For Early Head Start CDA Candidates Navigating the Infant-Toddler CDA Credentialing Process Using the Webinar Material Copyright © 2014 by the Council for Professional Recognition. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted on a specific page, no part of this presentation may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning web distribution, information networks, information storage and retrieval systems without the prior written permission from the Council for Professional Recognition. NAVIGATING CDA 1 New and improved CDA 2 Requirements 3 Process 4 Action & Reflection 5 Final Q & A Early Head Start Requirements HEAD START ACT SEC. 645A. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS (h) Center-Based Staff- The Secretary shall-(1) ensure that, not later than September 30, 2010, all teachers providing direct services to children and families participating in Early Head Start programs located in Early Head Start centers, have a minimum of a child development associate credential, and have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development; and (2) establish staff qualification goals to ensure that not later than September 30, 2012, all such teachers have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development. EARLY HEAD START-CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIPS Staff and Professional Development • Center-based Early Head Start teachers must have a minimum of an Infant -Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) within a year of starting service and have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development; or a comparable credential or a preschool CDA (or comparable credential) with training in infant toddler development. • Early Head Start family child care providers must have a CDA credential within 2 years of starting services. HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Staff and Professional Development Early Head Start requires that teachers and staff participate in ongoing professional development and training that includes: • coursework on infant and toddler child development • implementation of curriculum • skill development for working with children with disabilities • effective communication with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and with their families • Safety and health practices • Certification in, at a minimum CPR/infant & pediatric first aid Before You Apply Things you need to know before you apply • To apply online, you must have a current email address, all status and renewal reminders are emailed to you directly. • Your Director must have an active email to receive the permission letter for the verification visit, without it, this can delay your application. • Select the correct credential type, the exam is tied directly to what you apply for. • Do you need a ADA accommodation arranged for taking the exam? • For Bilingual Spanish Candidates, you can select to take the exam in English or Spanish, but you must select this on your application before you take the exam. Things you need to know before you apply • You must apply to have your assessment conducted in the language required in your daily work with children. • Your payment must be submitted with your application; third party payments to avoid delay. • Be sure to include the Professional Development Specialist (PDS) ID number on the application. • Without these things, your application can be delayed. Understanding the CDA Credential Types Child Development Associate Credential setting age-level endorsement specialization Center-Based Programs Family Child Care Programs Home Visitor Programs infant/toddler birth – 36 months preschool: 3 – 5 years birth – 5 years families with children birth – 5 years bilingual programs bilingual programs bilingual programs bilingual programs CDA Specializations The Council assesses Candidates in the language they are required to use in their daily work with children and families: 1. Monolingual - Candidate’s work requires the use of just one language • • • English only Spanish only Other language* (not English or Spanish) 2. Bilingual - Candidate works in a bilingual program where his or her work requires the use of two languages English/Spanish English/Other language* *Candidates wishing to request assessment in Other Languages must submit special language request and receive Council’s approval before they apply. CDA Requirements A high school diploma, GED, or enrollment in a high school career and technical program and 120 hours of education in 8 CDA subject areas with an emphasis on Infant/Toddler Care. 480 hours of work experience with children birth to 36 months, experience must show across all age groups, young infants, mobile infants and toddlers. Education Experience An online or paper application completed once you identify a PD Specialist with an Infant & Toddler Background and complete all requirements. Application A collection and compilation of required CDA content that emphasizes infant and toddler care. A questionnaire that families complete to reflect on your strengths and areas of professional growth. Professional Portfolio Family Questionnaires A visit conducted by a PD Specialist to verify your Professional Development Portfolio and observe you working with young infants, mobile infants and/or toddlers. A 65-item computerbased exam administered by Pearson VUE covering practical examples of early childhood best practices working with Infants and Toddles. Prepare Verification Visit CDA Exam Apply Demonstrate CDA Process Navigating the Process • Family Questionnaires • Professional Portfolio Work Experience Education 1 Before you apply 2 3 Within 3 years of submitting application CDA Exam • PD Specialist ID • Application with Fee 4 Within 6 months of submitting application Verification Visit 6 5 Prepare Apply Demonstrate ACTION & REFLECTION PREPARE Review the 8 CDA subject areas in the Competency Standards book. How familiar are you with the 8 CDA subject areas? Consider your professional education. Do you have at least 10 hours of professional education in each of the 8 CDA subject areas? EDUCATION ACTION & REFLECTION Gather all of your transcripts and certificates of training. Can you show proof of all of your professional education hours? Do the hours of training match the setting that you are applying for? Have a back up plan if you do not have all of your hours. How will you complete the remaining hours? EDUCATION ACTION & REFLECTION CDA Subject Areas Examples Link to Early Head Start’s Five Essential Domains of School Readiness Planning a safe, healthy learning environment. Safety, first aid, health, nutrition, space planning, materials and equipment, play Physical development and health 2 Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development. Large and small muscle, language and literacy, discovery, art, music, math, social studies, brain development, science, technology, dual language learning 3 Supporting children’s social and emotional development. Self-esteem, independence, selfregulation, socialization, cultural identity 4 Building productive relationships with families. Parent involvement, home visits, conferences, referrals 5 Managing an effective program operation. Planning, record keeping, reporting 6 Maintaining a commitment to professionalism. Advocacy, ethical practices, workforce issues, professional associations 7 Observing and recording children’s behavior. Tools and strategies for objective information and assessment Understanding principles of child development and learning. Child development from birth through age 5, individual variations, cultural influences 1 8 • • Language and literacy Physical development and health Social and emotional development • • Cognition and general knowledge Approaches to learning Review your resume. Does it indicate all the early childhood programs where you have worked or volunteered over the past 3 years in a infant/toddler program? Think back over the past 3 years. How many hours do you have working with children of all age groups, young infants (birth -8 months0, mobile infants (9-17 months) and toddlers (18-36 months)? WORK EXPERIENCE ACTION & REFLECTION Think back over the past 3 years. How many hours do you have volunteering with children ages 036 months? Have a back up plan if you don’t have all of your hours. How will you complete the remaining hours? Do your hours match the infant toddler setting? Consider your families. How willing do you think they will be to complete the Family Questionnaire? Are there families that speak another language other than English or Spanish? Consider the timeframe. How long will you give them to complete the questionnaire? FAMILY QUESTIONNAIRES ACTION & REFLECTION Consider your attitude. How willing and open are you to receiving feedback from your families? Have a back up plan if you don’t get the majority of questionnaires back by the deadline. How will you encourage families to return the questionnaires on time? Consider the content of your Professional Portfolio. What challenges might you face collecting the content? Consider the timeframe. How do you plan to complete your Portfolio within 6 months of submitting the application? PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO ACTION & REFLECTION Consider your organizational skills and level of creativity. How do you plan to organize the content? Consider your writing skills. How are your writing skills? RC I-1. Current CPR. Are your first aid and infant/child pediatric CPR valid and current? What challenges might you face if your card has expired before you apply? RC II. Learning Experiences. Reflect on each learning experience intended goals, materials and teaching strategies for each age group. RESOURCE COLLECTION ACTION & REFLECTION RC III. Bibliography. Have you selected books that support infants/toddlers and their families? RC IV-4. Include at least one article on brain development CS 1b. Reflect on the room environments designed for infants as compared to toddlers. CS 1c. How would you adapt your weekly plan for use with each of the three age groups? ACTION & REFLECTION APPLY Consider how to identify a PD Specialist. Do you know someone in your local community? Does the PDS Specialist have infant/toddler experience? Discuss your plans to apply with your supervisor. What do you need to do to prepare for this conversation? CDA APPLICATION ACTION & REFLECTION Consider applying online. If you do not have internet access at home, where can you go to access the Internet? Do you have a current email address? Complete the application and submit your payment. What steps do you plan to take to make sure that you include all the required information and that your fee is submitted with the application? ACTION & REFLECTION DEMONSTRATE Consider your setting or program. Is there a quiet/private place where the PD Specialist can go to review your materials? Consider your daily schedule. When is the best time for the PD Specialist to conduct an observation of you working with children in your current classroom setting? VERIFICATION VISIT ACTION & REFLECTION Become familiar with reflective dialogue. What do you need to do to prepare for this experience? Refer to the Reflective Dialogue worksheet in the Infant/Toddler Competency Standards book. Review the Comprehensive Scoring Instrument (CSI). What questions do you have about the 13 Functional Areas? Review the CSI so you are familiar before your visit. Review the sample exam questions in the Competency Standards book. Which types of questions might be a challenge for you? Refer to the Competency Standards book for the examples. Consider your study skills. How do you plan to study for the exam? How often do you plan to study? Reflect on your practical experience in working with infants and toddlers. The exam only focuses on infant/toddler experiences. CDA EXAM ACTION & REFLECTION Review the CDA exam tutorial at www.cdacouncil.org/CDAexam/tut orial. What concerns do you have about taking the CDA exam? Do you need a ADA accommodation? Create a Pearson VUE account online. Where is the closest test center to you? Be sure when you schedule your exam, to let them know if you are approved to take English or Spanish. ORDER ONLINE + http://store.cdacouncil.org/ THANK YOU! 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