Kentucky’s Professional Development Framework

As part of the KIDS NOW Initiative, the Kentucky legislature authorized the provision of a seamless system of professional development in early childhood from entry level through a master’s degree program, as well as incentives that would attract and retain providers of early care and education. This resulted in a Professional Development (PD) Framework (Figure 1) that consists of six components (Core Content, Credentials, Training Framework, Articulation, Scholarships, and Professional Development Counselors) and a support structure to support implementation, the Training into Practice Project (TIPP).

Figure 1. Professional Development Framework Structure

Kentucky’s Early Childhood Core Content describes the knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed by personnel in order to work effectively with young children and their families and provides the basis for the content of early childhood pre-service coursework and inservice training. The Core Content is based on existing state and national standards and the professional literature. The knowledge and skills are divided into seven subject areas, and competencies in each subject area then are sequenced into five levels that include entry level, CDA, Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree and above.

The Core Content serves as the foundation for Kentucky’s three new credentials. These new credentials include the Commonwealth Child Care Credential, the Director’s Credential and the Trainer’s Credential. The Commonwealth Child Care Credential (Level 1 of Core Content) consists of 60 hours of entry level knowledge and skills (first 60 hours of the CDA credential). Approximately 753 Commonwealth Credentials have been issued or renewed as of Fall 2004.

The Director’s Credential consists of 12 college credit hours across seven subject areas and is offered by technical and community colleges and four-year universities that offer early childhood education coursework. Approximately 84 Director’s Credentials have been issued as of Fall 2004.

The Trainer’s Credential is designed to increase the quality of training provided to early care and education professionals and to match the level of expertise of the trainer with the level of content being trained. Trainer’s Credentials are available at five levels, based upon the education (ranging from a high school diploma/GED for a Level 1 co-trainer to a master’s degree or above for a Level 5 trainer) and early childhood experience of the applicant. Applicants are required to participate in two trainings prior to consideration for a credential: a 2-hour “Introduction to Resources in Kentucky for Early Childhood Trainers” and a 15-hour seminar, “Fundamentals of Effective Training”. Applications are reviewed by a Panel of 12 professionals/trainers representing the various early childhood entities in the state, and recommendations are made to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for approval and issuance of credentials. Credentialed trainers are entered into a Registry, which is posted on the Division of Child Care’s web site. As of Fall 2004, 572 Trainer’s Credentials have been awarded.

The Training Framework assists with the implementation of appropriate training, and includes a rubric of training levels developed to be used by both trainers and trainees. The rubric consists of five levels, aligned with the five levels of Core Content and the five levels of Trainer’s Credentials. A description of each level includes the general training objectives and training focus. The rubric also describes how training participants should be able to demonstrate their knowledge and skills at each level, as well as the focus of evaluation. This rubric is to be used by credentialed trainers to guide the design of training events and by potential trainees to select training appropriate to their knowledge and skill level.

Another component of the PD Framework is articulation; the Early Childhood Core Content has been the foundation for this work. Completion of the Commonwealth Child Care Credential ensures that the knowledge and competencies of Level 1 of Core Content have been obtained. The advanced child development programs offered at secondary schools also have been aligned with Level 1 of Core Content. Completion of a secondary school program results in eligibility for a Commonwealth Credential to be awarded at age 18 and upon employment in the early childhood field. For both options, the Commonwealth Child Care Credential articulates as the initial 60 hours of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; an additional 60 hours then is needed to obtain the CDA. The Commonwealth credential also articulates to an institution of higher education for 3 hours college credit toward an early childhood degree. Obtaining the 120-clock-hour CDA ensures competencies in all subject areas at Level 2 of Core
Content. The CDA can be articulated to an institution of higher education for a minimum of 6 hours college credit. An Associate’s degree in early childhood from a technical college, community college, or 4-year institution ensures competencies in all subject areas of Core Content at Level 3 and articulates to a bachelor’s degree program in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE).

Scholarships have been available to child care providers since Spring 2001. Two types of scholarships are available. A total of $200,000 has been set aside through the Division of Child Care for non-college scholarships. A total of $750,000 has been appropriated for college scholarships. Approximately 6,125 scholarships have been awarded to date. In addition, Professional Development Counselors have been employed at each of the 15 Child Care Resource and Referrals agencies (CCR&Rs) in the state to assist with recruitment of potential scholars, enrollment in the program, development of professional development growth plans, successful completion of the planned program, and application for Related Expenses and Milestone Achievement Awards.

For non-college scholarships, applicants must be employed at least 20 hours per week in a child care facility or be an associate teacher in a state-funded preschool program and not be eligible for any other scholarship programs. The applicant also must commit to further service to the employer who is sponsoring him/her. A Milestone Achievement Award is available for those completing the Commonwealth Child Care Credential ($100) or the CDA ($250). Ten percent of this award is paid by the employer. Mini-grants for the assessment fee for the CDA ($325) also are available.

College scholarships are available through the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). These scholarships are available to applicants who are taking college credit coursework to obtain the CDA, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or who are working towards the Director’s Credential. The maximum award per year is $1400 and the applicant may enroll in a maximum of 9 credit hours per semester. Eligibility requirements and commitments for applicants, as well as sponsorship by the employer, are similar to those for scholarships from DCC. Upon successful completion of each semester,
applicants can apply for the $100 Related Expenses. An additional one time Milestone Achievement Award is available for scholars completing a credential or degree.

Finally, the Training Into Practice Project (TIPP) was established to support the implementation of the PD Framework across the state. Project staff coordinate the Trainer’s Credential, including providing the necessary training and support to trainers to receive and maintain their credential. Staff provide training and support in using Core Content to develop inservice and pre-service training, training for Director’s in developing job descriptions, staff evaluation, and in supporting professional growth plan development and transfer of learning.