early childhood professional development 
Palm Beach County Center Directors
Directors play an important role in guiding the professional development goals of each employee. QC directors are encouraged to provide up to 15 hours of training per assessment cycle to teaching staff that helps improve the center overall performance.
Professional Development and Teacher Resources Flyer
A comprehensive listing of current face-to-face and online training opportunities for directors, teachers, assistants and parents offered by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning and the Florida Department of Children and Families. Other teacher resources, including those listed below, are highlighted. For more information, please click here.
The 10—hour Special Needs Appropriate Practices
The 10-hour Special Needs Appropriate Practices course is now available both online and instructor-based. The online course can be accessed by going to http://www.myflorida.com/childcare - select "Training Requirements" and then "Online Training Courses." The cost of the course is $10. Click here for details.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) Now Available ONLINE
In October 2008, the Department of Children and Families implemented a new process for earning CEUs for the mandated child care training courses. For more information click here. For the DCF website, please click here and select "Training Information."
Online CDA, CDA Renewal, & Director Credential Renewal Trainings Available!
It’s a new day for childcare training! Obtain or renew your credential! More than 150 hours of IACET CEU-certified training is now available ONLINE! Visit the Child Development Education Alliance web site for more information about this exciting opportunity: www.cdealliance.org or call 904-573-8831/33. For more information, please click here.
Core Competencies for Directors in Early Childhood and Afterschool Programs
Core Competencies for Directors in Early Childhood and Afterschool Programs was developed to supplement the Core Competencies for Early Childcare and Education Professionals and the Core Competencies for the Afterschool Practitioners. These competencies describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed in a management role. To learn more about the Director Core Competencies, click here.
Procedures for Director—Provided Training Approval
Directors in the Quality Counts (QC) system can opt to provide up to 15 hours of training to their staff. In order to provide such training, directors have to submit the training information to the Registry for approval. The following documentations are needed:
a) A completed and signed Training Approval Request Form.
b) A detailed outline of the training.
c) A training agenda.
d) Materials that will be used in the training.
e) PowerPoint presentation (if applicable).
f) The training must be submitted to the Registry at least 30 days prior to the training event date.
g) Training must be at least 2 hours in length. Training of less than 2 hours is usually considered to be "technical assistance."
The Registry will provide directors with Certificates of Completion for all approved training provided, if requested.
Please note: The above policy will be in effect from now until 09/30/2010.
As of 10/01/2010, all Quality Counts center directors, assistant directors, and curriculum specialists, who hold a minimum of a valid staff credential, and opt to provide 15 hours of in-service training to their own staff, must be designated Registry-approved Center Trainers. The 15-hours of in-service training offered by any of the above can count toward the 50 points and the 10 hours of Licensing-required training.
In order to become a Registry-approved Center Trainer, a center director, assistant director or curriculum specialist must:
a) Hold an active Staff Credential.
b) Be an active member of the Palm Beach County Early Childhood Registry.
c) Complete the new course for center trainers: Foundations of Outcomes Driven Training.
Please note that if a director, assistant director or curriculum specialist is already a Registry-approved trainer, he/she is exempt from the above requirements. However, trainings will still need to be submitted to the Registry for approval. For training approval requirements please click here.
Read about Writing Behavioral Learning Objectives
Writing Learning Objectives
: includes a list of useful words to use and those to avoid.
From University of Tennessee, Memphis: An article by
Raoul A. Arreola, Ph.D.
DCF Information-DCF Child Care Information Center (CCTIC)
Providers with questions about state-mandated training, educational exemptions and staff training requirements (CDA, CDAE, Directors Credentials, and VPK) must be referred to the DCF Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC).
A team of CCTIC Specialists are available Monday Friday, 8am — 5pm, to answer questions concerning CDA, CDAE, Directors Credentials, VPK and other training concerns.
CCTIC may be reached at: 888-FL-CCTIC (888-352-2842).
E-mail:CCTIC@thechildrensforum.com
DCF Information-30 Hour Introductory Training
30 Hour Introductory Training is now available online! For more information click
here.
Palm Beach State College Early Childhood (2 1/2 Yrs. - 6 Yrs.) Montessori Teacher Training Program
Palm Beach State College's Montessori Early Childhood Teacher Training Program is a two-year program. The program is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and affiliated with the American Montessori Society. Students in the program complete the academic phase of the program the first year by attending credit classes two evenings per week and one or more Saturdays per month during both the fall and spring terms. The second year of the program is the internship or practicum phase. During the second year students must work in an approved Montessori early childhood classroom for a minimum of 20 hours per week beginning in late August and ending in early May. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate from the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Credits earned in the program may be applied to the AS degree in Early Childhood Education. For more information, please click here.
Director Credential
All director credentials must be "active" to comply with the Director Credential licensing requirements. DCF suggests submitting your renewal application up to one year prior to becoming inactive. A Director Credential active period will not be shortened by submitting renewal applications early.
Any inactive Director Credential will be renewed based on the date all renewal requirements are met, which may result in a lapse of an active credential and will result in not being eligible for compliance in the Director Credential requirement for licensing.
Click here for the Renewal Timeframes form
Click here for the Renewal Application form
Click here for the Staff Credential Verification form