About Us

Services of the Early Educator Support Office are structurally placed in the Early Education Branch, within the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). This branch includes 3 units; NC Pre-Kindergarten (NC Pre-K), Early Educator Support Unit, and Workforce Education.

The work of the Early Educator Support Unit is guided by the NC Child Care Rules, NC Pre-K Program Requirements (2015-2016), NC State Board of Education Teacher Licensure Policy and the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Educator Licensing Procedures. The NC Child Care Rules, include Rules .2900 (NC Developmental Day Programs) and .3000 (NC Pre-Kindergarten Programs).

The Early Educator Support Unit is designated as the statewide education agency for NC early childhood education teachers who work in nonpublic schools and are required to hold NC Educator’s Licensure. NC early childhood education lead teachers employed in NC Pre-K classrooms and NC Developmental Day preschool classrooms must attain and maintain NC Birth-through-Kindergarten Continuing Licensure, whether the classroom is located in a public or nonpublic school.

Early educator support Services include:

  1. Mentor and Evaluation support to enrolled teachers is provided via their respective regional hub, the Early Educator Support Offices at East Carolina University or UNC Charlotte. Link to State Map of the EES Offices (UNC Charlotte & ECU).
  2. Teacher Enrollment and Licensure Actions, including support of attainment and maintenance of NC BK Licensure, are processed by the EES Unit at DCDEE.
  3. Professional Development for teachers, site administrators, Mentors and Evaluators (paid staff and partners) is provided by the Early Educator Support Offices at East Carolina University and UNC Charlotte.

The Early Educator Support Unit requires the use of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards, the NC BK Specialty Standards, the Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators, and the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development (August 2013). Mentor Teaching Standards and any training materials provided during orientation and subsequent meetings are also required.

The Early Educator Support Unit does not promote any specific curricula, assessments and/or child management programs.