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To improve the quality of children鈥檚 care and provide pathways for early childhood professionals in the District of Columbia to fulfill education requirements mandated by the city, 国产小呦女鈥檚 School of Education, Trinity Washington University and nonprofit Martha鈥檚 Table are partnering in a new workforce initiative, Advancing Early Education Collaborative. AEEC will build a strong workforce of adults who care, teach, nurture and advance children鈥檚 development. The initiative includes 鈥渟tackable credentials,鈥� starting with the Child Development Associate, or CDA, and ends with a full bachelor鈥檚 degree from either AU鈥檚 School of Education or Trinity Washington University.

鈥湽∵吓� is proud to be part of this new and innovative initiative. By working with the D.C. community, which is a priority of our strategic plan, we teamed up with great partners on a collaborative solution to prepare our next generation of early learning educators, and this, in turn, will support working parents throughout the region,鈥� said Sylvia M. Burwell, president of 国产小呦女.

Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, dean of AU鈥檚 School of Education, said: 鈥淭he collaborative will address the barriers, such as tuition costs, lack of academic support and access to coursework, that many aspiring early childhood professionals experience when trying to advance their careers. With flexibility and student supports built into the program, the School of Education is committed to providing pathways for learning for D.C. residents to prepare them to be highly effective educators.鈥�

In 2016, D.C. enacted new licensing regulations requiring childcare workers to have CDA certification. The CDA certification is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education for those working with children from birth to age 5. Early childhood professionals who want to advance in the field must also associate鈥檚 or bachelor鈥檚 degrees.

The collaboration between Trinity Washington University, 国产小呦女and Martha鈥檚 Table allows students to apply certification credits toward an associate of arts degree in early childhood education at Trinity Washington University鈥檚 main campus and at Trinity at THEARC in Southeast D.C. Students can then transfer the AA degree toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education at 国产小呦女or early childhood education at Trinity Washington University. 听

Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, said: "Trinity is honored to partner with Martha's Table and 国产小呦女 on the new AEEC initiative. Access to quality early childhood education is essential for the children and families of Washington, D.C., and is key to strengthening our community. By collaborating together, we can ensure there is a greater number of well-prepared early childhood education professionals, and, in turn, those professionals have expanded options for their own career growth."

Early childhood professionals have options for obtaining the CDA, but AEEC is unique in that students can advance their learning beyond the CDA, and they will benefit from the resources available from the collaboration between the three organizations.

鈥淢artha鈥檚 Table is proud to collaborate with Trinity Washington University and 国产小呦女 on this innovative academic partnership,鈥� said Kim R. Ford, president and CEO of Martha鈥檚 Table, Inc. 鈥淲ith the launch of the AEEC, students will have a seamless pathway to and through all levels to achieve their dream.鈥� 听

As part of the initiative, 国产小呦女has launched an online CDA. AU鈥檚 online certification prepares early childhood professionals to pass the CDA credentialing exam and sets the foundation of learning for students who aspire to obtain an advanced degree. AU鈥檚 certification is aligned with national competencies and standards, including the 120 training hours needed to obtain or renew a CDA credential. A full-time student can complete the online certification in four months, but they will have the flexibility to create their own pace for completion. Students鈥� clinical hours must be completed on-site at Martha鈥檚 Table. 听

AEEC is geared towards those already in the workforce who must complete licensing requirements, as well as those in high school considering careers in early childhood.

Lawanda Taylor is an early childhood teacher at Martha鈥檚 Table. She doesn鈥檛 have a specific plan yet, but she is looking forward to seeing how AEEC can help her meet the city鈥檚 requirements while advancing her education and career.

"AEEC will offer the support teachers need, through coaching and professional development,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淭his program will ensure that educators are equipped with the tools to confidently lead classrooms across the District." 听

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