Pennsylvania’s

Early Childhood Education

Apprenticeship

The registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) Apprenticeship is designed as a CareerPathway option for early childhood educators to transition from a Child DevelopmentAssociate (CDA) Credential™ to an associates degree (AA) or bachelors degree (BA)while working in an early childhood classroom. Sponsored by 1199c Training & Upgrading Fund, employers can support apprenticesthrough a combination of credit-bearing on-the-job learning, classroom instruction,mentorship and credit for prior learning. Apprenticeship seeks to streamline a careerpathway and lowers barriers to higher education including financial challenges andlogistical concerns such as time commitment, child care, transportation or access totechnology. The Apprenticeship includes onsite job coaching, competency assessment andincremental wage increases as skills, competencies & knowledge progress ensuringeach apprentice is supported through their educational endeavors. This professional preparation is grounded in evidence-based structures that supportdevelopmentally and culturally appropriate Professional Development for ECEprofessionals working to provide high-quality early learning services to children andfamilies. Questions? Contact Amy Barrett at amybar@pakeys.org or 717-213-3738.

Handout 1

Barriers Worksheet Purpose: This form is a tool to identify barriers and possible solutions and should be treated with the strictest confidentiality. Director and advisee might complete this form while using “Advisee Barriers: Ideas & Suggestions”. Some staff may not feel comfortable discussing personal barriers or issues with the director. The form can be given to the staff member to work on in private if needed.

Advisee Signature:_______________________________________________________ Date:____________________

Barrier Possible Solution

Handout 7

Initial Plan of Action

Use this checklist to help you remember the steps needed when enrolling in a new program of study. Some steps may not apply to every person. Research the program you plan to apply to:

· Make sure it has REGIONAL accreditation. · If you plan to earn PA teaching certification in ECE, ask about working at your center during your final

student teaching experience. · If it is an Associate degree program, find out which schools have transfer (articulation) agreements in

place for when you go on to a Bachelor’s degree. · If you have a CDA or MANY years of teaching experience, ask if these will help toward your graduation

requirements.

Complete the college entrance application, including essay and recommendation letters, if applicable. Complete any applicable admissions testing (such as the college placement test, Praxis or GRE). Have OFFICIAL transcripts from all previously attended schools sent to your new college. Review the Transfer Credit Evaluation you receive from the new school for errors or questions about

how your credits transferred. Complete your tax return. Apply for your FAFSA pin at www.fafsa.ed.gov Complete the FAFSA application (every year ASAP after January 1st). When you receive the Financial Aid Award Letter from your school, cross off any funds you do not want

and mail the letter back. Call the financial office if you have questions. If you are selected for financial aid verification, your school may request a copy of your tax return

and/or W-2 forms. If you have questions about the verification process, call your financial aid office. Complete any scholarship applications that you become aware of and are eligible for. Attach pay stub and a photocopy of your transcripts to the TEACH application. Attend a New Student Orientation Session to learn about the campus and its resources. Schedule an appointment with your advisor to discuss your degree program and scheduling of classes. Register for classes. Purchase your books. Ask for help in the bookstore if you’ve never done this before. Buy a pocket calendar and write in important dates (exams, big project due dates, etc.) from your

syllabus. Discuss these dates with your director right away and come up with a plan in case you become overwhelmed.

Come up with a homework plan and STICK TO IT! You should put aside AT LEAST one night per week for homework for every class you are taking. Two classes = two nights of homework MINIMUM! Do not expect that you will get it all done on the weekend – other things ALWAYS pop up!

If you decide to stop attending, make sure you withdraw from the class – DO NOT JUST STOP GOING TO CLASS. Talk the financial office if you withdraw.

Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Career Pathway Levels and Qualifying Achievements

Entry Level

• Not yet meeting Rising Level A

Rising Level A

• Verified Child Development Associate (CDA) ready Career and Technology (CTE) graduate OR Enrolled CDA coursework

• Enrolled School-Age Professional Credential (SAPC)

• Enrolled in an OCDEL-Approved Certificate or Credential

• Enrolled ECE Program OR 6 Early Childhood Credits (ECE) credits

Level A

• Holds a current CDA certificate from the Council for Professional Recognition

• Current School Age Credential

• 9 Early Childhood Education (ECE) credits

Level A Plus

Meets Level A and has completed: • 12 or more ECE credits

towards an AA/AAS degree in ECE AND has made progress towards degree achievement in the past year

• A Non-regionally accredited Early Child Specific Associate of Specialized Business (ASB) or Associate of Specialized Technology (AST)

OR is a Level A AND currently has a one of the following:• Director’s Credential• Infant Toddler Mental

Health Endorsement• Infant Toddler Credential• Apprenticeship

Completion Certificate

Level B

• Regionally-accredited ECE focused ASB or AST

• AA/AS in ECE• AA/AS/BA/BS in related

field with 18 ECE credits• AA/AS/BA/BS in an

unrelated field with 30 ECE credits

• Elementary Ed Degree with 12 ECE credits

Level B Plus

Meets Level B AND has completed:• 12 or more ECE credits

towards a BA/BS degree in ECE AND has made progress towards degree achievement in the past year

OR currently has one of the following:• Director’s Credential• Infant Toddler Mental

Health Endorsement• Infant Toddler Credential• Current School Age

Credential• Apprenticeship

Completion Certificate

Level C

• BA/BS in ECE• BA/BS related field with

30 ECE credits• Elementary Ed with 18

ECE credits• Any field with Prek-4

Certification

Level C Plus

Meets Level C AND has completed:• 12 or more ECE credits

towards a Master’s degree in ECE AND has made progress towards degree achievement in the past year

OR currently has one of the following:• Director’s Credential• Infant Toddler Mental

Health Endorsement• Infant Toddler Credential• Current School Age

Credential• Apprenticeship

Completion Certificate

Level D

• Master’s in ECE

Meets Level C AND: • Achieved a Master’s

Degree in a related field,• Master’s Degree in

Elementary Education with 18 ECE credits

• Master’s Degree in any field & PreK-4 certification

Level E

• Ph.D/Ed. D in an ECE related area

• Doctorate in related field and meets Level C or Level D

www.pakeys.org August 2019

Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education Career Pathway Levels and Qualifying Achievements

www.pakeys.org June 2019

For a full list of PA’s degrees that count as ECE Degrees or Equivalencies, visit the National Association of Education for Young Children’s degree finder (degreefinder.naeyc.org).

For degrees not included in this directory but thought to be an ECE equivalent, verifiers will evaluate the transcript from the program and look for 30 ECE credits, as determined in the 2014 Teacher Quality Document 2.0 (bit.ly/teachqualitypa).

Related degrees are as determined in the 2014 Teacher Quality Document 2.0 (bit.ly/teachqualitypa). All credentials, certifications, or endorsements must be current to qualify. If not, Plus status may be lost.

How do I find out what my Career Pathway level is?Once an ECE professional uploads their staff qualifications into the PD Registry and that information is verified by The Pennsylvania Key staff, they will receive a notification that they have been placed on the Career Pathway. This will allow ECE staff to see where they currently are and lay out the opportunities for growth, if interested.

Why is a PLUS level different?A Plus level is achieved through either making significant progress towards the next Career Pathway Level or adding an OCDEL approved certificate/endorsement or credential in a specialized knowledge area.

What will happen to the career lattice?ELRC’s will continue to use the Career Lattice for Keystone STARS designation and Education and Retention Awards until further notice. Additionally, early childhood educators that currently meet the expectation of particular career lattice level will be honored at that level by being grandfathered into the Career Pathway level that is the equivalent if verified within the determined timeline.

Changes to T.E.A.C.H. and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) supports degree attainment for early childhood educators through two scholarshipprograms in Pennsylvania, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood PENNSYLVANIA and Rising STARS Tuition Assistance (RSTA). In order to maximize Federaland State funding and streamline the scholarship options in PA, the requirements for eligibility under each program are changing for the 2019-20

program year. Effective July 1, 2019, the following criteria will be used to determine eligibility under each scholarship program:

Rising STARS Tuition Assistance t.e.a.c.h. early childhood® pennsylvaniaPURPOSE: To provide short term support to candidates pursuingacademic credits that articulate into an endorsement, credential orcertificate that is recognized by OCDEL and leads to an increasedCareer Pathway designation. Eligible Programs: Ineligible Programs: Other: Note: In order to ensure a smooth transition, AA and BA Degreeand PreK-4 Teacher Certification (Level I and Level II) seekerscurrently receiving funding from Rising STARS will be given FY 19-20 to transition to T.E.A.C.H. or another financial aid resource. For more information on Rising STARS Tuition Assistance, visitwww.pakeys.org.

In state, credit bearing CDA coursework and completionsupport: Infant/Toddler, Preschool and Family Child CareCoursework supporting Infant/Toddler Credential, School-Age Credential and Director’s Credential (Undergrad orGraduate Level)Fees associated with obtaining PA’s Association forInfant/Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement(IECMH)

Degree programs

Head Start/Early Head Start staff funded solely by Federaland/or State Head Start dollars

PURPOSE: To provide consistent, long-term support to candidatespursuing degrees in the field of early childhood education,particularly those working for employers who are committed toinvesting in their education. Eligible programs at T.E.A.C.H. partnering 2- and 4-year HigherEducation Institutions: For a list of T.E.A.C.H. Partnering Higher Education Institutions,visit www.pacca.org/colleges_universities.php. Ineligible Programs: Note: In order to ensure a smooth transition, those alreadypursuing CDA, Director or Infant/Toddler Credentials underT.E.A.C.H. will be able to continue for FY 19-20. In July 2020 theywill be transitioned to Rising STARS. For more information on T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood®PENNSYLVANIA, visit www.pacca.org.

Associate degrees in Early Childhood Education (or anequivalent)Bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education (or anequivalent)Prek-4 Teacher Certification (Level I and Level II)

Master’s DegreesRelated DegreesNon-degree focused coursework

A strategy to maximize funding opportunities for the ECE Workforce

Worksheet 3

Professional Development Plan

Name: _______________________________ Date: ________________ Instructions: Use Worksheet 2, Educational Assessment, and the Professional Development Training Plan sheet from your PDR to complete this worksheet. My career goal is to hold the position of ___________________________ in ________________________. I have researched this position and discovered that the educational requirement for this position is _____________________. Formal education goal: ______________________________________________

Example: To obtain an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education

On the chart below write action steps to reach your formal education goal by breaking this big goal down into manageable tasks. Action Step How will I do this? When will I do this? Who might be

helpful to me? Completed:

Example: To find out how to apply to community college

Call the community college and research it online

By end of summer The career advising department at the college

(Over)

Continuing education or other required professional development goals: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Examples: To become certified in pediatric first aid To strengthen my communication skills with parents On the chart below, write actions steps for each of the goals that you identified. Action Step How will I do this? When will I do this? Who might be

helpful to me? Completed:

Example: Register for first aid training

Explore the professional development calendar opportunities at www.pakeys.org

By next week My supervisor – I might need release time from my classroom to attend this training.