La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CLXV-903

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section CLXV-903 - Participation in LA Pathways

A. An individual working or planning to work in the child care facility industry as a director of a child care facility is eligible to enroll in LA pathways upon successful submission of an application and the required documents to LA pathways.

B. An individual working or planning to work in the child care facility industry as a staff member of a child care facility is eligible to enroll in LA pathways upon successful submission of an application and the required documents to LA Pathways.

C. LA pathways will register child care facility directors and staff according to requirements based on training and education, experience, and professional activities, as approved by the LDE. Participation is voluntary.

D. The state superintendent of education, pursuant to authority delegated by BESE, may waive compliance with a requirement in this Chapter when the superintendent determines that the economic or adverse impact is sufficiently great to make compliance impractical, as long as the health and well-being of the staff and children are not imperiled. When the individual has been determined to have met or exceeded the intent of a requirement, the requirement may be deemed met. The decision to grant or deny a waiver rests with the sole discretion of the state superintendent.

E. Training, Education, Experience, and Professional Activity Requirements for the Administrator Track for LA Pathways through December 31, 2017

1. Assistant Director I-annual training as required by early learning center licensing regulations in LAC 28:CLXV.139; no experience required; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization.

2. Assistant Director II-60 clock hours in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas including 6 hours in regulations; minimum of six months experience; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization.

3. Assistant Director III-90 clock hours in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas including 15 hours in approved administrative training categories; minimum of one year experience; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization.

4. Director-training and experience as required by early learning center licensing regulations in LAC 28:CLXV.139; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization.

5. Director I-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; and 30 clock hours in approved administrative training categories, related associate degree, or 30 hours toward associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development; minimum one year of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization.

6. Director II-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; and 45 clock hours in approved administrative training categories/national administrative credential, associate degree in early childhood/child development, related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, or related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development; minimum 18 months experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

7. Director III-administrator certificate; and CDA credential or approved early childhood diplomas, associate degree in early childhood/child development, bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers, or related bachelor's degree with six college courses in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers; minimum two years of experience, and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

8. Director IV-administrator certificate; and master's degree in early childhood/child development or early childhood administration of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers, or related master's degree with eight college courses in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers; minimum of two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

9. In order to receive an administrator certificate, 75 clock hours of instruction in approved administrative training categories are required. Two college courses in approved administration can be substituted for the administrator certificate.

F. Training, Education, and Professional Activity Requirements for the Administrator Track for LA Pathways beginning January 1, 2018

1. Director 1-CDA credential, early childhood ancillary certificate, or approved early childhood diploma; and 30 clock hours in approved administrative training categories, related associated degree, or 30 hours in early childhood or child development; and membership in an early childhood professional organization.

2. Director II-CDA credential, early childhood ancillary certificate, or approved early childhood diploma; and 45 clock hours in approved administrative training categories/national administrative training categories/national administrative credential, associate degree in early childhood/child development, related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development, or meets other director qualifications in LAX 28:CLXV.130 and has been a director for at least one year at an early learning center with a 3-star quality rating on July 1 of the calendar year in which credit may be claimed; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

3. Director III-CDA credential and administrator certificate, early childhood ancillary certification or approved early childhood diplomas and administrator certificate, associate degree in child development/early childhood and administrator certificate, bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development and administrator certificate, related bachelor's degree with six college courses in early childhood or child development and administrator certificate, or meets director qualifications in LAC 28:CLXV.139 and has been a director for at least one year of an early learning center with a 4-star rating on July 1 of the calendar year in which the credit may be claimed; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

4. Director IV-master's degree in early childhood/child development/early childhood administration and administrator certificate, or related master's degree with eight college courses in early childhood/child development and administrator certificate, or meets director qualification in LAC 28:CLXV.139 and has been the director for at least one year at an early learning center with a 5-star rating on July 1 of the calendar year in which the credit may be claimed; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event.

G. Training, Education, Experience, and Professional Activity Requirements for the Early Learning Center Classroom Track for LA Pathways through December 31, 2017

1. Staff I-as required by early learning center licensing regulations in LAC 28:CLXV.139; no experience required; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization.

2. Staff II-12 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas; minimum six months of experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

3. Staff III-30 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas; minimum one year of experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

4. Staff IV-60 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas; minimum one year experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

5. Assistant Teacher I-90 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas; minimum one year of experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

6. Assistant Teacher II-120 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas; minimum one year of experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

7. Teacher I-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; minimum one year of experience; and encouraged to participate in early childhood professional organization.

8. Teacher II- CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; and nine CEUs or two early childhood college courses, 30 hours toward associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, or related associate degree; minimum two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as committee or board membership, service as a CDA advisory or mentor, attendance at a professional conference or event, conference presentation, or advocacy and leadership activities.

9. Teacher III-associate degree in early childhood/child development, related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, bachelor's degree in early childhood or child development, or related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development; minimum two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as committee or board membership, service as a CDA advisory or mentor, attendance at a professional conference or event, conference presentation, or advocacy and leadership activities.

10. Teacher IV-bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development of which three college courses focus on infants and toddlers, or related bachelor's degree with six early childhood/child development college courses of which three focus on infants and toddlers; minimum two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as committee or board membership, service as a CDA advisory or mentor, attendance at a professional conference or event, conference presentation, or advocacy and leadership activities.

11. Master Teacher-graduate degree in early childhood/child development, or unrelated graduate degree with four early childhood/child development college courses; minimum two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as committee or board membership, service as a CDA advisory or mentor, attendance at a professional conference or event, conference presentation, or advocacy and leadership activities.

H. Training and education requirements for the Early Learning Center Classroom Track for LA Pathways beginning January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018:

1. Assistant Teacher-80 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas.

2. Teacher I-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma.

3. Teacher II-CDA credential, approved early childhood diploma and nine CEUs or two early childhood college courses, 30 hours toward associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, related associate degree, or Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate.

4. Teacher III-associate degree in early childhood/child development; or related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development; or bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development; or related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development; or classified as early learning center teacher I or above by LA Pathways as of December 31, 2017, with demonstrated evidence of eligibility for the staff school readiness tax credit for at least one prior year beginning with 2017.

5. Teacher IV-bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development of which three college courses focus on infants and toddlers; or related bachelor's degree with six early childhood/child development college courses of which three focus on infants and toddlers; or classified as early learning center teacher I or above by LA Pathways as of December 31, 2016, with demonstrated evidence of eligibility for the staff school readiness tax credit in 2017.

6. Master Teacher-graduate degree in early childhood/child development; or unrelated graduate degree with four early childhood/child development college courses.

I. Training and Education Requirements for the Early Learning Center Classroom Track for LA Pathways beginning January 1, 2019:

1. Assistant Teacher-80 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas.

2. Teacher I-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma.

3. Teacher II-CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma and nine CEUs or two early childhood courses; or 30 hours toward associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development; or related associate degree; or Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate.

4. Teacher III-associate degree in early childhood/child development; or related associated degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development; or bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development; or related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development; or early childhood ancillary certificate with demonstrated evidence of eligibility for the staff school readiness tax credit for at least one prior year beginning with 2017.

5. Teacher IV-bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development of which three college courses focus on infants and toddlers; or related bachelor's degree with six early childhood/child development college courses of which three focus on infants and toddlers; or early childhood ancillary certificate with demonstrated evidence of eligibility for the staff school readiness tax credit for at least two prior years beginning with 2017.

6. Master Teacher-graduate degree in early childhood/child development; or unrelated graduate degree with four early childhood or child development college courses.

J. In order to maintain eligibility for the family child care staff track, family care providers must be registered, have current certification for CCAP issued by LDE in compliance with this Part, and participate full-time in CCAP.

K. Training and Education Requirements for the Family Child Care staff track beginning July 1, 2022:

1. Staff-80 clock hours of instruction in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas.

2. Teacher I-maintain academic approval for 6 months in the tax year; and CDA or approved early childhood diploma, or CCAP certification as a family child care provider for at least one year within the three years priors to the current tax year, which can only be used for a period not to exceed two years.

3. Teacher II-maintain academic approval for 6 months in the tax year; and CDA or approved early childhood diploma and nine CEUs or two early childhood college courses, or 30 hours towards associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, or related associate degree, or early childhood ancillary certificate, or certificate of academic approval of a 3-star quality rated family care program for at least one year on July 1 of the calendar year in which the credit may be claimed.

4. Teacher III-maintain academic approval for 6 months in the tax year; and either of an associate degree in early childhood/child development, related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, bachelor's degree in early child/child development, related bachelor's degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development, early childhood ancillary certificate and eligibility for staff school readiness tax credit for at least one prior year, or certificate of academic approval of a 4-star quality rated family child care program for at least one year on July 1 of the calendar year in which the credit may be claimed.

5. Teacher IV-maintain academic approval for 6 months in the tax year; and either of a bachelor's degree in early childhood/child development of which three college courses focus on infants and toddlers, related bachelor's degree with six early childhood/child development college courses of which three must focus on infant and toddlers, early childhood ancillary certificate with eligibility for staff school readiness tax credit for at least two prior years, or certificate of academic approval of a 5-star quality rated family child care program for at least one year on July 1 of the calendar year in which the credit may be claimed.

6. Master Teacher-graduate degree in early childhood/child development or unrelated graduate degree with four early childhood/child development college courses.

L. Qualification for the School Readiness Tax Credit (SRTC) for Child Care Facility Directors and Staff.

1. The department shall provide information necessary for the secretary of the Department of Revenue to determine and/or verify the director and staff levels for earning the SRTC.

2. Child Care Facility Director Levels for SRTC. LA Pathways classification shall meet SRTC requirements for the following:

a. Director I, Level I;

b. Director II, Level II;

c. Director III, Level III; and

d. Director IV, Level IV.

3. Child Care Facility Staff Levels for SRTC. LA Pathways classification shall meet SRTC requirements for the following:

a. Teacher I, Level I;

b. Teacher II, Level II;

c. Teacher III, Level III; and

d. Teacher IV or Master Teacher, Level IV.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CLXV-903

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 412119 (10/1/2015), Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 4246 (1/1/2016), Amended LR 431281 (7/1/2017), Amended LR 44262 (2/1/2018), Amended LR 481008 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 482550 (10/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 98 and 99, and R.S. 17:407.28.6.