By Deb Pierce, PDI NAEYC Conference, Indy 2012

 **CDA (child development associate credential) started in 1971, and in 1985 NAEYC started managing it

CDA is offered in 18 languages

50 states recognize it

over 20,000 applicants per year

300,000 CDA recipients

12,000 renewals per year

CDA contributes to “professionalism”

WIIFM?? (completing in high school)

Immediate employability

No extra hassle or cost

assistance to finish

part of the ece community

What does the Council really want in regard to:

Professional Resource File

-format

-collection

Competency Goal Statements

-format

-content

The verification visit and the new CDA 2.0

-Early childhood studies review

-Oral interview

-New online process

Being a High School Student’s Advisor

-Instruction

-Mentoring

-Formal assessment observation

NOTE: learn the formal observation procedures

Best ways to help students:

Help them assemble their resource file

Guide them in writing the competency goal statements

Have them conduct a self study

Practice for the early childhood studies review

Prepare for the Oral Interview (best practice vs. what director would want me to do)

Encourage them to continue their education after getting the CDA

»CDA is not the end of the road

George Morrison

Cathy  Robertson

Julie Bullard

Robert Schirrmacher

**suggested text books

Currently if the candidate isn’t awarded the CDA no feedback is offered – but you can appeal

 The goal is not a piece of paper, it’s to improve the profession.

 There is a problem with non-certified people doing 3 week trainings. CDA is looking at certifying the trainers to ensure quality.

 $325 is the app fee – they do all the work but then can’t afford the app fee

 If you are CDA and work in military you will keep your pay level when you move around and have to get a new #ece job.

 Valora Washington is Dir of CDA - the program is going through a complete overhaul to be launched as CDA 2.0 at the Fall 2012 conference in Atlanta.

 You can let them look at the observation instrument!