State K-3 Policies

State K-3 Policies

Does the state have any principal certification and/or endorsement requirement specific to early learning?

September 2020

At least 14 states plus Washington, D.C., have principal credentials that cover the preschool through grade 12 span. An additional five states include multiple principal credentials that may include birth through grade three, preschool through grade three and kindergarten through grade six. Six states have credentials specific to the elementary grades, generally kindergarten through grade six. Twenty-five states have no statute, rules or regulations specific to this issue.

The following information was gathered from state statutes and regulations only.

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STATE
Does the state have any principal certification and/or endorsement requirements specific to early learning?
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Source
Michigan Certificate and Endorsement: school administrator (P-12). Mich. Admin. Code R 380.104
Kentucky Certificate: Advanced Educational Leader (P-12) 16 Ky. Admin. Regs. 3:090
South Dakota Certificate: Principal (Pre-K-12) S.D. Admin. R. 24:53:08:01-02
Wisconsin Certificate: Principalship applies to 'early childhood education through adolescence'. Wis. Adm. Code s EAB 34.065 (Source, 34.32)
New York Certificate: school administrator (N-12). N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, § 80-2.4
Maine Certificate: teaching principal (K-8). Code Me. R. tit. 05-071, Ch. 115, § 4.7
Washington Certificates: early childhood education (Birth-grade 3) and elementary (K-grade 8). Wash. Admin. Code 181-82-120
West Virginia Certificates: early education (pre-K to K) and elementary (K-6). W. Va. Code R. 126-136-10
Alabama Certificates: educational administrator (P-12), principal (P-6), principal (P-12) and instructional leader (P-12). Ala. Admin. Code 290-3-2-.03
Ala. Admin. Code 290-3-3-.48
Rhode Island Certification: building level administrator (Pre-K-12). R.I. Gen.Laws Ann. § 16-11-9
R.I. Code R. 21-20-1.10
South Carolina Certification: elementary school principal (Pre-K-8). S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-64
District of Columbia Credential: Principal (Pre-K-12). D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-A, § 1603
North Dakota Credentials: Elementary Principal (K-8, K-12 and 5-12). N.D. Admin. Code 67-11-21-06
N.D. Admin. Code 67-11-21-07
Montana Endorsement: elementary principal (K-8) MT ADC 10.57.415
Louisiana Endorsement: elementary school principal. La. Admin. Code. tit. 28, Pt CXXXI, 743
Illinois Endorsement: Pre-K-12. Public Act 096-0903 (2010)
Nebraska Endorsement: principal (Pre-K-12). 92 Neb. Admin. Code Ch. 24, 005
Vermont Endorsement: Principal (Pre-K-12). Vt. Admin. Code 7-1-13:5440
Idaho Endorsement: school principal (Pre-K-12). Idaho Admin. Code r. 08.02.02.015
Arkansas License: building level administrator (Pre-K-12). Administrator Licensure Completion Plan (ALCP) Form
New Mexico License: educational administration (P-12). N.M. Admin. Code 6.62.2
Oregon License: P-12. Or. Admin. R. 584-235-0020
Iowa License: Pre-K-12 Administrator (applies to programs serving children from birth through grade twelve). Iowa Admin. Code r. 282-18.4(272)
Iowa Admin. Code r. 282-18.9(272)
Massachusetts License: school principal/assistant school principal (Pre-K-8). 603 Mass. Code Regs. 7.09
Arizona License: standard professional principal (Pre-K-12). Ariz. Admin. Code R7-2-616
Ohio Licenses: (pre-kindergarten-6) and (pre-kindergarten-12). Ohio Admin. Code 3301-24-05
North Carolina Licenses: pre-kindergarten (Birth-K), elementary (K-6) and special subjects (K-12). 16 N.C. Admin. Code 6C.0304
Alaska Not specified in statute or regulation. Alaska Admin. Code tit. 4, § 12.345
California Not specified in statute or regulation.
Colorado Not specified in statute or regulation.
Connecticut Not specified in statute or regulation.
Delaware Not specified in statute or regulation.
Florida Not specified in statute or regulation.
Georgia Not specified in statute or regulation.
Hawaii Not specified in statute or regulation.
Indiana Not specified in statute or regulation.
Kansas Not specified in statute or regulation.
Maryland Not specified in statute or regulation.
Minnesota Not specified in statute or regulation.
Mississippi Not specified in statute or regulation.
Missouri Not specified in statute or regulation.
Nevada Not specified in statute or regulation.
New Hampshire Not specified in statute or regulation.
New Jersey Not specified in statute or regulation.
Oklahoma Not specified in statute or regulation.
Pennsylvania Not specified in statute or regulation.
Tennessee Not specified in statute or regulation.
Texas Not specified in statute or regulation.
Utah Not specified in statute or regulation.
Virginia Not specified in statute or regulation.
Wyoming Not specified in statute or regulation.