Table 6.11 has information about the number and percent of states that require NAEYC recommendations for group size for specific age groups. Table 6.11 Number of Age Groupings that States Require to Meet NAEYC Requirements for Maximum Group Size Number of Age Groupings
XX
Number of Percent of States Requiring States Requiring
0
22
42%
1
1
2%
2
9
17%
3
6
12%
4
5
10%
5
5
10%
6
3
6%
7
1
2%
Total
52
100%
3. NACCRRA Benchmark: Center directors have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood education or a related field.
Child care center directors are responsible for personnel management, fiscal management, facilities management, oversight of the program’s curriculum, working with parents and many other aspects of a child care program’s operations. They provide leadership to staff who often have little experience, training or education to prepare them for their responsibilities with young children. Education and training in business management and early childhood education prepares directors to oversee the program and provide staff with the training and supervision they need.
Reality States fall far short on requiring education and training of child care center directors. Children in almost all states are allowed to be in a child care center where the director is not required to meet even the most minimum education and training requirements related to child care. Eighteen states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming) do not require child care center directors to have any college credit or courses. ■■
An additional 13 states require directors to have some college credits or courses.
■■
Thirteen states require directors to have a CDA credential or an Associate’s degree in early childhood education or a related field.
■■
Since the last report, six states have added the requirement for a director’s credential.
■■
Only DoD and New Jersey require center directors to have a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
NACCRRA’s Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulations and Oversight
31