FILED SENATE
Apr 6, 2023
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 722
SESSION 2023 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS15317-LU-82B
Short Title: Child Care Flexibilities. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Krawiec (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITIES IN CHILD CARE TO ADDRESS THE
3 WORKFORCE SHORTAGE BY RECOGNIZING THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT
4 ASSOCIATE (CDA) CREDENTIAL IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6 SECTION 1. No later than March 31, 2024, the Department of Health and Human
7 Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), shall develop and
8 implement criteria that incorporates the child development associate (CDA) credential for birth
9 through 3 years of age and the CDA credential for 3 to 5 years of age to count toward satisfying
10 the requirements for the star rating system for child care. An individual seeking recognition for
11 the CDA credential for birth through 3 years of age or 3 to 5 years of age shall meet the following
12 requirements:
13 (1) Education. – The individual must satisfy education criteria as follows:
14 a. Earn a high school diploma, a general education development (GED)
15 credential, or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career
16 and technical program in early childhood education.
17 b. Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training,
18 covering the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5 years,
19 with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the following eight
20 subject areas:
21 1. Planning a safe and healthy learning environment.
22 2. Advancing children's physical and intellectual development.
23 3. Supporting children's social and emotional development.
24 4. Building productive relationships with families.
25 5. Managing an effective program operation.
26 6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
27 7. Observing and recording children's behavior.
28 8. Understanding the principles of child development and
29 learning.
30 (2) Training. – An individual shall complete training, whether through a single
31 agency or multiple organizations. The organization providing the training
32 must (i) have expertise in early childhood education and teacher preparation
33 and (ii) provide official documentation when the individual's training is
34 completed.
35 (3) Documentation. – Within six months of submitting the application for the
36 CDA credential for birth through 3 years of age or 3 to 5 years of age, the
*DRS15317-LU-82B*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 individual shall (i) prepare the individual's CDA portfolio, which shall consist
2 of a collection of reference materials related to the individual's work with
3 children and families, and (ii) select a CDA professional development
4 specialist to conduct the individual's CDA verification visit to review the
5 individual's professional portfolio, observe the individual working with
6 children, complete dialogue with the individual, and submit score
7 recommendations.
8 (4) Experience. – Within three years of submitting the application for the CDA
9 credential for birth through 3 years of age or 3 to 5 years of age, the individual
10 must obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based
11 setting with children 3 to 5 years of age.
12 SECTION 2. This act becomes effective October 1, 2023.
Page 2 DRS15317-LU-82B