Navigating The Child Development Associate National and Virginia Early Childhood Credentialing Processes

1. Head Start Navigating The Child Development Associate National and Virginia Early Childhood Credentialing Processes April 5, 2011; 1:45-3:15pm

2. Presented By Kathleen Pathan Regional Coordinator, Head Start TA Region III Kathleen.Pathan@icfi.com Pamela K. Blackburn Early Childhood Specialist, Virginia Head Start TA Region III PBlackburn@icfi.com

3. Did You Know? • Over 260,000 awarded • Over 18,000 awarded annually • Cooperative agreement between ACYF and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)….. • Created the Council for Professional Recognition that began administering the CDA on September 1, 1985

4. Benefits of the CDA • Professional recognition • Recognized nationwide • National standards • Measures competencies

5. Benefits of the CDA Communities benefit because competent individuals strongly influence the education and development of children during their most critical years

6. Settings for CDA

7. Settings for CDA • State approved child development setting • At least 8 or more children enrolled (center based preschool and infant/toddler) • At least two caregivers who work with the children on a regular basis. (center based preschool and infant/toddler)

8. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

9. Eligibility • High School Diploma or equivalent, or be a junior or senior in a high school vocational program in early childhood education • 480 hours of experience in appropriate setting • 120 Clock Hours Education in Eight ECE Subject Areas Astrick • Hold a high school diploma, or equivalent or must be a junior or senior in a high school vocational program in early education.

10. Subject Areas • Planning a safe, healthy learning environment • Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development • Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development • Strategies to establish productive relationships with families

11. Subject Areas • Strategies to manage an effective program operation • Maintaining a commitment to professionalism • Observing and recording children’s behavior • Principles of child development and learning.

12. Education • College Credit or non college credit • No fewer than 10 hours in each subject areas • Training obtained at conferences or from individual consultants is not acceptable.

13. Training Hours Includes but is not limited to: • Early Childhood Education/child care programs • Vocational and technical schools • Two year junior and community colleges • Four-year colleges and universities

14. Opportunities • Within individual programs • “Cluster” training sessions where several programs participate • Trainer/consultant “directory” where programs share trainers • Articulation Agreements

15. Verification of Training Provided Transcript Certificate Letter Candidate must cite the number of clock hours completed in each required area of study on the Direct Assessment Application Form

16. Essentials for CDA

17. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

18. CDA Application Requirements • Completed, accurate CDA Application • $325 • Completed Observation Instrument • Parent Questionnaires • Documentation and verification of meeting eligibility requirements (experience/education) • Professional Resources File

19. Professional Resource File • Collection of materials used by the Candidate • Provides a picture of what Candidate values in their work • Provides opportunity to locate resources and articulate their own view of their work in early childhood programs

20. Professional Resource File • Arrangement • Portable, creative, professional, manageable • Contents • Autobiography • 300 word statement (who you are and why you chose to work with young children ) • Statements of Competence • Statements of Competence • Writes six based on competency goals, 200-500 words each • Resource Collection (17 specific items) • Organized by Competency Goal areas • Numbered for easy reference

21. Advisor Eligibility Requirements Combination of Education and Experience

22. Formal Observation Conduct one or more (2.5-3 hours in length) Conducted and dated within six months before submission of application (original returned to the candidate in sealed envelope)

23. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

24. Pacing • Applications accepted on a rolling basis • Verification visit occurs within 90days from the date the Council receives your complete and correct application

25. Suggestions and Tips • Develop and implement a timeline and follow it • Use the Candidate Checklist • Check the Direct Assessment Application for any mistakes or omissions before mailing it to the Council • Remember that programs may provide their own training!

26. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

28. Responsibilities of the Candidate Verification Visit • The original, completed Professional Resource File • Include a copy of the Autobiographical Statement • Include a copy of the Statements of Competence • A sealed envelope containing the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument • A sealed envelope containing the Parent Opinion Questionnaires • The Competency Standards book you purchased • A photo identification card (your I.D.)

29. Conclusion of Visit Returned to Candidate • The Original Autobiography • The Original Statements of Competence • The 17 item Resource Collection from the Professional Resource File

30. What does the Council Receive?

31. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

32. Congratulations! CDA

33. Assessment Stages • Inquiry • Collection of Documentation by the Candidate • Application • Verification Visit by the Council Representative • Credential Award 6. Credential Renewal

34. Renewal • Valid for three years • Current Red Cross or other agency First Aid Certificate • 4.5 Continuing Education Units or three-credit-hour course • Recent work experience with young children- minimum of 80 hours • Letter of Recommendation • Membership in early childhood organization

35. Second Setting Credential • Hold an active CDA credential • Original must have been earned on or after January 1, 1993 • A minimum of 45 clock hours of training specific to the second setting. The hours may be part of the original 120 formal training clock hours or additional training • An Observation by an Advisor selected by the Candidate

36. Second Setting Credential • Minimum of 60 clock hours of work experience with children of the second setting/age group, accrued over a period of no less than three months within the past five years • Parent Opinion Questionnaires from the parents of the children in the second setting/age group class.

37. Questions? CDA

38. Virginia Credentials

39. VIRGINIA Credential Options • Virginia Infant Toddler Credential • Virginia Early Childhood Development Credential

40. Weighing the Options

41. Weighing the Options

42. Resources Council for Professional Recognition www.cdacouncil.org Virginia’s Community Colleges www.vccs.edu Virginia Child Care Resource and Referral Network www.vachildcare.org Smart Beginnings www.smartbeginnings.org Child Day Care Provider Scholarship Program http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc/scholarship.cgi

43. Kathleen Pathan Regional Coordinator, Head Start TA Region III Kathleen.Pathan@icfi.com Pamela K. Blackburn Early Childhood Specialist, Virginia Head Start TA Region III pblackburn@icfi.com