120 clock hours or more of instruction in the 8 subject areas of: planning a safe, healthy learning environment; steps to advance children's physical, intellectual development; positive ways to support children's social and emotional development; strategies to establish productive relationships with families; strategies to manage an effective program operation; maintaining a commitment to professionalism; observing and recording children's behavior; and principles of child growth and development.

Requirements must also include performance-based assessment of their skills in working with young children and their families.

(C) "An associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early childhood education" includes two year or four year degrees such as Early Childhood Education, Child Development or Child Care.

(D) "A degree in a field related to early childhood education with experience in teaching preschool children and a State awarded certificate to teach in a preschool program" means the program of study (in combination with the State awarded certificate), typically include 6 or more courses in early childhood education and/or child development.

"With experience teaching preschool children" means completion of supervised student teaching at the prekindergarden level; experience as a preschool teacher in a licensed program or employment as a public school preschool teacher.

Programs may find it useful to systematically review the teaching licenses, diplomas, certificates, training records and transcripts for teachers in preschool classrooms to ensure that each is qualified under one of the classifications of A - D described above.

INQUIRIES TO: Regional Offices, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

LIST OF REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACTS
REGARDING QUESTIONS ON
HEAD START TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS

REGION I
Andrea Dodge (617) 565-1127
( Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)

REGION II
Elaine Richardson (212) 264-1903
( New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

REGION III
Fran Mitchell (215) 596-0395
( Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)

REGION IV
Joann Benson (404) 331-2128 x 263
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)

REGION V
Debra Pruitt (312) 353-9670
( Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)

REGION VI
Susan Johnston (214) 767-8610
( Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

REGION VII
Tom Reck (816) 426-5401 x190
( Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)

REGION VIII
Robert Rease (303) 844-3100 x332
Debra Hedin (303) 844-3100 x371
(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota)

REGION IX
Please contact your regular Program Specialist
( Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Insular Areas)

REGION X
Jan Silva (206) 615-2557 x3071
( Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)

REGION XI
Sharon Yandian (202) 205-8670
(Migrant Programs)

REGION XII
Ann Sneed (202) 205-8436
(Indian Programs )

Information for the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credential Program may be obtained by contacting the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition at 1341 G Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005-3105, (202) 265-9090, (800) 4244310, Fax (202) 265-9161.