Core Areas of Knowledge - Early care and education directors should be able to:

1. Plan and implement developmentally appropriate care and education programs for children and families
2. Develop and maintain an effective organization
3. Plan and implement administrative systems that effectively carry out program goals, mission, and objectives
4. Administer effectively a program of personnel management and staff development
5. Foster good community relations and influence childcare policy that affects the program
6. Develop and maintain the physical facility
7. Have the legal knowledge necessary for effective management
8. Apply financial management tools

At each level of the CDC, applicants must document their knowledge and ability in the above eight core areas by:

1. Meeting minimum educational requirements of 12 credits in Early Childhood or After School (School-Age/Youth) Education including Child/Youth Development;
2. Providing confirmation of required supervisory experience/supervised administrative experience in an early care or after school setting; and
3. Presenting evidence of knowledge of administrative and leadership practice in the form of course credit, completion of approved training programs, completion of a prior learning portfolio, or any combination of these methods, in the five areas of competency listed below:

Competency 1. Initial comprehensive course in administration and supervision, required for all levels of the Credential. To meet this requirement, applicants may choose to take a 3-credit comprehensive introductory course in administration and supervision that covers all of the core areas of knowldedge listed above. Charter Oak State College, as well as a number of other colleges and universities, including most community colleges in Connecticut, offer this course.

• This course is also offered through Connecticut Charts-A-Course (CCAC). 3 undergraduate credits are issued by a collaborating community college.

Competency 2. Personnel management and staff development. Examples of courses in this area are human resource management; personnel management and human behavior.

Competency 3. Budget/fiscal management. Examples of courses in this area are financial accounting; small business management; small business accounting; or non-profit accounting.

Competency 4. Leadership skills. Examples of courses in this area are courses on leadership practices; leading teams; team building; interpersonal communication; leadership and group process.

Competency 5. Community and family. Child, family and school relations; family school partnerships; public policy and family; any course on the child and the family which emphasized the relationship between child, family, and the teacher/school. (An introductory course on the family will not be acceptable).

At each level of the CDC, there are minimum experience requirements. Applicants must have someone who has directly supervised them verify their experience by written letter. This letter should be sent under original signature directly by the person writing it to the CDC Coordinator at Charter Oak State College. Experience requirements are. as follows:

Provisional Level (non-renewable)
(Please note: Provisional Level expires January 1, 2009. New applications will no longer be accepted after August 29, 2008).

• one year of full-time supervisory experience

Initial Level (renewable in 3 years)

• one year of supervisory experience, and
• one year of full-time supervised administrative experience

Standard Level (renewable in 3 years)

• one year of supervisory experience, and
• one year of full-time supervised administrative experience, and
• one additional year of administrative experience.

Master Level (renewable in 6 years)

• one year of supervisory experience, and
• one year of supervised administrative experience, and
• two additional years of administrative experience.

To download a template for a suggested format for the CDC Verification of Experience Letter click here.

To download the complete CDC Brochure click here (Please note brochure correction: Provisional Level expires January 1, 2009 - new applications for the provisional level will not be accepted after August 29, 2008).

Requirements for the CDC can be met through one or more of the following pathways:

• Approved credit-based course work offered on site or online by accredited colleges or universities
• Non-Credit Portfolio Review by Charter Oak State College
• Standardized Exams (e.g., CLEP, DANTES, etc.)

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