CDA Exemption

New Eligibility Criteria for Pre-K Teaching Assistants: What You Need to Know 

Starting in the 2024–2025 school year, new eligibility criteria for teaching assistants in publicly funded prekindergarten classrooms will take effect. These updated requirements are designed to uphold high-quality education and professional standards across the state.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a teaching assistant position in a publicly funded Pre-K classroom, individuals must meet one of the following qualifications by the 2027–2028 school year:

  • Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
  • Associate Degree
  • Documented Experience

Documented Experience

Teaching assistants who do not have a CDA or an associate degree may still qualify if they have documented experience working in a publicly funded prekindergarten classroom. Publicly funded Pre-K is defined as classrooms or programs supported by the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant, the Maryland State Prekindergarten Grant, or Blueprint formula funding. Other funding streams may be eligible but will require pre-approval and additional documentation.

To qualify under the documented experience criteria, teaching assistants must meet the following specific requirements:

  • Duration: A minimum of 5 years of experience in a publicly funded Pre-K program as of July 1, 2024.
  • Hours: At least 20 hours per week or at least 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE).
  • Days: At least 180 days per year.

Implementation Timeline

The documented experience requirements for Pre-K teaching assistants will take effect beginning with the 2024–2025 school year. All experience must be verified by June 30, 2025, to be considered valid.

How to Verify Documented Experience

To verify documented experience, assistant teachers must work with their employer—either a local education agency (LEA) or a private provider—to complete the documented experience template. The template requires the organization’s header, the date, and a table listing all Pre-K assistants or paraeducators being submitted for consideration for a CDA exemption. The completed template should then be emailed to PreKAssistantTeacherVerification.msde@maryland.gov.

Documented Experience Template

By adhering to these new eligibility criteria, we aim to ensure that all Pre-K teaching assistants are well-prepared to contribute to the success of Maryland’s early childhood education system.