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Preschool Teachers

THE JOB

PRESCHOOL TEACHERS do the important work of nurturing and educating 
California's youngest children during their most formative years.

Preschool Teachers work in child development facilities:  preschools, 
day care centers, public and private elementary schools, and employer 
sponsored centers both-on site and off site.  They stimulate the 
children's curiosity and imagination by providing them with 
opportunities to learn through "play" experiences and to question, 
observe, investigate, and experiment.

Preschool Teachers introduce and direct art, music, language 
communication, play, and other creative activities.  They help each 
child-whether a newcomer, hyper-active, or shy-adjust to the preschool 
setting as naturally and comfortably as possible.  They also help 
children adapt to group living.  Teachers strive to be aware of each 
child's mental, physical, and emotional needs and potential.  They 
consult with parents, administrators, and child development specialists.


WORKING CONDITIONS

Preschools are usually located in pleasant surroundings in converted 
houses, churches, new or remodeled buildings in business districts, 
public parks, playgrounds, and public and private schools.  The newest 
trend is the employer-sponsored child care center.

Teachers may belong to the National Association for the Education of 
Young Children, American Federation of Teachers, or the California 
Teachers Association.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Private day care centers and their teaching staff are licensed by the 
California Department of Social Services.  There are about 9,000 
pre-school centers in California as of 1996.  

Preschool teachers teaching in private schools are required to be at 
least 18 years of age and meet one of the following requirements:

Either:

  --  Twelve semester units in early childhood education (ECE), and 
  --  Six months of work experience in a licensed day care center, or 
  --  A current valid Child Development Associate (CDA), and six months 
      on-the-job training and/or work experience.

Preschool teachers employed in the public school system must possess 
one of three instructional permits issued by the Commission on Teacher 
Credentialing: 

Regular permits require: 

  --  24 semester units of ECE , and
  --  16 semester units in general education, and one of the following:

  --  Two experience periods* as a paid aide or assistant in a child 
      development program, or 
  --  Three experience periods as a volunteer in an instructional 
      capacity, or 
  --  One experience period with a Limited Instructional Permit, or
  --  Two or three semester unit field course work and one experience 
      period.

 * (an experience period is defined as service for not less than two 
hours per day for at least 100 days in not more than a three-year period)

Limited Children's Center Instructional Permit requires:

  --  Passage of the Child Development Associate National Credentialing 
      Program assessment, and
  --  One experience unit of full time teaching, and
  --  Six semester units in child growth and development and early 
      childhood education.

Emergency instructional permit requires:

  --  12 semester units in child growth and development and early 
      childhood education, and 
  --  A statement of need for emergency instructors from a school 
      district.

and one of the following:

  --  One experience period in a child development program, or
  --  Supervised field work course, or
  --  Enrollment in an early childhood/child development training program.

Finally, applicants for permits must pass basic proficiency requirements 
in reading, writing, and mathematics.  A regular permit is issued for 
five years and is renewable for successive five-year periods.  A limited 
children's center instructional permit is issued for no more than two 
years; two renewals for three years each are allowed.  An emergency 
permit can be renewed for two, three-year periods. 

Applicants are fingerprinted and often must undergo a background 
investigation before going to work.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The following information is from the California Projections of 
Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.

Estimated Number of Workers in 1993                40,480
Estimated Number of Workers in 2005                59,050
Projected Growth 1993-2005                            46%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005      11,320

(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to 
turnover)

Preschool Teachers rank among the fifty largest growth occupations in 
California with an impressive 46 percent new job growth.  Private 
schools and public school districts will fill 18,570 new jobs and will 
need another 11,320 to replace the those teachers who retire or simply 
leave the job market.  


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Salaries vary widely between geographical areas, individual 
qualifications, and the size and type of the school.  For new teachers, 
median salaries range from $4.75 to $6.10 per hour.  Teachers with some 
experience start at a median $5.00 to $9.50 per hour. Teachers with 
three or more years with the same school earn between a median $6.75 to 
$10.25.

Many private schools are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and operate 
year round.  Public school teachers work from four to six hours a day 
for nine months a year, although some districts maintain year-round 
programs.  Many positions are part time.  

Most employers offer vacation plans, health insurance, and sometimes 
educational benefits.  Teachers employed in California Children's 
Centers are included in the State Teachers Retirement System and 
receive health and sick leave benefits.  


ADVANCEMENT

Promotion is from assistant teacher, teacher, head teacher, and finally, 
to teacher-director.  Additional education may be necessary for 
advancement.  Courses in administration and supervision, and an advanced 
academic degree are usually required for top-level positions.

Teachers who advance their careers by opening their own schools must 
develop a program which conforms to State and local regulations.  They 
must also deal with the added responsibilities of staffing and financing.


FINDING THE JOB

Preschool teachers should apply directly to schools, the local Board of 
Education, college placement offices, and a local office of the 
California Employment Development Department's Job Service.  They should 
also network with other Preschool Teachers and follow up jobs listed in 
newspapers and trade publications.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Public School System Preschools:

Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Box 944270 (1812 9th Street)
Sacramento, CA 94244-2700
(916) 445-7254

Private Sector Preschools:

California Department of Social Services 
Community Care Licensing Division
744 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 657-3661


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Elementary School Teacher              No.  10
Secondary School Teacher               No.  57
Special Education Teacher              No. 110
Teacher Aides                          No. 502


OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1)
Teacher, Preschool                 092.227-018

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Teachers, Preschool & Kindergarten      313020


Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department,
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
         (916) 262-2162.