August 11, 2022
EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION FOR CURRENT ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS

(in accordance with ACT 8270 and in collaboration with the VIDE (Expires October 1, 2023)

OPTION 1

Certification in ECE may be issued to experienced certified elementary educators who are teaching on the prek- third grade level in the VI but who do not have early childhood certification. These teachers must present evidence of having met all of the following requirements by December 2022 to receive Certification in Early Childhood Education for 5 years.

1. Current elementary educator certification (not conditional) issued by the VIBE
2. A minimum of 5 years documented teaching experience on the primary (preK-3) level in the Virgin Islands
3. Satisfactory end of year evaluations for at least 5 of the most recent years.
4. Letter of Recommendation from current principal (or former principal for the past 3 years)
5. One of the following four options completed:
   1. Successful completion of ECE Praxis II with an approved ECE Praxis score (minimum of 152)
   2. A minimum of 30 professional development hours in early childhood education related areas
   3. Completion of one of the following courses (3 credits=30 hours): Intro to Early Childhood I Basic Principles & Practices in ECE; Early Childhood Development and Inclusive Environments; Positive Socio-Emotional Foundations of Early Leaming;
   4. Completion of a specialized program /pathway designed by the Department of Education and approved by the Board of Education. This may be online program. (equivalent to 30 hours PD)

OPTION2

Certification in ECE may be issued to certified teachers who teach on the elementary level in the VI, if all of the following requirements are met by August 2024.

1. Current elementary educator certification issued by the VI Board of Education
2. Successful completion of ECE Praxis II with an approved ECE Praxis score (minimum of 152).
3. One of the following four options completed within five years of applying:

A minimum of 90 professional development hours in early childhood education related areas.

2. Completion of three of the following courses in early childhood education (9 credits=90 hours): Intro to Early Childhood I Basic Principles & Practices in ECE; Early Childhood Development and Inclusive Environments; Positive Socio-Emotional Foundations of Early Leaming; Early Literacy & Language Development;
3. Completion of a specialized program /pathway designed by the Department of Education and approved by the Board of Education. (This may be an online program.) (Equivalent to 90 hours)
4. Certificate in Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution