Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-3-.08
Pre-Kindergarten (Birth-Age 4) and Early Childhood Education (Grades P-3)
Effective May 15, 2025New Rule: December 19, 1978. Amended: Filed December 13, 1990; effective February 1, 1991. Repealed and Replaced: Filed January 9, 1997; effective February 13, 1997; operative July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed June 14, 1999; effective July 19, 1999. Amended: Filed December 9, 1999; effective January 13, 2000. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 11, 2003; effective October 16, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 13, 2004; effective August 17, 2004. Repealed and New Rule: April 14, 2005; effective May 19, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 6, 2007; effective September 10, 2007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 3, 2009; effective September 7, 2009; operative October 1, 2009. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 13, 2015; effective September 17, 2015. Amended: Filed September 13, 2018; effective October 28, 2018; operative June 1, 2019. Amended: Published October 30, 2020; effective December 14, 2020. Repealed and New Rule: Published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021. Repealed and New Rule: Published March 31, 2025; effective May 15, 2025.Alabama State Board of Education
- 1. Rationale. This Rule brings attention to those elements that are distinctive to the pre-kindergarten and early childhood education program. These elements represent the unique nature of pre-kindergarten and early childhood education encompassing the foundations of learning including play, developmentally appropriate practices, and integration within and across disciplines, which create a bridge between informal and formal learning environments. These standards build upon the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, ISTE Standards, Alabama Specific Standards, Praxis Early Childhood Education Assessment, and the current Alabama Course of Study in Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, English Language Arts, K-12 Arts Education, Health Education, and Physical Education. Implementation of the standards will be in the Alabama Continuous Improvement guidance.
2. Program Curriculum. In addition to meeting Rules 290-3-3-.03, 290-3-3-.04, 290-3-3-.05, 290-3-3-.07, and 290-3-3-.08, the pre-kindergarten and early childhood education curriculum shall require a teaching field of at least 30 semester hours with at least 18 semester hours of upper-division credit.
- a. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop content knowledge in Child Development and Learning in Context.
- b. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop content knowledge in Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections.
- c. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop content knowledge in Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment.
- d. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop content knowledge in Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices.
- e. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop pedagogical knowledge in Application and Integration of Academic Content in the Pre-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Curriculum.
- f. Prior to program completion, candidates will have time to develop Professionalism as a Pre-Kindergarten or an Early Childhood Educator.
g. Unique Field Experience and Internship Placement Requirements.
- i. Field experiences shall include placements in at least two of the three main types of early education settings for early childhood education (early school grades, childcare centers or homes, and Office of School Readiness programs), and in
- ii. Childcare centers, homes, or Office of School Readiness programs for prekindergarten education.
- iii. The internship shall include a placement with at least two of the following age groups for early childhood education: birth-age 3, age 3-5, age 5 -8, and in age group birth-age 4 for pre-kindergarten education unless three field experiences or a practicum have/has been completed with another age group.
3. Faculty
- a. The faculty must include at least two full-time persons who meet faculty qualifications in Rule 290-3-3-.03 (College and University Requirements). Faculty members shall have a major specialization in early childhood education and reading. Additionally, at least one of the faculty should include an individual with at least a master’s degree and three full years of professional educational work experience teaching mathematics in grade levels K-5.
- b. The faculty who teaches professional education courses or supervise field experiences, practica, or internships in the teaching field shall have recent experiences in the subject matter and at the grade level of the certification.
Author: Dr. Eric G. Mackey
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§16-3-16 and 16-23-14.
Editor’s Note: Previous Rule .06 was renumbered .08 per certification published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021.
History: New Rule: December 19, 1978. Amended: Filed December 13, 1990; effective February 1, 1991. Repealed and Replaced: Filed January 9, 1997; effective February 13, 1997; operative July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed June 14, 1999; effective July 19, 1999. Amended: Filed December 9, 1999; effective January 13, 2000. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 11, 2003; effective October 16, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 13, 2004; effective August 17, 2004. Repealed and New Rule: April 14, 2005; effective May 19, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 6, 2007; effective September 10, 2007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 3, 2009; effective September 7, 2009; operative October 1, 2009. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 13, 2015; effective September 17, 2015. Amended: Filed September 13, 2018; effective October 28, 2018; operative June 1, 2019. Amended: Published October 30, 2020; effective December 14, 2020. Repealed and New Rule: Published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021. Repealed and New Rule: Published March 31, 2025; effective May 15, 2025.