Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Definitions.
(a) "Career Pathway" is a progression of
professional development and training which may include non-credit and credit
coursework. Career Pathways address professional educator standards and
competencies.
(b) "Credential" is
an official designation that identifies an individual's professional education
status or educational qualifications or competencies in a specific field or
subject area.
(c) "Florida Early
Care and Education Professional Development Registry or Registry" is a database
or the process used by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to
track or recognize the progression of completed professional development
coursework and trainings of teachers and directors working in child care
programs.
(d) "Florida's Standards
and Key Competencies or Competencies" identifies the core knowledge and skills
that a School Readiness teacher or director should know and be able to do in
order to provide a quality early learning environment.
(e) "Formal Career Pathway" is a sequence of
professional development coursework required for an academic degree from an
accredited college or university.
(f) "Informal Career Pathway" is a sequence
of professional development coursework or in-service trainings taken through
the Registry or Registry approved training entity. Coursework and training in
the informal career pathway does not lead to an academic degree from an
accredited college or university.
(g) "Micro-credential" is a short sequence of
training or professional development that leads to mastery in a certain topic,
subject or competency, and may stack onto other credentials.
(h) "Professional Development" is a continuum
of continuing education opportunities available for teachers and directors
designed to increase and strengthen the knowledge, skills, practices, and
dispositions needed for School Readiness programs.
(i) "Professional Development Designation or
Designation" identifies the professional development status or credentials
earned along a career pathway.
(j)
"Specialization" is a sequence of coursework or training focused on specific
topics such as infant-toddler, trauma informed care, inclusion, etc.
Specializations can be formal or informal.
(k) "Stackable Credential" is a credential
that builds upon prior education or professional development to increase
competencies for teachers and directors.
(2) Career pathways. A School Readiness,
child care, or VPK Program teacher, director, or other support staff serving
children birth to school age may enter a formal or informal career pathway
recognized by the Registry upon completion of core training requirements. The
requirements for each career pathway are outlined in Form DEL-SR 735, Early
Learning Professional Development Standards and Career Pathways Handbook (June
2022), hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained at the Division
website at www.floridaearlylearning.com
or by contacting the Division of Early Learning, Department of Education, 325
West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400. The incorporated form is also
available at:
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14268.
(a) Core training requirements include
satisfactory completion of the following courses through the Registry:
1. Florida Early Learning and Developmental
Standards
2. Florida Core
Competencies for Early Childhood Educators
3. Trauma-Informed Care for Child Care
Professionals
(b) The
informal career pathway includes completion of the core training requirements,
foundational child care trainings offered through the Registry and attainment
of a Florida Staff Credential or its equivalent as recognized by the Florida
Department of Children and Families (DCF). Completion of an OEL approved
specialization may also be included within the informal pathway.
(c) The formal career pathway includes
completion of the core training requirements, foundational child care trainings
offered through the Registry and attainment of an associate degree or higher
from an accredited institution in an educational field accepted by
DCF.
(d) Individuals with a DCF
approved educational exemption for foundational child care trainings are
eligible to complete an informal or formal career pathway.
(e) A School Readiness, child care, or VPK
Program teacher, director, or other support staff serving children birth to
school age can earn a professional development designation as an early
childhood educator or after-school educator on a career pathway once the
teacher or director has successfully completed or attained a credential or
academic degree outlined in Form DEL-SR 735, Early Learning Professional
Development Standards and Career Pathways Handbook (June 2022). Designations
are limited to early childhood educator (ECE) I through III or after-school
educator (ASE) I through III. Early childhood and after school educator
designations are for individuals working with children from birth to
kindergarten entry or birth to school age.
(3) Stackable credentials. A School
Readiness, child care, or VPK Program teacher, director, or other support staff
serving children birth to school age designated as an early childhood educator
I through III (ECE I, ECE II, or ECE III), or an after-school educator I
through III (ASE I, ASE II, or ASE III) can complete an identified
credential(s) or Registry recognized micro-credential which may be stacked to
earn a formal or informal specialization. Educators with a designation may
stack multiple identified credentials or Registry recognized micro-credentials
to earn a specialization.
(4)
Micro-credentials. A School Readiness, child care, or VPK Program teacher,
director, or other support staff serving children birth to school age may
complete a micro-credential in any of the topics outlined in Form DEL-SR 735
and are not limited to a single micro-credential. Educators shall submit
documented proof of a completed micro-credential to the Registry for
recognition. Micro-credentials recognized by the Registry can be added to the
teacher's or director's Registry record at any time and will not
expire.
(5) Specializations. A
School Readiness, child care, or VPK Program teacher, director, or other
support staff serving children birth to school age may complete a
specialization in any of the topics outlined in Form DEL-SR 735. Individuals
are not limited to a single specialization. Educators shall submit documented
proof of completed professional development or earned micro-credential to the
Registry for specialization recognition. The Registry shall verify that
documentation submitted is valid and meets subject matter and educational
institution requirements outlined in Form DEL-SR 735. Informal or formal
specializations recognized by the Registry can be added to the teacher's or
director's Registry record at any time and will not
expire.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.213(2),
1002.995(3) FS.
Law Implemented 1002.995
FS.
New 8-13-20, Amended
6-14-22.
