Child care programs, also known as daycare or early childhood education, offer a nurturing learning environment for preschool children. Teachers in child care settings work in a variety of institutions, from public preschools to privately owned centers. Unlike primary and secondary school teachers, there are no uniform licensure or educational requirements for early childhood educators. Although some districts, cities or states may require an undergraduate teacher preparation degree and licensure in early education, many privately owned child care programs have no college level educational requirement. Therefore, a variety of teacher education programs exist. Technical schools and community colleges may offer short-term diploma programs that provide basic information on child development. Community and junior colleges often offer two-year associate degrees that focus on additional aspects of human learning, activity planning and other related early care issues. Bachelor's and master's degrees provide the most comprehensive type of teacher preparation.
High-quality college courses will give the teacher specialized knowledge that will help to inform his decisions, teaching methods and curriculum creation. For example, a teacher with extensive knowledge in child development will be able to assess each child's abilities and identify potential developmental delays and/or adapt curriculum to fit the child's needs.
The NAEYC's Standards for Programs to Prepare Early Childhood Professionals state an effective teacher education program should include information on the significance of creating community and family partnerships. Community partnerships with arts, recreational, mental health, social service, physical health and other organizations can increase the impact a child care program has on a child by providing quality extracurricular events, integrated classroom content and the opportunity for added learning experiences. Additionally, family involvement can directly help the program when parents volunteer their time and skills in the classroom.
According to NAEYC, a teacher's education can have a direct affect on how the educator views herself as a professional. Post-secondary early childhood education tracks can provide teachers with critical tools such as information on professional conduct, ethical practices and industry-accepted standards. These tools can then be used to improve the quality of child care programs.
Although NAEYC recommends early childhood educators receive at least an associate degree, some teachers may rely more heavily on practical training. Hands-on training can occur in a child care center. A teacher's educational background may often be trumped by practical experience in the case of a teacher who has many years or even decades of working. The importance of hand-on experiences has been recognized by most college programs, which often require student teachers to complete internships before graduation.