Dimensions of Early Childhood - Southern Early Childhood ...

five levels, aligned with the five levels
of Core Content.
For each training level, the rubric
provides a description of the training
level, and includes specific
guides for development of training
objectives, focus, demonstration of
knowledge and skills, and evaluation
for each level. In addition, the
training framework includes nine
specific trainer competencies for
credential trainers and seven Standards
of Training to be used by
trainers and educators in providing
quality training and education.
Articulation. Articulation is the
process by which students or trainees
can transfer credits for course work
from one training or academic institution
to another. Kentucky’s articulation
plan meshes the system for
credentialing and training. It includes
five levels of competency, each of
which articulate into the next level.
At lower levels of the competency,
the completion of a particular credential,
program, or certificate equates
to college credit.
Articulation agreements are in
process between various educational
institutions across the state, ranging
from child development programs
offered at secondary schools
through bachelor’s degree programs
in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood
Education.
Scholarships. To better support
early care and education professionals
as they increase their educational
levels, two types of scholarships are
available within the state.
• Non-college scholarships are
available to those employed at
least 20 hours per week in a
child care facility or as associate
teachers in the state-funded
preschool program who are
not eligible for any other
scholarship programs.
• College scholarships are available
through the Kentucky
Higher Education Assistance
Authority to staff who work a
minimum of 20 hours per
week in a child care facility or
as an assistant in the statefunded
preschool program.
Professionals’
educational levels are an
essential determinant of
service quality.
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 toward the
Director’s Credential. Related expenses
funds are awarded after successful
completion each semester.
Milestone Achievement Awards
and related expense awards are available
for those completing the Commonwealth
Child Care Credential,
CDA, Associate’s degree, or Bachelor’s
degree. In addition, mini-grants
for the assessment fee for the CDA
also are available.
To assist early care and education
professionals in accessing the scholarship
program, Professional Development
Counselors have been
employed across the state. PD
Counselors 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.
Training Into Practice Project
(TIPP). TIPP was established to
support the implementation of the
PD Framework across the state. Project
staff coordinate the Trainer’s
Credential application process and
provide training that can be completed
and used to maintain the credential.
Staff provide training and
support in using Core Content to
develop inservice and preservice
training. Directors are provided
training to assist them in developing
job descriptions, staff evaluations, and
professional growth plans aimed at
implementation of transfer of learning.
Opportunities to
Study a State-Wide
Professional
Development System
While research has provided evidence
of the impact of high-quality
programs on child outcomes and
the impact of early care and education
professional’s education on
quality, there is little research to date
on the impact of a coordinated
state-wide system of professional
development. Therefore, the new
state-wide professional development
system in Kentucky offers opportunities
to explore two key questions:
1) the degree to which a unified
professional development system
developed at the state
level results in positive child
outcomes and
2) the degree to which the educational
levels of early care and
education providers enhance
the quality of classroom environments.
As part of KIDS NOW, a team of
researchers from the University of
Kentucky and University of Louis -
ville, in collaboration with national
34 Volume 35, Number 1 DIMENSIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD Winter 2007