AN ACT requiring the department of health and human services to seek revisions to child care licensure rules to provide additional options for administrators and teachers to meet licensure requirements in the nc prekindergarten (nc pre‑k) program.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  In addition to current rules setting forth the credentials for licensure for administrators and teachers in the NC Prekindergarten (NC Pre‑K) program, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), shall collaborate with the Child Care Commission to implement revisions to rules to provide additional options for meeting the requirements for licensure as follows:

(1)        Site level administrator's licensure and credentials. – For NC Pre‑K sites that have been established for four or more years, allow an administrator with an NC Early Childhood Administrator Credential (NCECAC) II and 10 years of child care administration experience.

(2)        Lead teachers in NC Pre‑K classrooms. – Allow either of the following two additional options:

a.         An individual with an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in early childhood education and five years of child care experience teaching young children, provided the individual is working towards a birth through kindergarten (B‑K) license.

b.         An individual with an AAS degree and five years of child care experience teaching young children.

(3)        Rated license/education for administrators. – At the seven point level, allow an individual with an NCECAC Level II credential, or its equivalent, and five years of child care administration experience to satisfy the requirements at the seven point level for rated licensure.

(4)        Rated license/education for lead teachers. – Require all lead teachers to have an NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) and meet the following requirements:

a.         At the five point level for other education and experience requirements, (i) require only fifty percent (50%) of lead teachers to have completed the requirements for licensure under the five point level and (ii) provide an additional option that allows seven years of verifiable early childhood work experience to satisfy the requirements at the five point level for rated licensure.

b.         At the six point level for other education and experience requirements, provide an additional option that allows 10 years of verifiable early childhood work experience to satisfy the requirements at the six point level for rated licensure.

c.         At the seven point level for other education and experience requirements, provide an additional option that allows 12 years of verifiable early childhood work experience to satisfy the requirements at the seven point level for rated licensure.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.