6.2 Professional Development Framework

A Lead Agency must have a professional development framework for training, professional development, and post-secondary education for caregivers, teachers, and directors in child care programs that serve children of all ages. The framework must include these components: (1) professional standards and competencies, (2) career pathways, (3) advisory structures, (4) articulation, (5) workforce information, and (6) financing. CCDF provides Lead Agencies flexibility on the strategies, breadth, and depth of the framework. The professional development framework must be developed in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or a similar coordinating body. 6.2.1 Updates and consultation a. Did the Lead Agency make any updates to the professional development framework since the FFY 2022-2024 CCDF Plan was submitted? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the elements of the framework that were updated and describe if and how the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (if applicable) or similar coordinating body was consulted: [x]No. b. Did the Lead Agency consult with other key groups in the development of their professional development framework? [x] Yes. If yes, identify the other key groups: The Lead Agency met with its Child Care Citizen's Coordinating Committee, which serves as the agency's state advisory council, on the development of the plan. The committee is charged with advising the Lead Agency on child care issues and making recommendations for ongoing services. The committee was also given a survey to complete in assisting with the development of the plan. [ ] No. 6.2.2 Description of the professional development framework a. Describe how the Lead Agency’s framework for training and professional development addresses the following required elements: i. Professional standards and competencies. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about which roles in early childhood education are included (such as teachers, directors, infant and toddler specialists, mental health consultants, coaches, licensors, QIS assessors, family service workers, home visitors). The professional standards are developed within the domains of self-concept/ emotional, social, language and literacy, physical and cognitive developments. The competencies are based on eight core knowledge areas, which are distinct categories of study that prepare early childhood professionals to facilitate children's learning and development. Competencies become more advanced as an individual progresses through the guidelines. All core knowledge areas are rated basic, intermediate, and advanced competencies. ii. Career pathways. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about professional development registries, career ladders, and levels. The Alabama Pathways Professional Development Lattice provides early care and education professionals with a tool to track their professional development. Each individual can identify her/his current place on the Alabama Pathways Professional Development Lattice, as well as the progressive path to enhanced training and education within the field of early care and education. iii. Advisory structure. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about how the professional development advisory structure interacts with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. The Lead Agency convened a Professional Development Plan Steering Committee consisting of representatives from various early care and education stakeholder groups to plan and develop the Alabama Pathways professional development system to address the training and education needs of caregivers and teachers in the field of early childhood and school-age care. The Department of Early Childhood Education (DECE) is a partnering agency which serves on the State Advisory Council. Also, DECE was a member of the Professional Development Steering Committee. Currently, the Child Care Citizen's Coordinating Committee, which serves as the agency's state advisory council has input on changes and development of the Alabama Pathways professional development system. iv. Articulation. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about articulation agreements, and collaborative agreements that support progress in degree acquisition. Articulation agreements are within two- and four-year higher education institutions. Most are local agreements but there is articulation between the Alabama College System (2- year colleges) and the University of Alabama (one of the state's largest 4-year universities) to accept child development course work obtained at an institution in the Alabama Community College System. v. Workforce information. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about workforce demographics, educator well-being, retention/turnover surveys, actual wage scales, and/or access to benefits. The Lead Agency's professional development registry is currently for all providers and mandatory for licensed child care facilities. Individuals report credentials, degrees, training, and work history. vi. Financing. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about strategies including scholarships, apprenticeships, wage enhancements, etc. The Lead Agency provides scholarships, stipends, and other financial stipends (i.e., book vouchers) to support continued education for child care providers in pursuit of obtaining credentials or a higher degree in early childhood education. Individuals may also qualify to receive a financial incentive for successful completion of an educational program. b. Does the Lead Agency use additional elements? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the element(s). Check all that apply. i. [x] Continuing education unit trainings and credit-bearing professional development. Describe: Continuing Education Units (CEU) trainings are available from regional Quality Enhancement Agencies. Credit-bearing professional development is available from Alabama Community College System through the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H) Early Childhood Scholarship Programs and the Leadership in Child Care Scholarship program. The Accelerated Child Care Educator Credential and the Alabama Infant Toddler Credential are both optional pathways to obtain Level 1 on the Alabama Professional Development Lattice (framework). ii. [ ] Engagement of training and professional development providers, including higher education, in aligning training and educational opportunities with the Lead Agency's framework. Describe: iii. [ ] Other. Describe: [ ] No. 6.2.3 Impact of the Professional Development Framework Describe how the framework improves the quality, stability, and retention of caregivers, teachers, and directors and identify what data are available to assess the impact. a. Professional standards and competencies. For example, do the professional standards and competencies reflect the range of providers across role, child care setting, or age of children served? Professional standards and competencies reflect the diversity of providers across role, child care setting, or age of children served through training offered to providers by offering multiple methods of achieving higher levels of education attainment as well as certifications and credentials in early learning. The Alabama Professional Development Lattice provides guidance on levels of training and education specific to early childhood and school age care. The Alabama Pathways Professional Development Lattice captures eight levels of training and education to guide caregivers and teachers of children from birth to twelve years on the path that promotes high quality care and education. The Lead Agency offers all early learning staff opportunities to acquire child development and early childhood training provided through professional organizations, quality enhancement agencies, and some colleges and universities. b. Career pathways. For example, has the Lead Agency developed a wage ladder that provides progressively higher wages as early educators gain more experience and credentials? What types of child care settings and staff roles are addressed in career pathways, such as licensed centers and family child care homes? The Lead Agency encourages continued education and credential attainment through scholarship programs to assist providers in attaining credit bearing credentials, post-secondary degrees, and paid online training subscriptions. The Leadership in Child Care Scholarship program provides financial assistance (tuition and selected fees) to qualified child care professionals working in the child care centers/programs and family and group homes to obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, Short-Term Certificate, Certificate, or Associate in Applied Science /Technology Degree in Child Development/Early Care and Education studies. The T.E.A.C.H (Teacher, Education and Compensation Helps) Early Childhood Alabama Scholarship Program was developed to increase the level of education and effectiveness of early learning professionals by making the educational process more affordable, increasing wages, and reducing staff turnover rates as a means of retention. Under this scholarship, participants agree to continue their work in a child care facility upon completion of the degree or credential achieved. Scholarships are currently offered for the CDA (Child Development Associate) Assessment Fee, Associate Degrees in Child Development and Early Care and Education. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Alabama Scholarship Program awards bonuses for participants who complete T.E.A.C.H. educational goals. The program also pays travel stipends and provides release time for participants to attend classes. The Leadership in Child Care Scholarship program reimburses scholarship recipients the application cost of obtaining the CDA credential. c. Advisory structure. For example, has the advisory structure identified goals for child care workforce compensation, including types of staff and target compensation levels? Does the Lead Agency have a Preschool Development Birth-to-Five grant and is part of its scope of work child care compensation activities? Are they represented in the advisory structure? The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education is the lead agency for Preschool Development Grant Birth-through-Five (PDG B-5) grant and is responsible for establishing an advisory structure to identify goals. However, the Lead Agency is a partner with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education and participates in PDG B-5 advisory structure. d. Articulation. For example, how does the advisory structure include training and professional development for providers, including higher education, to assist in aligning training and education opportunities? The Lead Agency plans to revisit its professional development framework as it is in the process of establishing a statewide professional development registry. The state's advisory council, The Child Care Citizens’ Coordinating Committee and professional development professionals will establish a new steering committee for updates to the framework. e. Workforce information. For example, does the Lead Agency have data on the existing wages and benefits available to the child care workforce? Do any partners such as the Quality Improvement System, child care resource and referral agencies, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and universities and research organizations collect compensation and benefits data? Does the Lead Agency monitor child care workforce wages and access to benefits through ongoing data collection and evaluation? Can the data identify any disparities in the existing compensation and benefits (by geography, role, child care setting, race, ethnicity, gender, or age of children served)? The Lead Agency does not collect this data. f. Financing. For example, has the Lead Agency set a minimum or living wage as a floor for all child care staff? Do Lead Agency-provider subsidy agreements contain requirements for staff compensation levels? Do Lead Agencies provide program-level compensation grants to support staff base salaries and benefits? Does the Lead Agency administer bonuses or stipends directly to workers? The Lead Agency does not provide financing for workforce compensation.