California

Overall Policy Lever Score

4

Director credentialing in California consists of a site supervisor or program director permit through the Department of Education, which is an option to meet qualification requirements for child care licensing. A director credential is embedded in the QRIS and required of state pre-K programs. The QRIS is operated at the county-level and requires a graduate degree with at least 30 college credits in early childhood education, and at least 8 college credits in management or administration or an Administrative Services Credential to receive the highest number of points on the Director Qualifications standard.

Interesting Facts: California

  • There are 11 community colleges and four universities offering degrees in early childhood administration.

  • There are 82 elementary principal degree programs available from 58 universities.

  • The average salary of early childhood program directors is $49,720 as compared with $109,859 for elementary school principals.