Washington DC

Overall Policy Lever Score

4

Child care licensing minimally require Bachelor of Arts (BA) in early childhood education or a BA with at least 15 semester credit hours in early childhood by Dec. 2022.  The District of Columbia does not have a director credential. All licensed facilities that accept public funding are required to participate in state’s recently launched QRIS program, Capital Quality . Any licensed facility that does not accept public funding has the option to participate in the Quality Rating and Improvement System. Elementary school principals are minimally required to have a bachelor’s degree for licensure with a valid administrator license issued from another state.

Policy Levers Rating

  1. 1 Administrator Qualifications in Child Care Licensing 4
  2. 2 Administrator Credential 0
  3. 3 Principal Licensure 5
  4. 4 Administrator Qualifications in QRIS 2
  5. 5 Administrator Qualifications in State Pre-K Programs 8

Interesting Facts: Washington DC

  • The District of Columbia joins 5 states in requiring an associate degree for the director of a child development center of any size.

  • Washington, D.C. has the highest average salary for child care directors ($68,180) and elementary principals ($160,213) in the nation.

  • Trinity Washington University offers a master’s degree in early childhood program administration.