FOUR KEY POINTS FOR PROPOSED RULE REVISION

PROPOSED RULE 591-1-.31 Staff – Effective July 1, 2012, directors and lead teachers must have credentials in early childhood education.

This rule will improve the quality of early childhood programs by focusing on the critical skills and education of the teachers and directors necessary to provide quality education for young children.

• Director and teachers have time to meet the rule. This rule does not become effective until July 2012. You have three years to consider how to work with your staff to meet this rule. The Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) can be completed in just six months. Teachers have the following options for completing the coursework:
  • online,
  • attending the local technical college,
  • or in some regions, instructors may provide the course at strategically located sites in the region.
• Directors and teachers have a range of credential options. Directors and teachers will have options they can select to satisfy the credential requirement. (See the below page for details.)
  • Proactively, Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning contracted three years ago with the technical college system to develop and place on line the Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) and the Child Development Associate (CDA).
• Assistant teachers/caregiver aides can be in the classroom alone. Assistant teachers will have no additional requirements when they fill in for brief periods for the lead teacher. The assistant teacher can be solely responsible for the classroom for brief periods, such as:
  • a sick day for the teacher,
  • bathroom breaks,
  • lunch breaks, and
  • other incidental periods.
• Teachers have support. Financial support may be provided to teachers through various programs.

Effective July 1, 2012, directors and lead teachers must have one of the following credentials. (If a director or teacher already has one of the following credentials, no additional credentials are required):

• TCC (Technical Certificate of Credit) – https://kms.dtae.org/portal/tcsg/TCSGProgramOfferings.aspx
  OR
• CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential – http://www.cdacouncil.org
  OR
• TCD (Technical College Diploma) https://kms.dtae.org/portal/tcsg/TCSGProgramOfferings.aspx (NOTE: TCC, CDA, TCD options available Online http://www.gvtc.org)
  OR
• Paraprofessional Certificate – Credential issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) (http://www.gapsc.com/ParaProfessional/gaparapro.asp)
  OR
• Twenty credit hours in Early Childhood Education
      - Academic credit received from accredited universities and colleges
  OR
• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
  OR
• Associate’s Degree in other field plus three months experience in an early childhood setting
  OR
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood
  OR
• Bachelor’s Degree in other field plus three months experience in an early childhood setting
  OR
• Master's Degree in Early Childhood
  OR
• Master’s Degree in other field plus three months experience in an early childhood settings

Note: For further information about the TCC or the CDA, please contact:

Gary Larson
Coordinator/Instructor Early Childhood Care and Education
Flint River Technical College
(706) 646-6201