Professional Development Professional Development Systems and the SECA Systems and the SECA StatesStates

About SECAAbout SECA

The Southern Early Childhood Association is comprised of 14 Southern states and has state level organizations in all states except North Carolina.

The SECA StatesThe SECA States Alabama—Alabama Association for Young Children (AAYC) Arkansas—Arkansas Early Childhood Association (AECA) Florida—Florida Association for the Education of Young Children

(FLAEYC) Georgia—Georgia Association for Young Children (GAYC) Kentucky—Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education

(KAECE) Louisiana—Louisiana Early Childhood Association (LAECA) Mississippi—Mississippi Early Childhood Association (MECA) Oklahoma—Early Childhood Association of Oklahoma (ECAO) South Carolina—South Carolina Early Childhood Association

(SCECA) Tennessee—Tennessee Association for the Education of Young

Children (TAEYC) Texas—Texas Association for the Education of Young children

(TxAEYC) Virginia—Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education

(VAECE) West Virginia—West Virginia Association for Young Children

(WVAYC)

SECA’s MissionSECA’s Mission

The Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) is committed to improving the quality of care and education for young children and their families through advocacy and professional development.

What does a Comprehensive What does a Comprehensive Professional System Include?Professional System Include?According to the National Registry Alliance, a comprehensive professional development system:Is accessible and based upon a clearly articulated framework.Includes a continuum of training and ongoing supports.Defines pathways that are tied to licensure, leading to qualifications and credentials.Addresses the needs of individual adult learners.

The systems are generally composed of five interconnected components:Core knowledgeAccess and outreachQualifications, credentials, and pathwaysFundingQuality Assurance

What Does a Registry Do?What Does a Registry Do?Collects, tracks, acknowledges, and

manages workforce dataProduces records that can validate

qualifications or ongoing professional development

Verifies provider qualificationsApproves and tracks training

attendanceMaintains a calendar of training

offerings

SECA States with SECA States with Practitioner Registries Practitioner Registries or Tracking Systemsor Tracking Systems

Arkansas

Miami-Dade & Palm Beach Counties in

Florida

Kentucky

Louisiana

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

West Virginia

SECA States SECA States with with

Trainer RegistriesTrainer Registries

Arkansas

Miami-Dade & Palm Beach Counties in

Florida

Kentucky

Louisiana

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

West Virginia

What’s What’s Happening in Happening in

the SECA the SECA States?States?

AlabamaAlabama Alabama published a

document entitled “Alabama Pathways to Quality Care and Education” as an informational resource guide for individuals seeking professional development opportunities.

In February 2010, the Director ofAlabama’s Child Care Services Division, Debbie Thomas, stated that “the Alabama Professional Development Team (APDT) is continuing implementation of Alabama Pathways with Development of the Alabama Pathways Professional Development Registry... .”

• Online training transcripts• An option to use a Registry

Identification instead of your Social Security number

• 3 levels of qualification based on education and training received

• A career lattice called Spectrum• Registry-approved training

events• Online registration for registry-

approved events• A trainer registry• An online job board

ArkansasArkansasTraveling Arkansas’ Professional Pathways (TAPP) is the tracking component of the Arkansas Early Childhood Professional Development System. It includes:

FloridaFloridaFlorida has professional development

systems in two counties only:

• Each program contains a documentation system for providers.

• Informational resources for training events and trainers are included.

GeorgiaGeorgia

As of February 2010, Georgia has closed its Registry and divided up functions among groups in the state:◦GAYC (SECA’s state affiliate) has a

phone line and website operating to answer questions.

◦The University of Georgia now operates the training approval system.

◦ Incentive and scholarship programs are operated by Care Solutions.

KentuckyKentuckyThree Critical Components:

◦ Self-initiated learning

◦ Education ◦ Technical AssistanceThe system includes:

◦ 5 levels of professional accomplishment◦ Early childhood core content◦ Credentials and degrees for early care, intervention,

and education professionals◦ A seamless training track◦ Support services and technical assistance◦ Articulation agreements◦ A scholarship program (college and non-college

levels)◦ A Professional Development Registry (ECE-TRIS)◦ The Training Finder Real-Time Affiliated Integrated

Network (TRAIN)

LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System is housed at NSU Child & Family Services, Northwestern State University, and has 4 key components:Registry DatabaseCertification tracks for child care classroom, administrator, and family child care homeScholarshipsTrainer certification

MississippiMississippi

Mississippi has no formal professional development system. The Early Childhood Institute of Mississippi State

University has, however, developed the Mississippi Early Childhood Professional Development Initiative, which collects information about the professional qualifications of administrators, teachers, and classroom aides at all centers that enroll in the Institute’s programs.

North CarolinaNorth CarolinaThe North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development operates the North Carolina Early Educator Certification system.10 levels of certification determined by educational backgroundThe Institute charges a fee for certification ($50 for initial review/$25 for renewal)Rewards program for certified professionals provides discounts with certain vendors

OklahomaOklahomaThe Center for Early Childhood

Professional Development administers the following:◦ The Leadership Academy◦ Specialized training◦ Child Care Careers◦ On-line classes◦ Professional development registry◦ REWARD (salary supplement program)◦ Video lending library

The Oklahoma Registry Professional Development Ladder contains 10 Tiers.

The Center also operates the Oklahoma Training Approval System (OTAS), a 3-tiered system.

South CarolinaSouth Carolina

TennesseeTennesseeThe Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance is housed in the Center of Excellence for Learning Sciences of Tennessee State UniversityServices include CDA, Accreditation, TECTA Orientation, and Academic Support.9 local offices throughout the state.Offers 30 hours of free training Provides scholarships to retrain displaced or underemployed workers for the child care field

TexasTexasThe purpose of the Texas Early Care and EducationCareer Development system is To ensure statewide availability of high quality professional

development opportunities, and To provide Early Care and Education practitioners the ability to

pursue their professional development along a continuum of increasingly complex education and skill levels.

VirginiaVirginiaVirginia currently lacks a comprehensive professional development system but does have the following:Professional Development Task ForceCompetencies for Early Childhood Professionals, a resource publication with information about health, safety, and nutrition and child growth and development.The Virginia Star Quality Initiative, a quality improvement system.

West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia’s State Training & Registry System includes 5

components:◦Core Knowledge & Core

Competencies◦Career Pathway◦Registry and Credentialing System◦Trainer Approval and Registered

Training System◦Coordinated Training System

The West Virginia STARS Career Pathway includes 8 levels