Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

What the job really is

Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.

At a glance

• Sector: Management
• O*NET-SOC code: 11-9031
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
• Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
• Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
• Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.
• Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
• Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
• Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
• Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities.
• Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
• Review and interpret government codes and develop procedures to meet codes and to ensure facility safety, security, and maintenance.
• Review and evaluate new and current programs to determine their efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with state, local, and federal regulations and recommend any necessary modifications.

Tools and technology

Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, ACS Technologies HeadMaster, Auburn Software Debit Square, B&I Computer Consultants Childcare Sage, Bloomz, Cirrus Group Daycare Works, Compact digital cameras

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
• Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
• Social and Community Service Managers
• Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
• Health Education Specialists
• Instructional Coordinators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.