D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5-A, § 166
Child Development Center: Assistant Teacher Qualifications and Responsibilities
Effective Aug 1, 202572 DCR 008518Authority: Sections 3(b)(6A), 3(b)(9), 3(b)(9A), 3(b)(11) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code §§ 38-2602(b)(6A), (b)(9), (b)(9A), and (b)(11)); the Day Care Policy Act of 1979, effective September 19, 1979 (D.C. Law 3-16; D.C. Official Code § 4-401 et seq.) (“Day Care Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-3, dated January 15, 2009; the Child Development Facilities Regulation Act of 1998, effective April 13, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-215; D.C. Official Code § 7-2031 et seq.) (“Facilities Act”); Mayor’s Order 2009-130, dated July 16, 2009; Sections 503 and 504 of the Early Intervention Program Establishment Act of 2004, effective April 13, 2005 (D.C. Law 15-353; D.C. Official Code §§ 7-863.03 and 7-863.04); Mayor’s Order 2009-167, dated September 28, 2009. Source: Final Rulemaking at 63 DCR 14640 (December 2, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 65 DCR 7032 (June 29, 2018); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 5016 (May 7, 2021); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 008518 (August 1, 2025).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary
166.1 An Assistant Teacher in a Child Development Center shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall:
- (a) Have successfully completed sixty (60) credit hours of college-level coursework at, or earned an associate or more advanced degree from, an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation;
- (b) Have successfully completed sixty (60) credit hours of college-level coursework at, or earned the equivalent of an associate or more advanced degree from, an institution outside of the United States and submitted a foreign credential equivalency report as required by OSSE;
- (c) Have earned a competency-based credential, representing a level of knowledge and skills equivalent to or greater than an associate degree and awarded by a nationally recognized credential program, should one become available and approved by OSSE;
- (d) Have earned a current CDA credential, or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential as determined by OSSE, which specifies that the individual is qualified to serve as an Assistant Teacher for the age classification with whom the individual will work;
- (e) Have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent, provided that the individual earns a CDA credential, or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential as determined by OSSE, within two (2) years of their initial date of hire as an Assistant Teacher in a Child Development Center; or
- (f) For a Montessori school Assistant Teacher, have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent and a minimum of twenty (20) hours of Montessori specific training, completed an orientation program specific to the school, and works under the supervision of a Montessori credentialed lead teacher.
166.2 Any person who is employed as a qualified Assistant Teacher in a licensed Child Development Center in the District of Columbia on December 20, 2023, and who has continuously served as an Assistant Teacher for the past ten (10) years, excluding any absences from the labor force due to caregiving responsibilities, may submit an application to OSSE for a continuous service certification that
waives the qualification requirements in Subsection 166.1. OSSE may deny a certification request for any reason consistent with ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children.
100166.3 For the purpose of Subsection 166.1, a period of supervised occupational work experience shall include an average of no less than twenty (20) hours per week. One (1) year of occupational experience is equal to one thousand (1,000) hours. Multiple qualifying periods may be aggregated in order to achieve the required total.
100166.4 The duties of an Assistant Teacher in a Child Development Center shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- (a) Providing supervision and appropriate care to the children in his or her class or group, under the direct supervision of a Teacher or the Center Director;
- (b) Assisting the Teacher in planning and initiating appropriate daily activities, which promote positive development and learning based on the strengths, interests, and needs of all of the children in his or her class or group;
- (c) Assisting the Teacher in communicating regularly with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of each child in his or her class or group about the development of their children; and
- (d) Participating in on-going in-service training and continuing education requirements, as required.
100166.5 A private, parochial, or independent school is exempt from complying with the requirements of this section, if the school:
- (a) Is an elementary/secondary educational program, as defined in this chapter ;
- (b) Cares for infants and toddlers on the same premises as the instructional program offered to school-age children;
- (c) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body or other body satisfying similar standards as approved by OSSE; and
- (d) Does not offer subsidized child care.
166.6 For the purposes of this section, early childhood development and early childhood
education shall include the courses listed in Subsection 164.5.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking at 63 DCR 14640 (December 2, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 65 DCR 7032 (June 29, 2018); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 68 DCR 5016 (May 7, 2021); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 008518 (August 1, 2025).