Penn Consulting
Child Development Associate Credential
A CDA -- a Child Development Associate credential -- is a nationally recognized designation awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. This council became a part of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 1985. Penn Consulting now offers the CDA course online.
Step 1: Register for and complete the online workshops
You must complete 120 hours of early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children aged 3 to 5 years, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the following subject areas:
- Planning a safe and healthy learning environment.
- Advancing children's physical and intellectual development.
- Supporting children's social and emotional development.
- Building productive relationships with families.
- Managing an effective program operation.
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
- Observing and recording children's behavior.
- Understanding principles of child development and learning.
The Child Development Essentials (CDA) Program prepares students for work in the early childhood care and education field. Courses are offered fully online. Participants must be working with young children regularly either in a paid or volunteer position to fulfill their coursework requirements.
Learning objectives:
All Program completers will be able to:
· Plan safe, healthy environments to invite learning
· Facilitate steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
· Create positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
· Develop strategies to establish productive relationships with families
· Facilitate strategies to manage an effective program operation
· Maintain a commitment to professionalism
· Observe and record children’s behavior
· Apply principles of child growth and development
Application and registration
The course is designed to be completed in 12 weeks, however, candidates for the CDA may take longer. The course is self-paced with a one year maximum completion time. Registration is open. The registration fee is $375.00/person. Payment may be made in two installments of $187/50 each. A course enrollment key and directions for access are issued once payment is received in full.
Prerequisites: Students must hold a high school diploma, or equivalent, or be a junior or senior in a high school vocational program in early education. You must be able to speak, read, and write well enough to perform the responsibilities of a CDA. Students must be working with young children regularly either in a paid or volunteer position to fulfill their coursework requirements. Students must also accumulate at least 480 hours of experience working with children in five years. This experience can be paid or volunteer work. Examples of experience include volunteering at an elementary school, being a teacher's aide at a Head Start program, working as an assistant teacher in a preschool or volunteering at an after-school program.
It is recommended that students have good basic academic skills or enroll in basic skills courses to work on improving their reading, writing, and math skills. Before taking the online courses, students should be confident about computer (Microsoft Office: Word) and study skills. Students will need access to a computer, email, and the Internet five out of seven days a week, for a total of ten or more hours a week. Internet access through a JavaScript enabled web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher, etc.) is necessary.
Class Attendance: CDA Candidates must document 120 clock hours of formal child care education, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of 8 subject matter areas. Online class attendance is self-paced, however, essential to document the number of hours needed for the CDA. Students may complete the CDA online in as little as 12 weeks or as long as a year. Students must be responsible for adhering to the due dates of each assignment listed in the syllabus. Grades are determined using the formula in the syllabus. Any late assignment earns a 10-point deduction per hour for every hour it is late. Deadlines are 11:55 PM Eastern Time.
Online students must submit their assignments on time regardless of computer problems.
Withdrawals: A student may withdraw her/himself at any time prior to the “last day to withdraw” which is 10 business days prior to the beginning of the session. Child development instructors may choose to withdraw a student if the student does not meet the course requirements. Students are urged to consult with their instructor or an advisor before making schedule changes.
Incompletes: An incomplete means that there are extenuating circumstances which have prevented you from completing the class within the indicated time-frame. An “I” will be given upon the request of the student only if at least 50% of course and lab work has been completed in a satisfactory manner. You will then have a limited amount of time to complete the course requirements. An automatic F results when the course is not completed as agreed upon.
Professional behavior: in all respects is expected. You are in a professional training program designed to train you to become a top professional in the field. Courtesy and respect should be shown toward colleagues and the instructor. In this class students are expected to use proper web course Netiquette (a word that is a combination of Internet and etiquette). This means that the students in this class will be courteous and use common sense while posting or emailing assignments or projects. If a student violates the netiquette code, he/she may be removed from the class.
The following web etiquette procedures apply for all students:
1. Submit your own work (postings, attachments, assignments). Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade.
2. Avoid typing in all caps. In this class, typing in caps means that you‘re screaming or shouting.
3. Avoid inserting pictures or colors to your postings or attachments unless the professor requires it. This increases the size of the file, and it is too difficult for some students to open large files.
4. Treat the Discussion Forum as a serious communication tool. Post data that is relevant to the item up for discussion.
5. Post directly to the Discussion Forum. Do not submit attachments to the Discussion Forum (unless requested by the instructor). Attachments are only used for submitting assignments to the professor.
6. Read the syllabus several times in order to determine due dates for all readings, assignments, quizzes, and weekly wrap ups.
7. Check emails often for updates, changes and clarifications.
8. Complete all assignments by the due dates.
9. Complete all assignments regardless of computer problems.
Work Standards: Any work not turned in or presented on the designated day will not be accepted. Any written work must be typed in at least a 12 point font, proofread [spelling and word usage errors will negatively affect the project grade] double-spaced, well-written, and neat. All work is expected on the specified date and time. Sources must be cited in all assignments using the APA (American Psychological Association) style. Please refer to the Purdue Online Writing Laboratory for further information. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Disability statement: Penn consulting is committed to the equal and excellent education of all students including students with disabilities. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, “otherwise qualified” students with disabilities are protected from discrimination and may be entitled to certain reasonable accommodations intended to ensure equal access to higher education. All students requiring accommodations must provide appropriate documentation of their disability that supports the need for the requested accommodations. Students requiring accommodations for a disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible.
Student Assessment: Students are assessed using the following methods:
· Competency based multiple choice questions
· Open-ended essay questions
· Student activity and/or observations with written feedback
· End of Course quizzes in multiple choice format – Students must pass each quiz with a grade of 70% or better to complete the course.
· Cumulative Final Exam in multiple choice formats – Students must pass with a grade of 70% or better to complete the certificate program.
· Students submit an electronic portfolio in order to demonstrate competency mastery.
Honor Policy: Academic integrity is maintained through the Honor System. The Honor System imposes on each student the responsibility for his or her own honest deportment and assumes the corollary responsibility that each one will report any violations of the Honor Code about which he or she has information.
Academic dishonesty includes the following examples, as well as similar conduct aimed at making false representation with respect to academic performance:
1. Cheating on an examination.
2. Collaborating with others in work to be presented, all work must be completed by the student.
3. Plagiarizing, including the submission of others' ideas or papers, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, as one's own. When direct quotations are used in themes, essays, term papers, tests, book reviews, and other similar work, they must be acknowledged according to the APA style of documentation.
4. Stealing examination or course materials.
5. Falsifying records, laboratory results, or other data.
6. Submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course.
7. Knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above, including assistance in an arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, examination, or other activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is submitted or performed.
Any suspected infraction of the above Honor Code may result in dismissal from the CDA program.
Step 2: Obtain materials
Necessary Materials:
2-2” Presentation Binders
3 ring hole puncher
Thirty clear plastic page protectors
Eight dividers with tabs
Twenty-five self-stick plain white address labels (1” x 3”)
Order online at http://store.cdacouncil.org/:
REQUIRED TEXT:
1. Child Development Associate Assessment System and Competency Standards –Application Packets for either Infant Toddler Caregivers; Preschool Caregivers; Family Day Home Providers.
Application packet $18.00 includes material needed for a CDA application.
The packet includes two setting-specific Competency Standards books, parent opinion questionnaires, an observation instrument, and an application.
Options:
Infant Toddler (birth-35 months),
Center based (3-5 years), or
Family Child Care
2. Brunson Day, C.P ed Essentials for Child Development Associates Working With Young
Children. 2nd ed. Washington: Council for Professional Recognition, 2004.
Essentials $35.00 is a comprehensive curriculum for the preparation of CDAs. It is designed to prepare preschool teachers and caregivers with the knowledge and skills they will need to help children master skills, develop friendships, grow in self-regulation, and move to new levels of thinking and understanding about themselves and the world.
Step 3: Field Experience
Lab Experiences: This class has a 4-hour-per week lab component. This means you must be actively employed in a home or center-based setting serving children 0-5 years. The place of your employment will be used as your fieldwork placement. Assignments and observations will be given for completion during your time with children. Classroom observations and student teaching practicum are required. Your employer will be required to provide feedback and assistance as you work toward preparing for the CDA Assessment.
To successfully complete the lab portion of this course, you are expected to:
- demonstrate the behaviors required in Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Rules and Regulations and
- demonstrate the competencies discussed in “Lab Expectations” below
- follow the policies of your center
Lab Expectations
With the children:
· Demonstrate the following attitudes when relating to the children: enthusiasm about teaching and children; patience; warmth; responsibility; curiosity about the children’s interests
· Talk with the children, discussing their interests and activities
· Call children by name
· Show respect, consideration, warmth and affection for each child
· Listen to children with respect and attention, providing them with as much time as possible to express themselves. Make eye contact while talking
· Show an awareness of personal biases that are aroused by individual children and deal with your feelings in an appropriate way
· Provide individual attention to children
· Respond to children’s questions and requests
· Encourage children to be self-reliant and permit them to do as much for themselves as possible
· Become involved in the children’s activities and play as appropriate
· Assign other adults in the classroom to facilitate learning centers, prepare for snack/lunch, handle guidance problems while you’re facilitating circle, etc. Give feedback as needed.
· Use positive guidance techniques appropriate for each individual child’s personality and developmental level
Students enrolled in this course must be eligible for field experiences as determined by the BFTS and Georgia Department of Human Resources, Child Protective Services. State laws require a satisfactory criminal background check.
Step 4: Apply for Direct Assessment by the CDA Council
Please mail a completed application to the Council for Professional Recognition with the (1) assessment fee, (2) training verification, and (3) original trainer signature to:
Council for Professional Recognition
2460 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009-3547
Application Deadline
The Council accepts Direct Assessment Applications on a rolling basis. Your Verification Visit will occur within 90 days from the date the Council receives your complete and correct application. Georgia child care providers may use our courses for the CDA, as well as CDA renewal. The Georgia Department of Education awards Professional Learning Units (PLUs) for seminars contained within this course. The course counts towards Professional Standards Commission Certification Renewal. The course does not count towards your Bright from the Start annual training clock hours.
Georgia provides financial assistance for individuals to obtain a CDA Credential through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program. Funding may be available for the CDA assessment fee and other costs of earning or renewing the Credential. Please contact the appropriate agency below for information about eligibility requirements and funding availability.
Georgia Association on Young Children (404) 222-0014
Care Solutions, Inc. 800-227-3410
Step 5: Council Representative Visit
Upon receipt of your correctly completed Direct Assessment Application, a $325 assessment fee, and the official documentation of training, the Council will assign a Council Representative to conduct your Verification Visit. The Council Representative will contact you to arrange a date and place for the visit.
During the Verification Visit the Council Representative will:
- Check the content of your Professional Resource File.
- Collect copies of your Statements of Competence.
- Collect a copy of your Autobiographical Statement.
- Collect Parent Opinion Questionnaires and the Observation Instrument.
- Administer the Early Childhood Studies Review - a two-hour, multiple-choice examination.
- Conduct the Oral Interview to evaluate your knowledge of early childhood care and education practices.
Details about these procedures are included in your Application Packet.
At the conclusion of the Verification Visit, the Council Representative will return the Professional Resource File to you and submit the remaining materials to the Council.
Step 5: Receive Your Credentialing Decision
A Council Committee will review your documentation and render a decision whether to award you the Credential. If the Credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate Credential will be sent to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know what next steps to take to earn the Credential.
You will be eligible to participate in the BFTS/Smart Start GA INCENTIVES Program The INCENTIVES Program is a salary supplement program that rewards early care and education professionals in Georgia for their educational attainment and for remaining employed in the same child care program for 12 consecutive months. Payments range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the level of education attained. Approved applicants, who meet all program eligibility requirements, receive two equal payments over a twelve-month period. To be eligible for INCENTIVES, applicants must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, National Administrator Credential (NAC), Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) credential, technical college certificate or diploma, or associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree in early childhood education or child development. They must also have been employed in the same child care program for at least 12 consecutive months and work with children ages five years and younger. Eligible professionals earn less than $14.45 per hour and work as teachers, assistant teachers, directors or assistant directors in a child care program that is state or nationally accredited or that serves low income children. Teachers and assistant teachers must work at least 25 hours per week in a child care setting; owners, directors and assistant directors must work 40 hours per week.
For an INCENTIVES application and more detailed information about eligibility and benefits, visit the Care Solutions website at www.caresolutions.com or call 770-642-6722 or 1-800-227-3410 (toll-free).
Step 6: Renew Your CDA
A CDA Credential is valid for three years from the award date, after which it may be renewed for five-year periods.
Checklist For Getting Started
I have mailed or emailed my completed application, registration and payment to:
Penn Consulting
P. O. Box 49254
Atlanta, GA 30359
I can commit a minimum of 20 hours per week per course to participate in the class discussions and doing my homework.
I have received the registration/confirmation email. I understand this email serves as notification of my enrollment in the course.
I My Course Enrollment Key is _________________________________.
(You will receive your enrollment key via email once full payment is received.)
I have ordered my textbook.
I know how to access the Internet and work in Microsoft Word, or I know where to acquire these skills before classes start.
I know that I have to interact with my learning community and my instructor over the Internet, and I have reliable access to a computer with Internet.
NOTE: Instructors are not required to make exceptions due to computer malfunctions, books not received on time, etc. Please make contingency plans to allow for any computer problems.
I know that I will not have access to my course until the payment for the course is processed. I will receive instructions on how to access my class with my registration confirmation.
We suggest strongly that you download and set up the Mozilla Firefox browser for this purpose only. We have found that this browser works best with our system. If you are in the US, go to this link http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/.
Internet Explorer will also work but you will need to choose based on your computer configuration, i.e., Mac, PC, AOL. Highlight the instructions for your system and print the selection so that it is in front of you.
If you do not want the browser in English, go to this link and choose your language:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html.
When you download, a pop-up should ask you if you want to run, save or cancel. Choose RUN. Continue through the steps of downloading and installing Firefox. It might ask if you want to make Firefox your default browser. Usually the answer is no if you use Internet Explorer for all other searching. If you are successful, the Firefox icon should appear on your desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the course meet at a specific time?
Courses are offered in a self-paced format. Each online course is delivered via the Internet. Students and their instructors can interact online without having to be online at the same time. Students are required to log on and participate in discussions throughout the session. Each course week runs from Monday through Sunday night. Students follow their class syllabi for assignments, quiz/test and other course related requirements. Students are required to login to their class by the Tuesday (5 pm ET) of week one in order to not be locked out for non-attendance.
Are the online courses similar to an independent study course?
These courses are not an independent delivery format; the course is based on online interaction between students and their instructor(s). The class syllabus will provide the students with weekly requirements for their class.
Do online students need any special software to take an online course?
Students are required to have access to a computer, internet service, email capabilities and word processing software.
Are tests or quizzes given online?
Test and quiz requirements may vary by course and will be explained further by each instructor via the class syllabus.
What is the "Grade Appeals Policy"?
Grades submitted by the instructor are considered final. Students who believe a grade was assigned in error must contact the instructor of the course to review their records.
Successful Online Class Tips
o Clear your calendar of non-essential events and fill it in with your assignments and due dates. This will help you keep on track and prioritize what is most important.
o Read the syllabus – carefully. This is the road map to successfully completing each course.
o Don‘t procrastinate. If you do, you are setting yourself up to fail.
o Communicate with your instructor. The goal is for ALL of students to succeed. Instructors need to know how to support you on the road to success.
o Tell your family, friends, director/boss, children, etc. that you are taking an intense class for the next few months so they can support you! Let them know your seeming absence is only temporary.
o Add at least one hour onto the expected time you think each task/assignment will take to complete. Time management is one of the struggles many students face.
o Become familiar with the logistics of the Moodle course management system.
The more you know, the easier it will be for you.
o Become familiar with APA.
This is considered the ―norm for documenting sources in college work.
The more you know, the easier it will be for you.
o Except for the Discussion questions, include a title page for ALL assignments.
This is considered the ―norm for college level work.
o Use ―spell check as the first step when editing your work.
This is ONLY the first step. A red line under a word indicates it may be misspelled. A green line under a word indicates a possible grammatical error. Use the dictionary. It is a powerful writing tool!
o Read your written assignments out loud. If it doesn‘t make sense as you read, make changes. If something doesn‘t make sense to you, it won‘t make sense to your instructor.
o Have a friend or family member, who will be honest with you, review your written assignments before you turn them in. Try not to get your feelings hurt if a reviewer tells you a negative truth. If something doesn‘t make sense to a reviewer, make changes until it does.
o Learn from your mistakes. When the instructor or others point out grammatical, spelling, punctuation errors, etc., make sure NOT to repeat these same errors. The instructor expects to read students‘ work that improves, which indicates respect for feedback. As the class progresses, if these changes are not made, expect to lose points.
o Know that your instructor is here to help you and desires that you succeed.
Notes:
Please let us know if you have any questions; and thank you for choosing to take your early childhood education courses from Penn Consulting’s Child Development Associate Program. We desire that your classes will thoroughly equip you as an early education professional.