Training and Continued Education
A highly-educated and well-qualified workforce is critical to the quality of care for young children by building the knowledge and skills of early childhood educators and caregivers. Research shows that higher education and high-quality professional development is directly tied to school readiness and improved learning outcomes of young children.
We believe that provider training and continued education should be individualized. Providers should chose training and coursed that are progressive and build upon one another, adding new information with each educational opportunity to improve skills and assist in completion of an educational pathway. The following links are professional development check sheets created as tools to assist you with sequencing trainings. Providers should reflect on their own professional needs and chose educational opportunities accordingly.
We believe that provider training and continued education should be individualized. Providers should chose training and coursed that are progressive and build upon one another, adding new information with each educational opportunity to improve skills and assist in completion of an educational pathway. The following links are professional development check sheets created as tools to assist you with sequencing trainings. Providers should reflect on their own professional needs and chose educational opportunities accordingly.
Early Childhood – Professional Development Training Check Sheet
This check sheet is a tool intended to prepare learners with the foundational information needed to increase their knowledge and skills in the early childhood classroom. The following is a suggested sequence of trainings by topic that build upon one another and will offer learners a base for continuous professional development. Participants should reflect on their own professional needs and take those trainings that are applicable to their individual educational pathway. Trainings are listed in order of foundational to enriched learning content.
Early Childhood checksheet
Early Childhood checksheet
Infant and Toddler – Professional Development Training Check Sheet
This check sheet is a tool intended to prepare learners with the foundational information needed to increase their knowledge and skills in an infant and toddler classroom. The following is a suggested sequence of trainings by topic that build upon one another and will offer learners a base for continuous professional development. Participants should reflect on their own professional needs and take those trainings that are applicable to their individual educational pathway. Trainings are listed in order of foundational to enriched learning content.
Infant and Toddler checksheet
Infant and Toddler checksheet
Professional Career Pathways Project
Professional Career Pathway Project (PCPP) is a scholarship program funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Child Care through federal Child Care Development Block Grant Fund. If you are currently working in the field of early childhood (in a DES Certified Family Child Care Home or DHS Licensed Child Care Center or Certified Child Care Group Home contracted with DES) PCPP will pay college tuition for up to 18 credits a year and provide a stipend for books.
Offered at community colleges throughout Arizona for Early Childhood Education classes only. For individuals employed as child caregivers in center-based programs, family child care providers or family group homes. To be eligible:
To learn more about the Professional Career Pathways Project, please click here.
Offered at community colleges throughout Arizona for Early Childhood Education classes only. For individuals employed as child caregivers in center-based programs, family child care providers or family group homes. To be eligible:
- Must work in a DES Certified Family Child Care Home or DHS Licensed Child Care Center or Certified Child Care Group Home that holds a contract with DES Contracts Unit.
- Must identify a Pathway (Goal) and pursue the Early Care and Education (ECE) coursework to accomplish your Pathway.
- Must complete all courses paid for by the PCPP with a grade of “C” or better to be eligible for continued scholarships.
To learn more about the Professional Career Pathways Project, please click here.
First Things First College Scholarships
The First Things First (FTF) College Scholarship provides the early childhood workforce working directly with or on behalf of young children birth through age five access to education and training to achieve degrees, credentials and specialized skills to promote children’s development. The FTF College Scholarship may only be accessed by members of the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry.
Please contact the Arizona Registry at [email protected] or 1.855.818.6613 to apply for a scholarship
Please contact the Arizona Registry at [email protected] or 1.855.818.6613 to apply for a scholarship
REWARD$
The Professional REWARD$ program is a First Things First statewide initiative offering a financial incentive to child care professionals working with children birth through age 5.
To learn more about REWARD$ click here.
To learn more about REWARD$ click here.
