TRAININGS
The Camp Fire First Texas Early Education Apprenticeship Program (EEAP) is the first U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program for early educators in the State of Texas. The EEAP includes paid on-the-job-learning, coupled with educational courses and one-on-one coaching in the classroom from a Camp Fire mentor.
In this free online training series, you’ll see instructional strategies in action through videos of real teacher-child interactions, learn more about common child development theories, hear from experts, track child developmental milestones, and more!
eCircle is for teachers and administrators serving children 3 to 6 years of age. This suite of 16 courses includes video-based demonstrations of effective instructional practices, as well as application-based assignments and activities. Participants will learn strategies for balanced instruction across a variety of settings, formats, and learning domains. eCircle is available at no cost.
This website offers a range of digital and print materials and resources related to child care training, including a number of online courses for child care professionals seeking to fulfill state-mandated training requirements. These resources will help early childhood professionals find and complete training hours needed as related to their role.
Core competencies refer to specific, basic concepts, skills, and abilities that early childhood professionals should learn, understand, and be able to demonstrate. This training was designed for use by early childhood professionals to improve the quality of care and education young children receive. (9.5 hours)
Designed to leverage the Texas School Ready (TSR) Comprehensive model, the Texas School Ready Registered Apprenticeship Program (TSR-RAP) aims to enhance education, credentialing, and career pathway opportunities for early childhood education professionals in Texas. This program is available in Amarillo, the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Houston.
RESOURCES
Select an assessment measure to explore examples, activities, and tools that support quality improvement for that measure.
Before beginning child care duties, all teaching staff members receive documented in-person interactive orientation with the director/administrator to improve knowledge of the childcare operation, specific job responsibilities, and children’s needs. Here is a sample document that provides evidence that this onboarding has taken place. This documentation should remain in the teacher’s staff file.
The Professional Development Profile Report for Practitioners from TECPDS can be used to assist in analyzing education, experience, and training. The assessor will use the Individual Professional Development Profile Report to help score the director’s education, experience, and training measures. Program staff files should be used to verify these documents if the report is incomplete or unavailable.
Early childhood practitioners complete many hours of professional development each year to support their professional growth in child skill development and instructional practices, and to meet state guidelines. When selecting your next professional development opportunity, look for conferences and sessions aligned to the professional development plan to meet your goals!
Teacher documentation of experience (résumé, curriculum vitae, date of hire) must be observed during program assessment. The resume sample shows how proof of years of experience in early childhood education can be provided by program staff.
This sample plan shows a practitioner’s professional development goals and the trainings she has completed and plans to complete. Notice how there is alignment between her professional development goals and the trainings she completes.
Here is a performance evaluation template for directors or administrators to document annual staff performance evaluations. Program leaders can use a staff’s performance evaluation to provide monetary compensation and to recognize an employee’s performance in the 12 months. The document will download automatically.
A checklist like this can help directors and staff keep track of the required topics for staff training and which topics are met across the year for each staff member. We recommend using a checklist like this in combination with a formal training plan that lists the staff member’s professional development goals and the specific trainings they will complete.
This template is an effortless way to document staff members’ professional development goals and training opportunities. Training opportunities should help the practitioner meet their goals while also meeting minimum requirements for clock hours and training topics.
Each early childhood professional has a unique career pathway and goals for their career. Learn about the early childhood career pathways and explore how TECPDS can support your career advancement.
Create and update your professional development profile, review staff profile reports, and plan professional development for your center/facility. Anyone who works with children birth to age 8 can register for a TECPDS account, regardless of their role or the sector in which they work. If you work with young children and would like a personal account where you can keep track of your professional development, create an account today!