Minimum state licensing standards require that program directors be a high school graduate, have six months of teaching experience, and 90 clock hours of accredited coursework (CEU’s) in staff supervision, human relations, and child development. If a director functions as a teacher, they must also meet the qualifications of a teacher. Principals must complete a specialist or a doctoral program that includes a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond a baccalaureate degree; pre-K content are a part of the principal certification requirements. The state-wide QRIS is based on a points system; one point is awarded if the director has a director’s credential and one point is awarded if the director has a BA with at least 24 semester hours of early childhood education credit. In the state pre-K Program, principal licensure is required in school-based programs and a graduate degree is required of directors of community-based programs.
