Early Child Care

Oklahoma Raises the Bar for Quality Early Child Care

With Oklahoma's children its greatest resource, caring for and educating them is a great responsibility. Critical to high-level quality of care is the assurance that child-care centers and family child-care home providers are educated and skilled professionals.

In January, the Scholars for Excellence initiative will begin providing scholarships to child care professionals for a comprehensive Child Development Associate preparation using a new curriculum titled Early

Education: Pathway to CDA.

This comprehensive CDA preparation is being provided through a partnership including the Oklahoma Regents for High Education, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Division of Child Care, the Oklahoma Center for Early Childhood Professional Development, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma Child Care Resource and Referral Association and numerous Oklahoma

tribal child development programs.

"Elevating the educational levels in the child care industry is essential in this highly valued profession to insure our children are cared for in a safe, nurturing and educational environment. The coalition of partners supporting this initiative demonstrates a commitment to early childhood education and lays the foundation for a multi-partner system based on common goals," according to Mark Lewis, OKDH director of Child Care Services.

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides the program curriculum and locations that are easily accessible statewide through its technology center system. In addition to on-site

opportunities, on-line courses are now available.

"This training raises the bar on early care and education for people who work with children in child care centers and homes," according to Phil Berkenbile, state director at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. "The curriculum is designed to assist those adults who wish to pursue the national credential of CDA and will be made accessible statewide through CareerTech technology centers."

"We believe this curriculum will help prepare adults for success in the early education and child care profession, ensuring the high quality care and education our children require and deserve," said Bobbie Rogers, CareerTech Family and Consumer Sciences Education program specialist.