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Power to the Profession: Provide Feedback and Shape Your Future

April 16, 2018

Child care resource and referral (CCR&Rs) agencies, you have the opportunity to help shape the future of the early care and education workforce!

Child Care Aware® of America is one of 15 national organizations leading Power to the Profession, a collaborative effort focused on developing a plan on how we define the early childhood profession.

The goal of the taskforce is to develop a shared framework that describes career pathways, knowledge and competencies, qualifications, standards, and compensation for the early childhood workforce. Developing this framework and defining our profession is urgent in order to make a strong case for increased public investments.

The work of the taskforce is segmented into 8 Decision Cycles. This allows taskforce members to study, analyze, discuss, reflect, and review the research and feedback from the field around a specific part of the framework. You can read more about the first two Decision Cycles on the shared definition of an early childhood educator and the competencies needed for all individuals within the profession here.

Right now, the taskforce is asking for feedback on Decision Cycles 3, 4, and 5. These Decision Cycles focus on the following important questions:

  1. Should the early childhood education profession have specializations? When and why should individuals specialize?
  2. What preparation is required to become an effective early childhood educator? Where does this preparation occur and what are the differences between degree levels?
  3. How many professional designations or levels are there in the early childhood profession and what do these designations mean?

 

We need your input!

Child care resource and referral (CCR&Rs) agencies are a critical partner in providing professional development and in supporting our workforce. Your voice is needed so the taskforce understands the needs and challenges of our workforce. We can’t do this without you!

Join Our Webinar

Join us on Wednesday, April 25 from 11:30-1:30 EST for a Power to the Profession webinar led by Mindy Bennett, Director of Family & Community Engagement Content at Child Care Aware® of America, where you will learn more about Decision Cycles 3, 4, and 5 and have opportunity to give input. You can also complete the survey to share your feedback. Comments must be received by April 30.

This is our opportunity to help shape our profession for the future. Please plan on attending the webinar and complete the survey today!

 

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Topics: Workforce, Professional Development

Karen Ruprecht

Written by Karen Ruprecht

Karen Ruprecht is the Content Developer for the National Center for Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning at Child Care Aware® of America. She works with the National Center and throughout the organization to help distill research into practice and policy. She has worked in the field of early care and education for 15 years as both a researcher and practitioner. Her previous experience includes conducting regional and statewide evaluations on Indiana’s QRIS and state-funded pre-k programs with Purdue University. She has also worked with a statewide early care and education organization to advance policy on pre-k expansion and worked directly with child care centers to implement curriculum through an embedded coaching model. She has led statewide workgroups on QRIS revision and co-chaired a workgroup on child and family outcomes for Indiana’s Early Learning Advisory Council. Her research interests have focused on quality child care practices such as continuity of care and primary caregiving for infants and toddlers. She earned her PhD from Purdue University in child development and family studies and a master’s degree in public administration from St. Louis University.

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