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disabilities, and Native Americans (98.44(b)(2)(iv)). Training and professional development is one of the options that states and territories have for investing their CCDF quality funds (658G(b)(1)).

6.1 Professional Development Framework

6.1.1 Each state or territory must describe their professional development framework for training, professional development, and post-secondary education for caregivers, teachers and directors, which is developed in consultation with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body. The framework should include these components: (1) professional standards and competencies, (2) career pathways, (3) advisory structures, (4) articulation, (5) workforce information, and (6) financing (98.44(a)(3)). Flexibility is provided on the strategies, breadth, and depth with which states and territories will develop and implement their framework. Effective Date: 10/01/2018

a) Describe how the state/territory's framework for training and professional development addresses the following required elements: -- State/territory professional standards and competencies. Describe: Nebraska has created a set of Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals. This document outlines the knowledge and skills needed to effectively work with children ages birth to five years. This document contains nine Core Competency areas: Child Growth and Development; Health, Safety and Nutrition; Learning Environments; Planning Learning Experiences/Curriculum; Interacting with Children and Providing Guidance to Children; Observation, Documentation, and Assessment; Partnerships with Families and Communities; Professionalism and Leadership; and Administration, Program Planning, and Development.

The current Competencies are divided into 6 levels. The levels range from Level 1: skills and knowledge that anyone entering the field should have, to level 6: skills and knowledge one would expect to see in someone having an advanced degree in an early childhood area. The competencies can be found here: https://2x9dwr1yq1he1dw6623gg411wpengine.netdnassl.com/wpcontent/uploads/2017/0 Nebraska Page 249 of 314