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Competency Based Training Through Online Courses

A Professional Development System Must Be Flexible:

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A competency-based professional development system: is flexible with multiple pathways for

educators to achieve needed knowledge and skills;

provides a road map to degrees and new credentials;

helps educators self-assess their professional development needs;

guides professional growth at various career stages.

Connecting EPS and QRIS

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EEC funded 4 online college-level courses to be developed with Higher Education:• Survey of EEC’s Core Competencies• Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences• Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers• Literacy and Language Development Birth to 8

To provide educators and providers with:• An understanding of core knowledge and skills and a way to assess

their own professional development needs• Resources for age-appropriate curriculum and intentional learning• Supports needed to meet standards for QRIS Levels 2, 3, and 4

Delivered through the EPS system:• Partnerships will be offered training in facilitating the courses• Educators and providers will access these courses through their

EPS Partnership• “Online” makes them available statewide

EEC and Higher Education Collaboration

Credit Worthy Courses

Courses can be taken for:

College Credit Self Study(non-credit)

Guided Study for CEUs

OngoingProfessional Development

Core Competencies

1 credit Yes Yes Yes

Preschool Guidelines

1 credit Yes Yes Yes

Infant Toddler Guidelines*

1 credit Yes Yes Yes

0-8 Literacy & Language*

3 credits Yes Yes Yes

* Currently in development4

• Requiring that courses be built for college credit assures quality while providing flexibility to meet diverse needs of workforce• Modules can be used individually or combined into a course

EEC’s Partnership with UMass Boston:

UMass Boston developed two online courses:

• Guidelines for Early Learning Experiences linked to Mass Frameworks for Pre-K ELA and Math

• Survey course on EEC’s 8 Core Competency Areas

Designed for educators across mixed delivery system.

A research component will study how well this model works for our field.

It’s a sustainable use of ARRA funding.

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