10a ncac 09 .3211         Enhanced education standards for child care center on-site administrators

(a)  This Rule shall apply when evaluating the education of an on-site administrator, as defined in G.S. 110-86(2a), in a child care center.

(b)  A child care provider meets the two-star education standard for on-site administrators if the provider meets, at minimum, the requirements set forth in Option One or Option Two as follows:

(1)           Option One:

(A)          Level I NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion at least six semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Annual completion of at least 1.0 continuing education credit in early childhood education and school-age related topics in addition to applicable requirements in Rule .1103 of this Chapter; and

(D)          If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least three months licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(2)           Option Two:

(A)          Level I NC Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Have at least two years of early childhood education work experience or have at least one year of administrative work experience; and

(C)          If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least three months licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(c)  A child care provider meets the three-star education standard for on-site administrators if the provider meets, at minimum, the requirements set forth in Option One or Option Two as follows:

(1)           Option One:

(A)          Level I NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion of at least 12 semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Have at least one year of administrative work experience or, if the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least six months licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or, if the center is licensed for school-age care, successful completion of BSAC training.

(2)           Option Two:

(A)          Level I NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion of a least six semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Have at least three years of early childhood education work experience or administrative work experience or a combination of both types of experience; and

(D)          If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least six months licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(d)  A child care provider meets the four-star education standard for on-site administrators if the provider meets, at minimum, the requirements set forth in Option One or Option Two as follows:

(1)           Option One:

(A)          Level I NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion of at least 12 semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Be enrolled in or have completed an associate or bachelor's degree program; and

(D)          Have at least two years of early childhood education or administrative work experience or, if the center is licensed for school-age care, successful completion of BSAC training.

(2)           Option Two:

(A)          Level II NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Be enrolled in or have completed an associate or bachelor's degree program; and

(C)          Have at least two years of early childhood education work experience; and

(D)          If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least one year licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(e)  A child care provider meets the five-star education standard for on-site administrators if the provider meets, at minimum, the requirements set forth in Option One, Option Two, or Option Three as follows:

(1)           Option One:

(A)          Level II NC Early NC Early Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor's degree program; and

(D)          Have at least four years of work experience in early childhood education, administrative duties, or a combination of both types of experience; and

(E)           If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least two years licensed or unlicensed school-age care work experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(2)           Option Two:

(A)          Level II NC Early childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent or higher; and

(B)          Successful completion of at least 18 semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework at an accredited college or university; and

(C)          Be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor's degree program; and

(D)          Have at least four years combined early childhood education and administrative work experience; and

(E)           If the center is licensed for school-age care, successful completion of BSAC training.

(3)           Option Three:

(A)          Level III NC Ealy Childhood Administration Credential or its approved equivalent; and

(B)          Have at least three years of work experience in early childhood education, administrative duties. Or a combination of both types of experience; and

(C)          If the center is licensed for school-age care, have at least one year licensed or unlicensed school-age care experience or successful completion of BSAC training.

(f)  Semester hours in early childhood education or child development coursework required to meet the education standards set forth in this Rule shall not include the coursework necessary for the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential (NCECAC).

(g)  Completion of school-age experience requirements shall count toward meeting work experience requirements.

(h)  For centers located in a residence, if an individual has responsibility both for administering the child care program and for planning and implementing the daily activities of a group of children, the educational requirements for lead teacher in Rule .3212 of this Section shall apply. All other teachers shall follow the educational requirements for teachers in this Section.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-88(7); 110-90(4); 143B-18.3; S.L. 2023-40; S.L. 2024-34; USCS 9858e; 45 CFR 98.45;

Eff. July 1, 2025.