Transcript EEC 101 Presentation

North Carolina
Early Educator Certification
August 2010
Session Overview
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NC Institute for Child Development Professionals
Early Educator Certification defined
Certification numbers to date
Mandatory Certification
Implementation and application details
Renewal
Benefits
Future plans
Contact info
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NC Institute for Child
Development Professionals (Institute)
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Non-profit with mission to advocate for and
develop a comprehensive early childhood
professional development system
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Board
Task Groups & Committees
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Partner participation
Hundreds of volunteers annually
Thousands in E-network
Services
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Systems development, outreach, trainings, webinars,
resources & NC Early Educator Certification (EEC)
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What is Early Educator Certification?
Early Educator Certification (EEC) is
acknowledgement of an individual’s
verified level of educational
achievement, based on a standardized
scale.
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Mirroring other Occupations
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Public School teachers have it!
Tree Growers have it!
Plumbers have it!
Bug Exterminators have it!
Hairdressers have it!
Nurses have it!
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Creating a Profession
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Group mission or identity
Standards of behavior and practice
Specialized body of knowledge
Set of skills
Individual certification
…and salary supplements
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Over 9,700 Certified!
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All 100 counties represented!
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9,771 certified
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9,700 ECE Scale, 71 SA Scale
By Role (at time of application)
 7,502 teaching (608 indicate some time with school age)
 863 administrative
 217 combined teaching/administrative (108 indicate some
time with school age)
 983 small home providers (682 indicate some time with
school age)
 206 on behalf, other, student or not yet employed in child
care
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Exciting News!
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On August 2, 2010, a new law was passed affecting
all child care facilities licensed by the North
Carolina Division of Child Development. The law
requires all teaching staff, administrators and family
child care home providers working in or operating a
licensed child care facility to be by the NC Institute
for Child Development Professionals.
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Why?
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Provides a “one stop shop” for educational
review which will increase efficiency and
reduce paperwork
Establishes a system of individual provider
recognition
Creates a streamlined education evaluation
process
Who does this affect?
Implementation & Application
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Two Certification Scales
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Application
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Early Care and Education (ECE) Professional Scale
School Age (SA) Professional Scale
Who?
How?
Cost
Implementation facts
Certification materials
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What is certification based upon?
Official transcripts are assessed against a
leveled scale. Two scales are available:
Early Care and Education Professional
Scale and School Age Professional Scale.
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What does the scale look like?
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A place for everyone on the scale
14 levels, including PP, on the scales
Early Care and Education Scale is designed for
individuals working with or on behalf of
children ages’ birth to five.
The SA Scale is designed for individuals working
with or on behalf of children ages five to twelve
who are served in school age care settings.
Levels 1 - 13 require education from regionally
accredited colleges or universities
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Who can apply for EEC?
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For free, thanks to DCD:
 First come, first served through September 30, 2010
 Up to 9,000 individuals working in licensed child care facilities in
teaching or administrative positions.
For a reduced fee:
 From October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 there will be a
reduced fee for individuals working in licensed child care facilities
in teaching or administrative positions.
For a fee:
 Those working for or on the behalf of children ages birth to
twelve that do not qualify for a grant
 The $50 fee will be applicable for everyone as of January 1, 2011.
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How do I apply?
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Submit
 application
 education documentation
Official transcripts
 DCD Transcript Release Form
 Internet Permission Form
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$50/$65 fee (as applicable)
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What else do I need to know?
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Level is based on education earned, not a
specific certification class
No test required
Does not replace licensure
Required by law
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What do I receive?
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Official, frame-ready certificate
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Professional
Personalized
Leveled
 Silver & gold seals
Individual Certification card
List of EEC Rewards
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What does my EEC
documentation look like?
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Renewal
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Certificate expires
Validity periods
Requirements
Cost
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What is a validity period?
Valid Level Education Required
Period
3 yrs
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18 semester hours of general education including
at least 4 birth to five focused semester hours or
Early Childhood Certificate or
CDA Credential (Child Development Associate
Credential) earned for at least 12 semester hours or
12 birth to five focused semester hours
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What is renewal based on?
Formal, credit bearing education or
Continuing Education Units
Mirroring public school teacher requirements for
ongoing education
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What continuing education is required?
Certified professionals must complete four (4)
formal college credits* or six (6) Continuing
Education Units (CEUs), or a combination of
the two. CEUs must be at least .5 credits (5
contact hours) to count for renewal.
*Individuals certified with fewer than six focus semester hours who choose
to take formal coursework toward renewal must take classes in their content
area.
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What continuing education is required?
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Professionals certified at levels 10 (BA/BS plus or including
12 birth to five focused semester hours) and above might
receive credit for teaching a CEU session for a minimum of 5
contact hours that meets renewal requirements.*
Professionals certified at levels 12 or 13 may also receive
credit for teaching formal coursework that meets renewal
requirements.
* The same CEU session or formal course may only receive
credit toward renewal once per validity period.
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What is a Continuing Education Unit?
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a
nationally recognized measure of
participation in an approved non-credit
continuing education program. One
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is defined
as ten contact hours of participation in an
organized continuing education experience
under responsible sponsorship, capable
direction, and qualified instruction.
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CEU requirements for EEC
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Fall under one of DCD’s Nine Topic Areas:
1.Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
2.Children’s physical & intellectual development
3.Children’s social & emotional development
4.Productive relationships with families
5.Program management
6.Professionalism
7.Observing & recording children’s behavior
8.Child growth development
9.Inclusion of children with special needs
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CEU requirements for EEC
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Issued by one of the following
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Regionally accredited College/University
NC DPI
IACET (International Association for
Continuing Education and Training)
members (www.iacet.org)
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How much does it cost?
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Self-supporting system
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For initial certification $50 on one scale and $65 on both
scales
For renewal $25 on one scale and $35 on both scales (if
prior to deadline)
No charge to submit additional education
EEC Rewards
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15% Discount School Supply
20% Barnes and Noble
25% Borders
15% Kaplan
20% Kids Like Us
Free admission to Winston Salem Children’s Museum
More in process!!
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Numerous Benefits
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Personal/workforce
Program
Children & families
System
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Workforce Benefits Today
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Recognition
Professional Certification
Tied to compensation for salary supplement
recipients
No charge for grant funded certifications
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Child & Family Benefits
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Encourages an increase in teacher education which
has been shown to reduce child abuse and neglect
in regulated child care settings.
Impacts child dependents of workforce
participants as early childhood educators model
accomplishment of professional goals and
responsibilities, and demonstrate participation in
professional activities.
Provides evidence of teacher education.
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Program Benefits
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Serves as a workforce recruitment tool for
the early childhood field
Improves cost-efficiency
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Systems Benefits
Creating a portal so that we leverage
investments in the workforce, create
efficiencies and align systems.
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What’s Next?
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Increased number of EEC Rewards
Further scale development (administrator
endorsements)
Professional development portal
EEC linked with other opportunities
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Who do I contact with questions?
Certification Office
[email protected]|919-942-7442
- Or Institute
[email protected]
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