Definition: The director of a small center oversees a center with up to 15 children.
A small center director must meet one of the following criteria:
1. A current professional teaching license issued by the Colorado Department of Education with an endorsement in the area of early childhood education or early childhood special education.
2. A current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education;
3. Three (3) years' satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age (5460 hours) and at least two (2) 3-semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university in early childhood education; one of the courses must be either introduction to early childhood education (ECE 101) or guidance strategies (ECE 103).
4. Two (2) years' college education (sixty semester hours) at a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with at least two (2) 3-semester-hour courses in early childhood education; one of which must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies; and one (1) year (1820 hours) of satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age;
5. Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department approved credential.
6. A two (2) year college degree in child development or early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, and includes at least one 3- semester hour course in either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies and six (6) months (910 hours) satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age.
Experience Verification - Notes
Each letter must be on employer’s letterhead and include:
A small center director must meet one of the following criteria:
1. A current professional teaching license issued by the Colorado Department of Education with an endorsement in the area of early childhood education or early childhood special education.
2. A current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education;
3. Three (3) years' satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age (5460 hours) and at least two (2) 3-semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university in early childhood education; one of the courses must be either introduction to early childhood education (ECE 101) or guidance strategies (ECE 103).
4. Two (2) years' college education (sixty semester hours) at a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with at least two (2) 3-semester-hour courses in early childhood education; one of which must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies; and one (1) year (1820 hours) of satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age;
5. Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department approved credential.
6. A two (2) year college degree in child development or early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, and includes at least one 3- semester hour course in either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies and six (6) months (910 hours) satisfactory experience in the group care of children less than six (6) years of age.
Experience Verification - Notes
Each letter must be on employer’s letterhead and include:
- Ages of children worked with
- Total number of hours worked with each age group
- Only hours with children birth – 6 years old will be accepted
- Start date of employment
- Ending date of employment
- Position and/or duties related to the care of children birth – 6 years old
- Employer’s signature, name, title, and contact information