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? [ ] Yes. If yes, identify the other key groups: [x] 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 Lead Agency requires all child care staff in licensed programs meet annual professional development requirements as well as required health and safety topic requirements upon profession entrance. Through a quality contract, Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD), all professional development is approved. The CECPD also has the responsibility to ensure approved training organizations meet specific quality standards. All professional development approval must be aligned with the Oklahoma Core Competencies Core Knowledge for Early Childhood Professionals, and/or Oklahoma Competencies for School Time Program Practitioners. All individuals working with children in a licensed program within the state are required to obtain at least minimum professional development training hours. These positions include: primary caregiver, assistant caregiver, full-time substitutes, director, assistant director, master teacher, teacher, assistant teachers and curriculum coordinators. ii. Career pathways. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about professional development registries, career ladders, and levels. The Lead Agency requires all child care staff in licensed programs meet annual professional development requirements as well as required health and safety topic requirements upon profession entrance. Through a quality contract, Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD), all professional development is approved. The CECPD also has the responsibility to ensure approved training organizations meet specific quality standards. All professional development approval must be aligned with the Oklahoma Core Competencies Core Knowledge for Early Childhood Professionals, and/or Oklahoma Competencies for School Time Program Practitioners. All individuals working with children in a licensed program within the state are required to obtain at least minimum professional development training hours. These positions include: primary caregiver, assistant caregiver, full-time substitutes, director, assistant director, master teacher, teacher, assistant teachers and curriculum coordinators. 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 Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) is the state advisory council for the Lead Agency. The Child Care Services Director is an active participant on the OPSR Board of Directors. Agency staff participating in numerous workgroups representing other partner organization and community stakeholders throughout the state. iv. Articulation. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about articulation agreements, and collaborative agreements that support progress in degree acquisition. The Lead Agency has quality contracts with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education which is responsible for managing the articulation agreements with Career Technology Center and, community colleges through the state. These agreements allow for personnel working in the field to obtain training to achieve national credentials upon coursework completion and to receive college credit to obtain state recognized credentials, Associate degree and a bachelor’s degree. 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. Through contracted partners, the Lead Agency has availability of demographics that include DOB, age, gender, educational level, number of years in the field, registry level, director credentials, and program employment type. vi. Financing. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about strategies including scholarships, apprenticeships, wage enhancements, etc. The Lead Agency supports professional development by providing opportunities for free and low-cost professional development. The Lead Agency provides at least one free training topic each month as well as offering the Pyramid Model trainings with no charge to the participant. Investments are being made to offer all of these courses in Spanish language as well. The Certificate of Achievement and Stipend Program provides a monetary stipend of $600, biannually upon successful completion of targeted professional development areas. These are designed to promote targeted professional development. Through the Scholars for Excellence in Child Care, national credentials, state credentials, associate and bachelor’s degree programs are supported at 90% the cost of tuition and fees for those working in the child care industry. Upon successful completion of these formal learning degrees, a financial stipend is awarded. 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 are available for trainings as approved by the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development. Scholars for Excellence in Child Care program provide scholarships to achieve credentials and degrees in Child Development. ii. [x] Engagement of training and professional development providers, including higher education, in aligning training and educational opportunities with the Lead Agency's framework. Describe: All formal professional development and college credit bearing courses must be aligned with the Oklahoma Core Competencies Core Knowledge for Early Childhood Professionals, and/or Oklahoma Competencies for School Time Program Practitioners. iii. [ ] Other. Describe: [ ] No. 6.2.3 Impact of the Professional Development Framework Describe how the framework improves the quality, diversity, 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 diversity of providers across role, child care setting, or age of children served? The Professional Development Framework supported by the Lead Agency provides a foundation for individuals working in the child care industry by providing a variety of opportunities for growth from basic skills and knowledge to obtaining college degrees which is all supported through CCDF funding. Supporting the workforce through quality skills and practices improves the continuity of care to children within the state. Anyone working within the child care industry has the opportunity to obtain formal education at low or no cost to them. Free courses are offered each month with a vast array of subject matters throughout the year, also available at no cost are the Pyramid Model of social and emotional development trainings. The Lead Agency is committed to continue further development of quality trainings through a quality contract with the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD). Recognized as part of this framework in the Career Technology Certificate of Achievement as acceptable master teacher qualifications. This offers high school students an opportunity to obtain education and training supporting a career in the early care state systems. Scholarship support is also offered through career technology centers with the Pathway to Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credential which includes financial payment of the observation component. Scholarships are available for those working full-time in the child care industry to obtain college credit hours through a quality contract with the Oklahoma State Regents, Scholars for Excellence in Child Care. Two-year colleges throughout the state offer opportunities to obtain a state master teacher credential Certificate of Mastery, Director Certificate of Mastery, Associate Degree, and Bachelor Degree. These all support and provide advanced career opportunities for child care industry staff. Students working through these programs are all provided support in their coursework and educational processes through programs supported by the Lead Agency. Financial awards may be earned by successfully completing these programs. 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 supports educational opportunities that enhance quality care within the state. Upon completion of a degree or credential, a financial stipend is awarded that increases in correspondence with higher levels of education obtained. Individuals working with children may receive a financial stipend award of six hundred dollars bi-annually for completing targeted professional development, which a continuation for child development related topics added annually. All of the above programs are open to licensed programs within the state regards of Quality Rating and Improvement System participation, Tribal or Head Start affiliations. Combined, all of these incentives encourage individuals to continue educational growth opportunities, better stability in the child care field, and the Lead Agency recognizes that having a higher qualified staff working in child care enhances the care of all children. 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 Lead Agency works with Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) in an advisory capacity. Lead Agency and OPSR staff work collaboratively to increase the overall quality of care within the state. Agency personnel participate in work groups partnered with OPSR and other community stakeholders. The Preschool Development Birth-to-Five grant is administered through the OPSR foundation. No funds from this are used to support Lead Agency sponsored stipend programs. 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 maintains a quality contract with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Scholars for Excellence in Education. Articulation agreements between the Lead Agency, Career Technology Centers and community colleges, and four-year universities throughout the state are managed through this program. The agreements allow for child care practitioners to achieve national credentials through these avenues upon course and criteria completion and receive college credit hours toward Associate or Bachelor degree programs. 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 requires that individuals working in child care be a members of the Oklahoma Professional Development Registry (OPDR). Through the OPDR data is collected that includes work history, educational level, professional development hours, required health and safety training, and required entry level trainings. The OPDR also tracks if an individual meets master teacher or director qualifications. Center based programs and Large Family Child Care Homes must be registered as a Direct Care Organization to assist in maintaining up to date current employee information on the OPDR. There is no other readily available workforce data available to the Lead Agency. 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 provides direct support to individuals working with children in a licensed child care program through the Oklahoma Child Care Stipend of Achievement which awards up to two annual bonuses of six hundred dollars upon successful completion of targeted professional development.