Section 5-A166. CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER: ASSISTANT TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

166.1 An Assistant Teacher in a Child Development Center shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall either:

 

(a) Have earned an associate’s or more advanced degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation;

 

(b) Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, and have a current CDA credential, which specifies that the individual is qualified to serve as an Assistant Teacher for the age classification with whom he or she will work;

 

(c) Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, and certification of training and competence in the field of early childhood education or early childhood development from a duly authorized vocational high school; provided that he or she earns a CDA credential within two (2) years of the effective date of these regulations;

 

(d) Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent and have at least one (1) year of supervised occupational experience working with children in a licensed District of Columbia Child Development Center or its equivalent in another jurisdiction; provided that he or she earns a CDA credential within two (2) years of the effective date of these regulations; or

 

(e) For a Montessori school Assistant Teacher, have earned a minimum of twenty (20) hours of Montessori specific training, completed an orientation program specific to the school, and works under the supervision of a Montessori credentialed lead teacher.

 

166.2 For the purpose of Subsection 166.1, a period of supervised occupational work experience shall include an average of no less than twenty (20) hours per week.  One (1) year of occupational experience is equal to one thousand (1,000) hours.  Multiple qualifying periods may be aggregated in order to achieve the required total.

 

166.3 The duties of an Assistant Teacher in a Child Development Center shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

(a) Providing supervision and appropriate care to the children in his or her class or group, under the direct supervision of a Teacher or the Center Director;

 

(b) Assisting the Teacher in planning and initiating appropriate daily activities, which promote positive development and learning based on the strengths, interests, and needs of all of the children in his or her class or group;

 

(c) Assisting the Teacher in communicating regularly with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of each child in his or her class or group about the development of their children; and

 

(d) Participating in on-going in-service training and continuing education requirements, as required.

 

166.4 A private, parochial, or independent school is exempt from complying with the requirements of this section, if the school:

 

(a) Is an elementary/secondary educational program, as defined in this chapter;

 

(b) Cares for infants and toddlers on the same premises as the instructional program offered to school-age children;

 

(c) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body or other body satisfying similar standards as approved by OSSE; and

 

(d) Does not offer subsidized child care.

 

 

authority

Sections 3(b)(6A), 3(b)(9), 3(b)(9A), 3(b)(11) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(6A), (b)(9), (b)(9A), and (b)(11)) (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); the Day Care Policy Act of 1979, effective September 19, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-16; D.C. Official Code §§ 4-401 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)) (“Day Care Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-3, dated January 15, 2009; the Child Development Facilities Regulation Act of 1998, effective April 13, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-215; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-2031 et seq. (2012 Repl.)) (“Facilities Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-130, dated July 16, 2009; Sections 503 and 504 of the Early Intervention Program Establishment Act of 2004, effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-863.03 and 7-863.04 (2012 Repl.)); Mayor’s Order 2009-167, dated September 28, 2009; Titles I and II of the Child and Youth, Safety and Health Omnibus Amendment Act of 2004 (“CYSHA”), effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 1-620.31 et seq. and §§ 4-1501.01 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2016 Supp.)); and the Healthy Tots Act of 2014, effective February 26, 2015 (D.C. Law 20-155; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-281 et seq. (2016 Supp.)); and pursuant to the Social Security Act, approved February 22, 2012 (Pub.L. 112-96; 42 U.S.C. § 618(c)); the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (“CCDBG Act”), approved November 19, 2014 (Pub.L. 113-186; 42 U.S.C. §§ 9858 et seq.), and regulations promulgated thereunder at 45 C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99.

source

Final Rulemaking at 63 DCR 14640 (December 2, 2016).