An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law

Chapter 21 – Child Care Centers/Preschools

Option 2:

 Possess a regional occupation program certificate of training in child care occupations issued by an accredited regional occupation program;  Complete 95 hours of classroom instruction in child care development and 150 hours of supervised experience at a licensed child care center; and  Complete at least an additional two units each semester until the education requirement for a fully qualified teacher is met. 2785

The DSS established teacher requirements reflect the minimum education, work experience, or credentialing needed to teach preschool. Preschools may require that their teachers have additional educational or work experience with child care centers or have a valid credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

LCW Practice Advisor

2. T EACHER A IDE Q UALIFICATIONS A teacher aide can be a valuable addition to a preschool because he or she can help teachers with the students, provide an extra set of eyes and hands, and permit the preschool to increase the classroom teacher-child ratio. Preschools may use teacher aides if those individuals are qualified and possess the same basic requirements as other preschool non-teaching personnel. A teacher aide may be under 18 years of age if the individual is a high school graduate or is currently participating in an occupational program conducted by an accredited high school or college. 2786 Preschools can increase the teacher to child ratio from 12:1 to 15:1 if a teacher aide is present and assists a fully qualified teacher. 2787 That ratio can increase further to 18:1 if the teacher aide assisting a fully qualified teacher possesses the following minimum qualifications:  Completion of six postsecondary semesters or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or development; or

 Completion of at least two postsecondary semesters or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or development each semester or quarter following initial employment; and  Intention to continue in the program until six units have been completed. 2788

A teacher aide may work only under the direct supervision of a teacher. 2789 An aide who is at least 18 years old, and meets the above listed teacher aide requirements, may escort and assist children in going to the bathroom and may supervise nap periods without direct teacher supervision. 2790

An Administrator’s Guide to California Private School Law ©2019 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 638