ABSTRACT
In California, the licensing, monitoring, and funding of preschools, and determining of eligibility for attendance are the responsibility of multiple agencies, at the federal, state, and county levels. This makes for a very complex, messy system to navigate, as program directors and/or school site supervisors seek to support the staff and families in their programs and to connect with the communities that their programs serve. In addition, the educational requirements for teachers vary by type of site. This chapter briefly presents some of this complexity. Early childhood teachers in California are expected to complete continuing education units if they want to maintain their status or advance to higher grades of teacher, supervisor, or director. As is evident in the stories of the different centers and schools, effective teacher and director leadership toward inquiry and research is essential for this practice to be a meaningful and long-lasting one for the teacher, children, and family communities involved.
