(a) A special child development permit shall be issued to any person employed as a supervisor, head teacher, or teacher by an agency conducting a child care and development program under contract with a county who did not meet the requirements for an emergency instructional permit authorizing service in children’s centers or a supervisor’s permit with postponement of requirements authorizing service in a children’s center in effect on October 15, 1974. A special child development permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for 36 months after its date of issuance. Within the 36-month period following the date of issuance of the permit, the following shall apply:

(1) A person employed as a head teacher or teacher who has completed 30 semester hours of coursework taken in an approved institution, including 12 semester hours of coursework in subject fields related to early childhood education, shall be issued an emergency instructional permit authorizing service in a children’s center and be subject to the term and renewal regulations in effect on October 15, 1974.

(2) A person employed as a supervisor who has obtained a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution and completed at least 12 semester hours of coursework in subject fields related to early childhood education shall be issued a supervision permit with postponement of requirements authorizing service in children’s centers and be subject to the term and renewal regulations in effect on October 15, 1974.

(b) It is the intention of the Legislature that this section be liberally interpreted to ensure that those experienced and qualified persons employed in county contract day care centers prior to July 1, 1974, maintain their positions and be given ample opportunity to upgrade their skills to meet revised educational standards.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 88. Effective January 1, 2007.)