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Title 28, Part CLXV Louisiana Administrative Code April 2025 26 Early Childhood Professional Organization—organization that provides professional training or advocacy opportunities for individuals in the early childhood field. Family Child Care UStaffU Track for LA Pathways— professional career ladder registry designed for family child care providers that recognizes individuals based on the educational attainment and commitment to the field. LA Pathways—see Louisiana pathways early learning center career development system. Louisiana Pathways Early Learning Center Career Development System (LA Pathways)—state practitioner registry maintained by the LDE or its contractor that registers care facility directors and staff based on training, education, experience and professional activities. National Administrator Credential—administrator credential issued by a national organization recognized by LA pathways AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with 45 CFR Part 98, R.S. 17:407.26, and R.S. 47:6101 et seq. HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, amended LR 43:1281 (July 2017), LR 48:1008 (April 2022), LR 48:2550 (October 2022). §903. Participation in LA Pathways A. An individual working or planning to work in the child care facility industry as a director of a child care facility is eligible to enroll in LA pathways upon successful submission of an application and the required documents to LA pathways. B. An individual working or planning to work in the child care facility industry as a staff member of a child care facility is eligible to enroll in LA pathways upon successful submission of an application and the required documents to LA Pathways. C. LA pathways will register child care facility directors and staff according to requirements based on training and education, experience, and professional activities, as approved by the LDE. Participation is voluntary. D. The state superintendent of education, pursuant to authority delegated by BESE, may waive compliance with a requirement in this Chapter when the superintendent determines that the economic or adverse impact is sufficiently great to make compliance impractical, as long as the health and well-being of the staff and children are not imperiled. When the individual has been determined to have met or exceeded the intent of a requirement, the requirement may be deemed met. The decision to grant or deny a waiver rests with the sole discretion of the state superintendent. E. Training, Education, Experience, and Professional Activity Requirements for the Administrator Track for LA Pathways through December 31, 2017 1. Assistant Director I—annual training as required by early learning center licensing regulations in LAC 28:CLXV.139; no experience required; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization. 2. Assistant Director II—60 clock hours in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas including 6 hours in regulations; minimum of six months experience; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization. 3. Assistant Director III—90 clock hours in approved core knowledge CDA subject areas including 15 hours in approved administrative training categories; minimum of one year experience; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization. 4. Director—training and experience as required by early learning center licensing regulations in LAC 28:CLXV.139; and encouraged to participate in an early childhood professional organization. 5. Director I—CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; and 30 clock hours in approved administrative training categories, related associate degree, or 30 hours toward associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development; minimum one year of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization. 6. Director II—CDA credential or approved early childhood diploma; and 45 clock hours in approved administrative training categories/national administrative credential, associate degree in early childhood/child development, related associate degree with four college courses in early childhood/child development, or related bachelor’s degree with three college courses in early childhood/child development; minimum 18 months experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event. 7. Director III—administrator certificate; and CDA credential or approved early childhood diplomas, associate degree in early childhood/child development, bachelor’s degree in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers, or related bachelor’s degree with six college courses in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers; minimum two years of experience, and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA advisory/mentor, or attendance at a conference or professional event. 8. Director IV—administrator certificate; and master’s degree in early childhood/child development or early childhood administration of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers, or related master’s degree with eight college courses in early childhood/child development of which three courses focus on infants and toddlers; minimum of two years of experience; and membership in an early childhood professional organization and service to the profession such as serving on a board or committee, presenting at a conference, participating as a CDA