F ROM C ONCENTRATOR TO C OLLEGE AND C AREER Presented by: Diana Abel, D.Ed. Melanie Alexander M.Ed. Diane Coone Rene’ Manning M.Ed.

I CE B REAKER A CTIVITY Introductions

W HAT DO WE NEED TO CONSIDER TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS ? What are the career options and employment requirements? What is currently offered at the college level for early childhood and how does it fit with the career goal? Are there industry recognized credentials or certificates need for the career goal?

W HAT ARE THE CAREER OPTIONS AND EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS ?

AgencyADHS DESADE Head Start Position Title Assistant Teacher- Caregiver Teacher-caregiverActing DirectorFacility DirectorChild Care Group HomeFamily Child Care Provider (small group home) CACFP Family Child Care Home Public School TeacherLead Teacher Minimum Age Minimal Education Requirements Enrolled in a high school or high school equivalency program Documentation of a High School or high school equivalency diploma Documentation of a High School or high school equivalency diploma & 6 credit hours or 30 clock hours of coursework in early childhood, child development, or a closely related field Documentation of a High School or high school equivalency diploma & 6 credit hours or 60 clock hours of coursework in early childhood, child development, or a closely related field Documentation of a High School or high school equivalency diploma &3 credit hours or 60 clock hours of coursework in early childhood, child development, or a closely related field First Aide & CPR TrainingN/ABachelor Degree in Early Childhood Teacher Education and ADE Teaching Certificate AAS Degree or higher education degree in Early Childhood Education. Minimal Qualifying Experience N/A6 months qualifying experience 12 months qualifying experience 24 months qualifying experience Must meet internship & student teaching requirements 24 months qualifying experience Ongoing Education Requirement 12 clock hour of training per year 6 clock hour of training per year 180 clock hours every 6 years 12 clock hour of training per year ADHS = Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Child Care Licensure DES = Arizona Department of Economic Security, Child Care Administration ADE = Arizona Department of Education Arizona Regulatory Agency & Head Start Early Childhood Position Criteria

W HAT IS CURRENTLY OFFERED AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND HOW DOES IT FIT WITH THE CAREER GOAL ?

A RE THERE INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS OR CERTIFICATES NEED FOR THE CAREER GOAL ?

T HE C HILD D EVELOPMENT A SSOCIATE NATIONAL C REDENTIAL (CDA) To date, there are more than 200,000 CDAs in all 50 United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands. Earning the CDA Credential has many advantages, including motivating caregivers toward continuing education and providing a platform for professional and career opportunities. The CDA is recognized in Arizona by ADHS, DES, and Head Start. And, nationally by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation program.

CDA R ECOGNITION IN A RIZONA ADHSDESHead Start Child Care Directors and Teachers with a CDA need less experience. Family Child Care Providers receive a higher subsidized child care rate. Teacher Assistants and Home Visitors must have a CDA. NAEYC Early Childhood Program Accreditation criteria requires 50% of assistant teachers – teacher aides have at least a CDA or equivalent and the 100% of the assistant teachers – teacher aides are enrolled in a program leading towards a CDA or equivalent.

W HAT IS NEEDED TO CREATE A SEAMLESS EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY FOR ECE CTE STUDENTS ? Articulation between the CTE program, National Credentialing process, and the college.

IDEAS TO EXPLORE: How can ECE CTE programs move students towards attainment of the CDA? Dual Enrollment? Concentrator recognition.

C AN STUDENTS USE THEIR CTE PROGRAM TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF THE CDA? The Council for Professional Recognition who issues the CDA states: “CDA Candidates in high school vocational programs can count their training hours as formal education. However, candidates can’t apply for assessment until they are 18 years or older and have their high school diplomas.” Concentrators would submit their transcript credit for the State recognized sequence of courses in an approved CTE program as documentation of the formal education.

W HAT IS A CONCENTRATOR ? Student who has graduated with transcripted credit in all the State- recognized sequence of courses for a CTE program and has passed the state-adopted technical assessment. In the absence of a state-adopted technical assessment, a Concentrator is a student who (1) has received instruction in all the approved program competencies/standards, and (2) is documented as attaining at least 80% of the competencies/standards in an approved Career Preparation Level III* program, and (3) has transcript credit for the State recognized sequence of courses in an approved CTE program. * Level III language is used to include students in the Career and Technical Education system.

W HAT IS DUAL ENROLLMENT ? A course in which the credits or college credit equivalents earned by a secondary (high school) student are applicable to both secondary and postsecondary programs. Dual Enrollment classes meet at the high school during the regular high school day and are taught by college certified high school instructors using a college curriculum and text. The high school agrees to accept these college courses toward a student's high school completion, if needed. The college recognizes these courses towards

C ONCENTRATOR R ECOGNITION Develop a method for students who are concentrators to use their transcript credit for the State recognized sequence of courses in an approved CTE program as documentation for CDA training requirements, credit-by-evaluation at colleges when dual enrollment has not been available or accessed, state child care and education registry movement, and regulatory agency compliance regarding employment criteria.