Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8210 - Lead teacher; qualifications; responsibilities

Rule 210.

(1) Lead teachers are required only for groups of children who are preschool-age and younger.
(2) Lead teachers are responsible for both of the following:
(a) Overseeing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the classroom program and child assessment.
(b) Overseeing child care staff members for a specific group of children and overall care and supervision of children.
(3) At least 1 lead teacher shall be assigned to each group of children in a self-contained or well-defined space and be present and provide care in the assigned group in the following manner:
(a) Full time for programs operating less than 6 continuous hours.
(b) Not less than 6 hours per day for programs operating 6 or more continuous hours.
(4) A substitute for a lead teacher shall be appointed for a lead teacher who has left employment or has a temporary absence that exceeds 30 consecutive workdays until return or replacement. A substitute lead teacher has 90 days from appointment to meet the qualifications of a lead teacher.
(5) Lead teachers shall have both of the following qualifications:
(a) Be not less than 19 years of age.
(b) Have a high school diploma or GED.
(6) A lead teacher shall meet 1 of the following to qualify:
(a) All of the following:
(i) A minimum of 1 year of experience.
(ii) 3 hours of MiRegistry approved training in each of the following areas:
(A) Program management.
(B) Observation, documentation, and assessment.
(C) Teaching and learning.
(iii) 6 hours of MiRegistry approved training in any of the following areas:
(A) Interactions and guidance.
(B) Challenging behaviors.
(C) Trauma informed practices.
(iv) Works in a center that participates in great start to quality.
(b) All of the following:
(i) A minimum of 6 months of experience.
(ii) 6 semester hours, 9 CEUs, or a combination to equal 90 clock hours of coursework in child care administration, early childhood education, child development, or a child-related field. Up to 30 hours of MiRegistry-approved training may be used to meet these requirements.
(iii) Works in a center that participates in great start to quality.
(c) All of the following:
(i) A valid child development associate credential, Montessori credential, infant family associate credential, or associate degree or higher in any field of study.
(ii) 3 hours of MiRegistry approved training in each of the following areas:
(A) Program management.
(B) Observation, documentation, and assessment.
(C) Teaching and learning.
(iii) 6 hours of MiRegistry approved training in any of the following areas:
(A) Interactions and guidance.
(B) Challenging behaviors.
(C) Trauma informed practices.
(7) Small capacity centers are exempt from subrule (6) of this rule.
(8) A lead teacher in a small capacity center shall meet 1 of the following to qualify:
(a) All of the following:
(i) A minimum of 3 months of experience.
(ii) 3 hours of MiRegistry approved training in each of the following areas:
(A) Program management.
(B) Observation, documentation, and assessment.
(C) Teaching and learning.
(iii) 6 hours of MiRegistry approved training in any of the following areas:
(A) Interactions and guidance.
(B) Challenging behaviors.
(C) Trauma informed practices.
(iv) Works in a center that participates in great start to quality.
(b) Both of the following:
(i) 3 semester hours, 4.5 CEUs, or a combination to equal 45 clock hours of coursework in child care administration, early childhood education, child development, or a child-related field or an associate degree or higher in any field of study. Up to 30 hours of MiRegistry-approved training may be used to meet these requirements.
(ii) Works for a center that participates in great start to quality.
(9) A lead teacher who was qualified on the lead teacher's date of hire remains qualified as of the effective date of this rule as long as the lead teacher remains continuously employed as a lead teacher at the center or at another licensed center without a break in service of more than 180 days. Any variances approved as of the effective date of this rule remain effective and timeframes required in the variance must be met. Any variance requirements not completed by 4 years after the effective date of this rule must voided.
(10) Lead teachers for infants and toddlers shall have 3 semester hours, 4.5 CEUs, or 45 hours of MiRegistry-approved track of infant and toddler development and care practices within 6 months of hire.
(11) Verification of the qualifications of each lead teacher must be maintained on file at the center or at the central office 2 years after the effective date of this rule, after which qualifications must be reflected as verified in MiRegistry.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 400.8210
2025 MR 10, Eff. 5/7/2025

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