This dataset contains state minimum preservice entry requirements for teachers in early care and education and K–12 in 2012 and 2019. Data were drawn from several sources, including child care licensing requirements documented by the Office of Child Care and the National Association for Regulatory Administration, the Head Start Act, and State of Preschool Yearbooks from the National Institute for Early Education Research. Requirements are coded in years of formal educational attainment (e.g., 12 for high school diploma, GED, or equivalency; 13 for Child Development Associate; 14 for associate’s degree; 16 for bachelor's degree; numbers of credits or clock hours were converted to years using available higher education documentation).

The compilation of this dataset was supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (grant #: 90YE0229) totaling $105,000 with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the US government. For more information on administrative and national policy requirements, please visit the ACF website.