Child Development Associate CDA Scholarship FY2009 Program Expansion

1
Child Development Associate (CDA) Scholarship
FY2009 Program Expansion

• Board of Early Education and Care
• September 9, 2008

2
CDA Scholarship Program Expansion

• The FY2009 Budget earmarks 250,000 for Child
  Development Associate (CDA) scholarships (line
  item 3000-6050).
• CDA is a national credential issued by the
  Council for Professional Recognition.
• Credentials are issued for family child care,
  center-based (infant/toddler and preschool), and
  home visiting.
• CDA Specialized training in early childhood
  education and EEC Lead Teacher qualified

3
CDA Scholarship FY2008 Program Information

• EEC currently administers a scholarship program
  for eligible educators to support CDA
  application costs.
• Educators submit scholarship voucher to Council
  in lieu of payment.
• 171 applicants approved - 43 vouchers redeemed.
• 49 of applicants are FCC providers or approved
  FCC assistants.
• 21,975 paid to Council for vouchers/28,325
  still outstanding.

To be eligible for the CDA Scholarship
applicants must be residence of Massachusetts,
working in an EEC licensed or license-exempt
program, and have a family income at or below
100 SMI.
4
CDA ScholarshipExisting Program Challenges

• Scholarship not well connected to other
  professional development initiatives, including
  academic support
• Educators seeking CDA may still have limited or
  no access to higher education institutions and
• Cost for the required education and observation
  components are not currently supported in the
  scholarship.

5
FY2009 CDA ScholarshipRecommendation

• EEC is proposing to
• Continue funding direct CDA Scholarships with
  enhanced outreach (50,000) and
• Issue a competitive RFR to establish new or
  expand existing CDA Scholarship programs that can
  provide a cohort model, college credit for CDA
  attainment, and direct links to further
  professional development opportunities
  (200,000).

6
FY2009 CDA Scholarship Proposal Recommendation

• Proposal will
• Facilitate access to college for ECE educators in
  accordance with Governors Education Action
  Agenda
• Provide a continuum of professional development
  for ECE educators in agreement with EECs
  Workforce Development Plans
• Promote college credit for CDA as recommended by
  the EEC/OST Workforce Task Force
• Enable educators to meet EEC child care center
  qualifications and CPC/UPK requirements for FCC
• Support non-traditional students and
• Provide access to professional development
  opportunities for ELL educators as legislatively
  required in EECs updated enabling statute.