W. Va. Code R. § 78-1-9

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 78-1-9 - Staff Responsibilities and Qualifications

9.1. The Director shall:

9.1.a. Manage the daily operations of the center, including administering finances and human resources;

9.1.b. Supervise the teaching staff and the daily activities of support staff who provide services to the center and conduct a staff meeting at least once a month;

9.1.c. Make curricular decisions and plans and supervise all aspects of the children's program;

9.1.d. Communicate with staff members, children, parents, and the public;

9.1.e. Communicate with the Department and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with all requirements;

9.1.f. Keep a record of any hours and days he or she has regular responsibility for an assigned group of children in a Type I or Type II center;

9.1.g. Not have regular responsibility for an assigned group of children in a Type III center;

9.1.h. Have the following qualifications:

9.1.h.1. Be at least 21 years of age, provide evidence of at least one year of relevant work experience; and have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and;

9.1.h.2. In a Type I center, have a minimum of:

9.1.h.2.A. A CDA credential and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children or 12 college credits in an early care and education field and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children; or

9.1.h.2.B. A total of 10 years of relevant work experience.

9.1.h.3. In a Type II center, have a minimum of:

9.1.h.3.A. A registered Apprenticeship Certificate for Child Development Specialist;

9.1.h.3.B. Passed 28 college credits, with at least nine credit hours in early childhood development; or

9.1.h.3.C. At least 15 years of relevant work experience.

9.1.h.4. In a Type III center, have a minimum of:

9.1.h.4.A. An associate degree in early care and education;

9.1.h.4.B. A bachelor's or associate degree in a related field with 12 credit hours in early childhood development or early childhood education and 90 practicum contact hours in the field of early childhood;

9.1.h.4.C. A bachelor's degree in a related field and a total of two years of relevant work experience; or

9.1.h.4.D. A degree in a business, management, or administration field with 12 credit hours in early childhood development or early childhood education and 300 hours of work experience with young children.

9.1.i. Designate a person-in-charge to perform the duties of the director during all hours of operation when the director is not present at the center. The person-in-charge shall be a qualified staff member with a minimum qualification of teacher.

9.2. Assistant Director or Lead Teacher.

9.2.a. The duties and role of assistant director or lead teacher may be shared by the director and a teacher.

9.2.b. The assistant director or lead teacher may have responsibility for supervision, care and education of children and may be regularly assigned to a group of children.

9.2.c. The assistant director or lead teacher shall:

9.2.c.1. Plan and adopt programming that conforms to the core competencies of early childhood education and may implement daily program activities;

9.2.c.2. Coordinate the activities of teachers, assistant teachers, teaching assistants, and assist the director with designated activities;

9.2.c.3. Be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum of one year of relevant work experience and one of the following additional qualifications:

9.2.c.3.A. A CDA credential and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children or 12 college credits in an early care and education field and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children;

9.2.c.3.B. A total of two years of relevant work experience;

9.2.c.3.C. A registered Apprenticeship Certificate for Child Development Specialist, or 28 college credits, with at least nine credit hours in early childhood development.

9.3. Teacher. A teacher shall:

9.3.a. Have responsibility for the supervision, care, and education of children and be regularly assigned to a group of children;

9.3.b. Practice the core competencies of early childhood educators, and plan and implement daily program activities;

9.3.c. Coordinate the activities of assistant teachers and teaching assistants, and may assist the director, assistant director, or lead teacher with designated activities; and

9.3.d. Be at least 18 years of age and have a minimum of one year of relevant work experience and have one of the following additional qualifications:

9.3.d.1. A West Virginia Training Certificate in Early Care and Education (WVTCECE) or its equivalent;

9.3.d.2. A CDA credential and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children or 12 college credits in an early care and education field and 300 hours of relevant work experience working with young children; or

9.3.d.3. A total of two years of relevant work experience.

9.4. Assistant Teacher. An assistant teacher shall:

9.4.a. Practice the core competencies of early childhood educators;

9.4.b. Work with young children with guidance from a qualified staff member who qualifies, at a minimum, as a teacher;

9.4.c. Coordinate daily activities and supervise teaching assistants in the absence of the teacher; and

9.4.d. Have the following qualifications:

9.4.d.1. Be at least 18 years of age and have a minimum of one year of relevant work experience; and

9.4.d.2. Have a West Virginia Training Certificate in Early Care and Education (WVTCECE) or its equivalent.

9.5. Teaching Assistant. A teaching assistant shall:

9.5.a. Assist other qualified staff members with the care and education of the child, but shall not have responsibility for a group of children;

9.5.b. Work under the continuous supervision of a qualified staff member who qualifies, at a minimum, as an assistant teacher;

9.5.c. Have the following qualifications:

9.5.c.1. Be at least 18 years of age; and

9.5.c.2. Be enrolled in the WVTCECE program or its equivalent.

9.6. Teen Aide. A teen aide shall:

9.6.a. Be at least two years older than the oldest child in the group with whom he or she is working; and

9.6.b. Not be left alone with a child other than his or her own child.

9.7. Student Intern. A center that uses student interns shall ensure that:

9.7.a. The student intern fulfills the requirements of an educational or training program;

9.7.b. The student intern performs duties under the direct supervision of a qualified staff member who has at least the qualifications of an assistant teacher;

9.7.c. The student intern receives periodic supervision from the educational or training program teacher-coordinator; and

9.7.d. The student intern is not left alone with a child other than his or her own child;

9.7.e. A copy of the student intern's training plan and training agreement developed jointly by the educational or training institution and the center are on file at the center.

9.8. Substitute. The center shall ensure that:

9.8.a. A substitute has the appropriate background checks as required by this rule;

9.8.b. A substitute used in a position for less than two weeks does not have sole responsibility for a group of children and works under the continuous supervision of, at a minimum, an assistant teacher; and

9.8.c. A substitute filling a position for more than two weeks meets the minimum qualifications of the position for which he or she is substituting. A substitute meeting the qualifications of an assistant teacher or greater does not require continuous supervision when substituting for more than two weeks.

9.9. Support Staff. The center shall ensure that support staff have appropriate qualifications for providing services to the center and meet the general and health requirements set forth in this rule.

9.10. Driver. A driver shall:

9.10.a. Be at least 21 years of age;

9.10.b. Have a valid driver's license that authorizes the driver to operate the vehicle being driven;

9.10.c. Upon hire, have evidence of a safe driving record for the five-year period prior to hiring and have no record of DUI related convictions for a five-year period;

9.10.d. Not be impaired to drive at the time of transporting children including impairment caused by prescription medication;

9.10.e. Submit to a drug and alcohol testing if required by center policy; and

9.10.f. Not be used if he or she refuses a required drug and alcohol test or tests positive.

9.11. Volunteer. The center shall ensure that prior to providing a direct service to the center, a volunteer:

9.11.a. Is not less than 18 years of age;

9.11.b. Receives direct supervision from a qualified staff member who is not less than 21 years of age; and

9.11.c. Is not left alone with a child other than his or her own child.

W. Va. Code R. § 78-1-9