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). All early childhood professional development that is offered through our child care resource and referral system is registered with the state defined standards and competencies. Professional development for early care and education staff is considered a primary mechanism for building quality care and education. The Lead Agency’s current focus in relation to training and technical assistance is to examine and redesign professional development opportunities to utilize evidence- based practice as much as possible that promotes transfer of learning to early care and education settings. Core Knowledge/Core Competency: Training specialists develop and implement provider training sessions that support the core knowledge and core competency areas of the professional development system. Content is to be determined through discussion with the WV ECTCR Training Advisory Council and the ECAC Professional Development Committee. Efforts to provide follow-up assistance in implementation through phone consultation or on-site visits also occur. ii. Career pathways. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about professional development registries, career ladders, and levels. The career pathway is built within our WV STARS Training and Registry System (STARS) which is housed withing the West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources The link is provided here: https://wvstars.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/08/Career-Pathway-Way-Levels.pdf WV State Training and Registry System (STARS) West Virginia’s Early Childhood Professional Development System includes core training competencies, a voluntary personal/training registry for all early childhood provider types, a training/trainer approval process, a career pathway with eight levels, and a certificate for 120 hours of approved training. Trainings provided by the CCR&R early childhood specialist is required to meet one of the STARS core competencies. Trainers must participate in the career pathway and meet the training approval requirements of the system. Childcare providers are also required to register on the career pathway. 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. This is met through the WV Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC). The members of the ECAC are also members of the WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources Advisory Council who oversee all of the projects of WV Early Childhood Training Connections: The Lead Agency participates in a collaborative effort with the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, WV Birth to Three, and the Head Start Collaboration Office to support the WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources (WVECTCR) project. This initiative uses IDEA Part B and Part C funding, Head Start Collaboration and CCDF funds to support projects that benefit all children. Training Connections is administered by River Valley Child Development Services, a non-governmental agency that is heavily involved with early childhood services. iv. Articulation. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about articulation agreements, and collaborative agreements that support progress in degree acquisition. West Virginia has articulation agreements with community and technical colleges and the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS). There are articulation agreements with West Virginia University at Parkersburg (WVUP) and Pierpont Community and Technical College that will award 3 credit hours in lieu of a required Infant Toddler Development course, by completion of the West Virginia Infant Toddler Professional Development Program for Caregivers (WVIT). Financing for professional development is funded primarily through CCDF, with some contributions from the Office of Maternal and Child Health and Head Start. WV STARS scholarship program, Pathway to Earnings The Pathway to Earnings program - which provides financial incentives for achieving higher education degrees as well as for completion of higher levels of training. https://wvstars.org/earnings/ Child care providers who maintain their higher quality status receive a yearly bonus for doing so. 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 West Virginia State and Training Registry System (WV STARS) is the professional development registry system for all West Virginia child care providers. The current workforce information that is collected in WV STARS on an individual registered participant includes : age, race, gender, address, city, state, zip code, county living in, primary language spoken, highest level of education, educational documentation/certifications relevant to Early Childhood, employment status, current employer, start/end dates of employment, salary/wage, hours worked per month & per year, benefits offered, date of last wage change, employment Is/Is not sole source of income. All the information is self-reported and not verified by WV STARS except the educational documentation for placement of the Career Pathway. vi. Financing. For example, Lead Agencies can include information about strategies including scholarships, apprenticeships, wage enhancements, etc. Financing for professional development is funded primarily through CCDF, with some contributions from the Office of Maternal and Child Health and Head Start. WV STARS scholarship program, Pathway to Earnings The Pathway to Earnings program - which provides financial incentives for achieving higher education degrees as well as for completion of higher levels of training. https://wvstars.org/earnings/ Child care providers who maintain their higher quality status receive a yearly bonus for doing so. Financial incentives are also offered to all child care provider types who complete one of the WV Child Care Credentials. The West Virginia Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) registered apprenticeship program is a partnership between the United States Department of Labor, River Valley Child Development Services (RVCDS) and early childcare programs throughout the state. The WV DoHS/BFS/Early Care and Education Division is the main source of funding for the program. b. Does the Lead Agency use additional elements? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the element(s). Check all that apply. i. [ ] Continuing education unit trainings and credit-bearing professional development. Describe: 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: [x] 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? All early childhood professional development that is offered through our child care resource and referral system is registered with the state defined standards and competencies. Professional development for early care and education staff is considered a primary mechanism for building quality care and education. The Lead Agency’s current focus in relation to training and technical assistance is to examine and redesign professional development opportunities to utilize current and evidence-based practice as much as possible that promotes transfer of learning to early care and education settings. Core Knowledge/Core Competency: Training specialists develop and implement provider training sessions that support the core knowledge and core competency areas of the professional development system. Content is to be determined through discussion with the WV ECTCR Training Advisory Council and the ECAC Professional Development Committee. Efforts to provide follow-up assistance in implementation through phone consultation or on-site visits also occur. 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 career pathway is built within WV STARS Training and Registry System (STARS) which is housed within the West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources The link is provided here: https://wvstars.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Career-Pathway-Way-Levels.pdf WV State Training and Registry System (STARS) West Virginia’s Early Childhood Professional Development System includes core training competencies, a voluntary personal/training registry for all early childhood provider types, a training/trainer approval process, a career pathway with eight levels, and a certificate for 120 hours of approved training. Trainings provided by the CCR&R early childhood specialist is required to meet one of the STARS core competencies. Trainers must participate on the career pathway and meet the training approval requirements of the system. Childcare providers are also required to register on the career pathway. West Virginia currently does not have a wage ladder developed. The career pathway is comprised of 7 levels which are determined based on the level of education and/or training hours. All providers (teachers, assistant teachers, teacher aids, directors) working in licensed child care programs are required to be a registered participant on the career pathway. The pathway is designed to encourage providers to advance their approved level by achieving identified credentials and training. Family child care providers are not required through regulation to participate; however they are encouraged to do so. 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? Child care providers were able to receive a $1000 one-time bonus through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through 5. That grant ends June 30, 2024. Should states such as West Virginia with Planning Grants be permitted to renew, it is anticipated that financial bonuses would be available again to improve the compensation of the child care workforce. West Virginia has an Early Childhood Advisory Council. Members of this council are also members of the WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources Advisory Council who oversee all projects of the WV Early Childhood Training Connections. The Lead Agency participates in a collaborative effort with the Office of Maternal Health, Child and Family Health, WV Birth to Three, and the Head Start Collaboration Office to support the WV Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources (WVECTCR) project. This council is also charged with evolving and maintaining a coordinated and comprehensive early childhood system of services designed to support high quality learning opportunities for current and prospective early childhood professionals by providing them with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to provide the best education and care to the children they serve. 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? Financing for professional development is funded primarily through CCDF, with some contributions from the Office of Maternal and Child Health and Head Start. WV STARS scholarship program, Pathway to Earnings The Pathway to Earnings program - which provides financial incentives for achieving higher education degrees as well as for completion of higher levels of training. https://wvstars.org/earnings/ 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 2023 Early Childhood Care and Education Needs Assessment noted that West Virginia child care workers have a median hourly wage of $10.47 (or an annual salary of $21,778). This is only a $0.52 increase per hour since 2017. Had wages been adjusted for inflation since 2017, wages would be $11.52 per hour. Therefore, the purchasing power of child care workers’ salaries in 2022 was less than in 2017 due to the lack of adequate wages coupled with the high rates of inflation. In West Virginia, a child care worker in 2022 that is a single parent with one child makes less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Line. The poverty rate for early educators in West Virginia is 23.1 percent, much higher than West Virginia workers in general (11.4 percent) and 7.8 times as high as K-8 teachers (3 percent). From the needs assessment, a strategic plan focusing on four areas, including workforce has been developed with a focus on providing proactive and timely communication to early childhood care and education providers, review state funding structures for these providers and provide professional growth opportunities to create a high-quality workforce. The West Virginia Early Childhood Advisory Council and other state stakeholders, tasked with creating a messaging campaign to publicize no cost/low-cost training availability to early care and educations professionals such as West Virginia Invests, the child care resource and referral system and Mountain Care Network (a system of community-based licensed behavioral health centers). In addition, cultural diversity training and trauma-informed practices would be included in professional development offerings. 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? Child care providers were able to receive a $1000 one-time bonus through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through 5. That grant ends June 30, 2024. Should states such as West Virginia with Planning Grants be permitted to renew, it is anticipated that financial bonuses would be available again to improve the compensation of the child care workforce.