As a general rule, most early childhood educators have neither certification nor standard preservice preparation. Public
schools and Head Start are the only two systems that require certification: public schools usually require a certificate before beginning to teach, and Head Start requires that a percentage of the teachers in a program have a credential. Both systems serve children at risk of school failure because of poverty, home language other than English, and developmental disabilities. Currently 17 states require preschool teaching certification for early childhood teachers in the public schools (Knitzer and Page, 1996). In special education, teachers often first have a B.A. and a regular early childhood education teaching credential and then specialized education in early childhood special education. Because of the legal and regulatory requirements that children be placed in the least restrictive environment which serves their educational needs, most young children with disabilities will be included in regular early childhood programs. According to National Council
for the Accreditation of Teacher Education guidelines, all teacher credentialing programs must integrate the special education content throughout all teacher education courses; however, most regular early childhood education programs do not adequately prepare teacher candidates to work with children with special needs.