Prekindergarten Teacher Licensure. ERIC Digest.

Overview & Synopsis

This digest examines prekindergarten teacher licensure, which enables states to ensure a level of specialized knowledge and experience among early childhood professionals. A recent movement toward specialization has led to more states offering early childhood education licenses (which is beneficial since the best predictor of appropriate teacher behavior is the amount of formal education and training). As acknowledgement of the educational aspects of preschool education increases, state education agencies are receiving regulatory power over public preschool programs. This often conflicts with state social service agencies' regulation of custodial day care programs. High quality programs must encompass both education and social services. Different states offer various configurations of preschool credentials (e.g., early childhood education licenses distinct from elementary licenses, and title-specific licensure denoting the license range). Distinctions are made among early childhood professionals regarding credentials and compensation, with the public sector paying teachers better than the private sector and salaries higher in early education than in child care. (SM)