NC H882

Child care center administrators must be at least 21 years old and obtain the North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential or equivalent, with existing administrators required to complete this by September 1, 2000.

Lead teachers in child care centers must obtain a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and earn either an Infant-Toddler or Preschool Certificate within 18 months of hire; lead teachers employed before January 1, 2020, have until July 1, 2021, to comply.

Family child care home operators must be at least 21 years old and obtain the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential before receiving a license, with operators licensed before January 1, 2020, given until July 1, 2021, to earn required certificates.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education shall establish professional competencies for lead teachers based on National Academy of Sciences and National Association for the Education of Young Children standards, and develop an alternative assessment process for educators who do not attend college.

By July 1, 2020, the Division shall create a subsidy payment enhancement program to incentivize higher teacher education levels and implement a feasibility study for a pilot program serving children birth through age three modeled after the NC Pre-K program.