Why Education Matters

Over the last two decades there has been increasing interest in learning about the experiences of children in early care and education settings: what settings are good and how early care and education influences later school performance and behavioral patterns.

In particular, our field has learned a great deal in recent years about the benefits and cost of high-quality early care and education services, and how to improve programs to meet the needs of all children.

This has increased the need to shift from workshop training to intentional forms of continuing education and professional development to build and retain a high qualified workforce.

Today, like other occupations, education is the currency with which the early childhood professional development system is being constructed.

Learn more!

• Busting the Myths about the Child Care Workforce

• • Publication
  • Presentation Materials

Education Requirements

The provision of early care and education and school age services are provided in a variety of settings in North Carolina for both typically and atypically developing children ages birth to twelve.

Education requirements for staff vary based on where you work and the funding stream that supports your position.

Requirement by Setting

Regulated Child Care Programs

• NC Division of Child Development & Early Education
  • NC Child Care Snapshot

• Head Start Programs
  • 2010 Profile of Head Start in North Carolina

• NC Pre-Kindergarten Programs
  • NC PreK (see section 6)

• Nationally Accredited Child Care Programs
  • NAEYC Staff Educational Requirements for Candidacy