Mississippi

Overall Policy Lever Score

3

Child care licensing minimally requires a director to have two years paid experience in a licensed child care facility and a current CDA, Mississippi Department of Human
Services’ Child Care Director’s Credential, or 24 semester hours in early childhood education. Entry-level principals in Mississippi must have a minimum of a master’s degree and pass the administrator’s praxis exam. At the highest level, the state-wide QRIS requires directors to have a bachelor’s degree with at least 18 credits in early childhood education.  State pre-K administrators are required to have a graduate degree, however early childhood coursework is not required.  There is one early childhood leadership degree program in Mississippi.

Policy Levers Rating

  1. 1 Administrator Qualifications in Child Care Licensing 2
  2. 2 Administrator Credential 0
  3. 3 Principal Licensure 4
  4. 4 Administrator Qualifications in QRIS 4
  5. 5 Administrator Qualifications in State Pre-K Programs 4

Interesting Facts: Mississippi

  • Rust College offers a BS degree in child care management.

  • Mississippi’s average salary for child care directors ($37,810) is the 8th lowest in the U.S.

  • There are 370 child care directors and 226 family child care providers in Mississippi.

Mississippi Data TablesPolicy Lever Rubric