(a) (1) Child development programs shall include a career ladder program for classroom staff. Persons who are 18 years of age and older may be employed as aides and may be eligible for salary increases upon the completion of additional semester units in early childhood education or child development. The governing board of each contracting agency shall be encouraged to provide teachers and aides with salary increases for the successful completion of early childhood education or child development courses in six semester unit increments.
(2) Persons employed as teachers shall possess a permit issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing authorizing service in the care, development, and instruction of children in a child care and development program.
(b) Any person who meets the following criteria is eligible to serve in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program:
(1) Possesses a current credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing authorizing teaching service in elementary school or a single subject credential in home economics.
(2) Twelve units in early childhood education or child development, or both, or two years’ experience in early childhood education or a child care and development program.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1067, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)