Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-608 - Early Childhood Education Teaching Certificate

A. The Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate authorizes the holder to teach students in a birth through grade three classroom. An individual who holds a Standard Professional Early Childhood Education certificate described in this section in combination with an Arizona cross categorical, specialized special education, mild/moderate disabilities, or moderate/severe disabilities special education certificate described in R7-2-611 is also authorized to teach early childhood special education, birth-age eight or grade three.

B. For the purposes of this Section, public school early childhood education programs means education programs provided by local education agencies, including their sub-grantees and contracted providers, for children birth through age 8 for the purpose of providing academically and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that are standards-based with defined curriculum and comprehensive in content to include all appropriate developmental and academic areas as defined by the Arizona Early Childhood Education Standards or the Arizona K through 12 Academic Standards approved by the Board.

C.B. Except as noted, all certificates are subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619 .

D. Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate - birth through age 8 or through grade three. The requirements are:

1. A bachelor's degree, and

2. One of the following:

a. Completion of a teacher preparation program in early childhood education from an accredited institution or a teacher preparation program approved by the Board, or

b. Early childhood education coursework and practicum experience which teaches the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602 and includes both of the following:

i. Thirty-seven semester hours of early childhood education courses to include all of the following areas of study:

(1) Foundations of early childhood education;

(2) Child guidance and classroom management;

(3) Characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;

(4) Child growth and development, including health, safety and nutrition;

(5) Child, family, cultural and community relationships;

(6) Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;

(7) Early language and literacy development;

(8) Assessing, monitoring and reporting progress of young children; and

ii. A minimum of eight semester hours of practicum, including:

(1) A minimum of four semester hours in a supervised field experience, practicum, internship or student teaching setting serving children birth through preschool. One year of full-time verified teaching experience with children in birth through preschool may substitute for this student teaching experience. This verification may come from a school-based education program or center-based program licensed by the Department of Health Services or regulated by tribal or military authorities; and

(2) A minimum of four semester hours in a supervised student teaching setting serving children in kindergarten through grade three. One year of full-time verified teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade three in an accredited school may substitute for this student teaching experience; or

c. A valid early childhood education certificate from another state

3. A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and

4. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment once that portion of the AEPA is adopted by the Board, and

5. A passing score on the early childhood subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a relevant content area or otherwise qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge examination.

E.C. Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate - birth through grade three.

1. The requirements include all of the following:

a. A bachelor's degree;

b. Completion of a teacher preparation program in early childhood education from a Board-approved educator preparation program or from an accredited institution offering substantially similar training addressing the following topics and any others as required by law:

i. At least forty-five classroom hours of Department-approved training or three college-level credit hours, or the equivalent, in research-based science of reading, including systematic phonics;

ii. At least 45 classroom hours of Department-approved training or three college-level credit hours, or the equivalent, in research-based reading instruction, including training on assessments, instructional practices and interventions to improve student reading proficiency. The instruction provided must meet the requirements for dyslexia training prescribed in A.R.S. § 15-219;

iii. Foundations of early childhood education;

iv. Teaching students with exceptionalities;

v. Child guidance and classroom management, including characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;

vi. Child growth and development, including health, safety and nutrition;

vii. Child, family, cultural and community relationships;

viii. Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;

ix. Assessing, monitoring and reporting progress of young children;

x. Instructional design and lesson planning, including modifications and accommodations;

xi. Practicum as described in R7-2-604 serving children birth through preschool;

xii.xi. Professional responsibility and ethical conduct; and

xiii.xii. Twelve-week capstone experience as described in R7-2-604 in a preschool through grade three classroom, which may be completed during the valid period of an alternative teaching or student teaching intern certificate. One year of verified full-time teaching experience in preschool through grade three may be substituted for the capstone experience requirement. For individuals seeking dual certification, any capstone experience requirements may be met through separate eight-week capstone experiences in each of the certification areas sought.

c. A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety;

d. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment; and

e. A passing score on the early childhood subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment, unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a relevant content area or otherwise qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge examination pursuant to the provisions in R7-2-607.

2. Applicants may meet the requirements in subsection (E)(1)(b) with the submission of an application for the Standard Professional Early Childhood Education certificate that includes evidence of two years of verified full-time teaching experience serving children birth through grade three, and Board-approved or accredited training or coursework which teaches the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602 and subsections (E)(1)(b)(i) through (x).

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-608

Adopted effective May 20, 1994 (Supp. 94-2). Section repealed; new Section adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1132, effective March 10, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Section R7-2-608 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 2562, effective May 23, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-2). May 23, 2002 emergency rulemaking renewed under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 5132, effective November 19, 2002 (Supp. 02-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003 (Supp. 03-2). Former Section R7-2-608 recodified to R7-2-609 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). New Section R7-2-608 made by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 52, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 119, effective September 21, 2009 (Supp. 10-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 235, effective December 7, 2009 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 195, effective 8/9/2017. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 30 A.A.R. 2547, effective 7/24/2024.