Organizational Structure

The Early Educator Support Unit, located within the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), serves as the statewide Local Education Agency (LEA) for all nonpublic early childhood education teachers who hold, or are eligible for NC Birth-through-Kindergarten licensure. As such, the Early Educator Support Unit over sees and provides teacher enrollment and licensure support and services. They also provide oversight, management, and technical assistance to ensure that policies, professional development, and required field-based services are administered according to NC State Board of Education (NCSBE) policies and appropriate NC Child Care Rules. Link to a State Map of the EES Unit (Raleigh). See Table below for alignment of functions between the Early Educator Support unit and public LEAs.

Early Educator Support Offices at the University of North Carolina (UNC Charlotte) and East Carolina University (ECU) manage and provide services to all eligible teachers in the West or East respectively. Professional Development for enrolled early childhood educators and their site administrators is provided jointly by all three entities. Each school year approximately 1,000 teachers in nonpublic early childhood education settings across North Carolina are actively served by mentors and evaluators from the Early Educator Support Offices. Link to a State Map of the EES Offices (UNC Charlotte & ECU).

Early Educator Support and Public LEA