8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.216

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024

Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.216 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHERS, SUBSTITUTES, STAFF AIDES, AND VOLUNTEERS

A. Early Childhood Teacher

1. An early childhood teacher, assigned responsibility for a single group of children and working under the supervision of a director, must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and meet at least one (1) of the following qualifications:

a. A Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with a major area of study in one (1) of the following areas:

(1) Child Development;

(2) Child Psychology;

(3) Early Childhood Education;

(4) Early Childhood Special Education;

(5) Educational Leadership and Administration;

(6) Elementary Education;

(7) Family and Human Development;

(8) Family Studies; or

(9) Special Education;

b. A Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with a major area of study in any area other than those listed at rule section 2.216(A)(1)(a), a, and an additional two (2) three (3)-semester credit hour courses in early child education, with one (1) course as the following:

(1) Introduction to Early Childhood Professions; or

(2) Early Childhood Guidance Strategies for Children or has been issued a Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion;

c. An Associate's degree (60 semester credit hours) from an accredited college or university in early childhood education or child development, which must include at least two (2), three (3)-semester credit hour courses in either:

(1) Introduction to Early Childhood Professions; or

(2) Early Childhood Guidance Strategies for Children or has been issued a Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion;

d. A current professional teaching license issued by the Colorado Department of Education with an endorsement in the area of elementary education, early childhood education, early childhood special education, or early childhood special education specialist;

e. A current early childhood professional credential level II or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department;

f. A current certification as a child development associate (CDA) in: center-based, preschool; center-based, infant-toddler; or family child care; or other Department-approved credential;

g. Completion of a course of training approved by the Department and published on the Department's approval list; and nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual;

h. Three (3) months (455 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual; and the completion of eighteen (18) semester credit hours from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, with one (1) course as:

(1) Introduction to Early Childhood Professions; or

(2) Early Childhood Guidance Strategies for Children or has been issued a Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion;

i. Twenty-one (21) months (3,185 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a Colorado family child care home, a teacher's aide or teacher in a child care center, preschool, or elementary school. In addition, the individual must either:

(1) Possess a current early childhood professional credential level I or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department; or

(2) Complete two (2) three (3) semester credit hour courses from an accredited college or university in early childhood education with one (1) course as either:

(a) Introduction to early childhood professions or has been issued the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; or

(b) Early childhood guidance strategies for children or has been issued a Colorado Pyramid Model training certificate of completion.

2. All course grades used for the early childhood teacher requirements must be a "C" or better.

B. Infant Program Staff

1. Staff Requirements

a. The infant program must have an infant program supervisor who meets at least one (1) of the following qualifications:

(1) A Registered Nurse, with an active license from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, with a minimum of three (3) months (455 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of infants who are not related to the individual;

(2) A Licensed Practical Nurse, with an active license from the Colorado State Board of Nursing, a minimum of nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of infants who are not related to the individual;

(3) An adult who holds a certificate in infant and toddler care from an accredited college or university with completion of a minimum of thirty (30) semester credit hours in the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting;

(4) An adult who is currently certified as a child development associate (CDA) in: center-based, preschool; center-based, infant-toddler; or family child care; and has completed the infant/toddler theory and practice or has been issued the expanding quality in infant and toddler care training certificate of completion;

(5) An adult who holds a current early childhood professional credential level II or higher in version 3.0, as determined by the Department, has a minimum of nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of infants and/or toddlers, and:

(a) Has completed one (1) three (3) semester credit hour course in infant/toddler development; or

(b) Has completed the Department-approved expanding quality in infant and toddler care training course.

(6) An adult who:

(a) Is at least nineteen (19) years of age;

(b) Is qualified as an early childhood teacher (rule section 2.216(A));

(c) Has a minimum of nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verifiable experience in the group care of infants or toddlers; and

(d) Has completed at least two (2) three (3)-semester credit hour courses from an accredited college or university on the development and care of infants and toddlers in a group setting, one (1) of which must be:

(i) Infant/Toddler Development; or

(ii) The Department-approved expanding quality in infant and toddler care training course.

(7) An adult who:

(a) Is at least nineteen (19) years of age;

(b) Is qualified as an early childhood teacher (rule section 2.216(A));

(c) Has a minimum of one (1) year and nine (9) months (3,185 hours) of verifiable experience in the group care and supervision of infants or toddlers; and

(d) Will complete, within the first six (6) months of employment, two (2) three (3)-semester credit hour courses from an accredited college or university, one (1) of which must be:

(i) Infant/Toddler development; or

(ii) The Department-approved expanding quality in infant and toddler care training course.

b. An infant program early childhood teacher must meet the following requirements:

(1) Meet the qualifications for an early childhood teacher found at rule section 2.216(A), or be qualified as an infant program supervisor; and

(2) Has a minimum three (3) months (455 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of children under three (3) years of age.

c. Prior to being assigned a group of children, the infant program early childhood teacher must complete eight (8) hours of orientation in the infant program under the supervision of the infant program supervisor. The orientation may include, but not limited to, the following topics:

(1) Toys and equipment, appropriate activities for infants and toddlers, appropriate sleep positions for infants and toddlers, and the safe and appropriate diaper change technique.

d. The infant program staff aide must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation as listed above at the infant program, and must work under the direct supervision of an infant early childhood teacher.

e. There must be at least one (1) staff member on duty in each infant room at all times who holds a current Department-approved first aid and safety certificate that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for all ages of children.

2. Required Staff and Supervision

(See chart in rule section 2.217(A))

a. In the infant program, there must be a qualified infant program supervisor present sixty percent (60%) of the hours of operation of the infant program who is responsible for the care of the infants. An individual qualified as an infant early childhood teacher must be responsible during the remaining time.

b. The infant program supervisor or an infant early childhood teacher must be assigned to each group of ten (10) or fewer infants in attendance. An infant program staff aide may be assigned to assist the infant program supervisor or the infant early childhood teacher when six (6) through ten (10) infants are in care in the group to maintain the staff ratio of one (1) adult for each five (5) infants.

c. There must be assigned at least one (1) infant program supervisor in the infant program for each twenty (20) or fewer infants in attendance.

C. Toddler Program Staff

1. Staff Requirements

a. The toddler early childhood teacher, a staff member assigned responsibility for a single group and working under the supervision of the director, must meet at least one (1) of the following qualifications:

b. A Registered Nurse, licensed to practice in Colorado, with a minimum of three (3) months (455 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of children less than three (3) years of age who are not related to the individual;

c. A Licensed Practical Nurse, licensed to practice in Colorado, with at least nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verifiable experience in the care and supervision of children less than three (3) years of age who are not related to the individual;

d. An adult who holds a certificate in infant and toddler care from an accredited college or university with completion of at least thirty (30) semester credit hours or equivalent in such courses as child growth and development, nutrition, and care practices with children birth to three (3) years of age;

e. An adult who is certified as a child development associate (CDA) in: center-based, preschool; center-based, infant-toddler; or family child care; or is certified as a child care professional (CCP); or holds another Department-approved certificate;

f. An adult who meets the education and experience requirements for an early childhood teacher of a large center (rule section 2.216(A)); or

g. A current early childhood professional credential level II or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department.

2. Staff aides must be at least sixteen (16) years of age, must work directly under the supervision of the director or a toddler early childhood teacher, and must have completed eight (8) hours of orientation at the toddler program.

3. For every fifteen (15) or fewer toddlers, there must be at least one (1) staff member in the toddler program at all times who has a current Department-approved first aid and safety certificate that includes (CPR) for all ages of children.

D. Kindergarten Teacher

A kindergarten teacher, assigned responsibility for a single group of children during times specified in rule section 2.217, must meet one (1) of the following qualifications:

1. Each teacher of a kindergarten class must have the same qualifications as a director for a large center (see rule section 2.214); or must possess a current professional teaching license issued by the Colorado Department of Education in elementary education; or

2. A current early childhood professional credential level III or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department.

E. Assistant Early Childhood Teacher

An assistant early childhood teacher, assigned responsibility for a single group of children during times specified in rule section 2.217, must meet one (1) of the following qualifications:

1. Completion of one (1) of the early childhood education courses in rule section 2.214(B)(2), with a course grade of "C" or better; and a minimum of nine (9) months (1,365 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than eight (8) years of age who are not related to the individual. Assistant early childhood teachers must be enrolled in and attending the second (2nd) early childhood education course, which will be used as the basis for their qualification for the position of early childhood teacher; or

2. Completion of two (2) of the early childhood education courses referenced in rule section 2.216(A)(1)(b), with a course grade of "C" or better and no experience; or,

3. A current early childhood professional credential level I or higher in version 3.0 as determined by the Department.

F. Substitute Staff

1. Equally qualified staff must be available to substitute for regularly assigned staff who are sick, on vacation, or otherwise unable to be on duty.

2. For short term unscheduled early childhood teacher vacancies up to ten (10) business days per calendar year, an assistant early childhood teacher can substitute for the early childhood teacher. The date and times of substitution must be recorded and available for review at all times.

G. Staff Aide

1. Staff aides must be at least sixteen (16) years of age and must work directly under the supervision of the director or an early childhood teacher.

2. Infant staff aides must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

3. Staff aides, without supervision from an early childhood teacher or director, may supervise no more than two (2) preschool age children while assisting the children with diapering or toileting.

H. Volunteers

1. Volunteers who are used to meet staff to child ratio must be equally qualified as an early childhood teacher, assistant early childhood teacher, or staff aide. Equally qualified volunteers must have complete staff records as required in rule section 2.210 and complete training requirements as required in rule section 2.213.

2. Volunteers who are not required to be equally qualified or successfully complete background checks must be supervised and given instruction as to the center's policies and procedures.

3. Volunteers between the ages of twelve (12) and sixteen (16) must have a written purpose developed by the center for volunteering and may not volunteer for more than two (2) hours per day.

8 CCR 1402-1-2.216

46 CR 22, November 25, 2023, effective 12/15/2023