The Council for Professional Recognition announces Spanish-language resources to support the growing needs of the Latino Early Childhood Education Community

News provided by

Council for Professional Recognition

Aug 12, 2013, 02:30 ET

The Council seeks experienced bilingual early childhood professionals to serve as Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialists to assess Spanish-speaking and bilingual early childhood educators

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Council for Professional Recognition extends its commitment to the fast growing Latino early childhood education community by unveiling new Spanish-language professional development online portal and publications to support the work of Spanish-speaking and bilingual Professional Development Specialists in the U.S. and its Territories.

Professional Development Specialists play a vital role in the Council for Professional Recognition's Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program™. The new Professional Development Specialist Portal and the Council's popular CDA Competency Standards publications are now available in Spanish. These new resources will provide bilingual Specialists with the coaching, mentoring and tools they need to successfully administer the assessment phase of the credentialing process for Spanish-speaking and bilingual Child Development Associate (CDA)™ Candidates.

"With the launch of the Council's Spanish-language Professional Development Specialist Portal and publications we continue to deliver on our commitment to support the Spanish-speaking early childhood education community," said Dr. Valora Washington, chief executive officer, Council for Professional Recognition. "We hope the addition of these new resources will encourage experienced bilingual early childhood professionals to take the next step and serve as a CDA Professional Development Specialists."

Experienced early childhood professionals interested in learning more about the Council's new Spanish-language Professional Development Specialist Portal and publications, or serving as a bilingual Professional Development Specialist, can contact the Council's Professional Development Team at [email protected].

CDA Candidates and Professional Development Specialists interested in the Council's Competency Standards publications in Spanish can visit Libros en Español (Council Bookstore) online.

About the Council for Professional Recognition:
The Council for Professional Recognition (The Council) promotes improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children aged birth to 5 years old. The Council works to ensure all professional early childhood educators and caregivers meet the developmental, emotional, and educational needs of our nation's youngest children.

The Council recognizes and credentials professionals who work in all types of early care and education programs – Head Start, pre-K, infant-toddler, family child care and home visitor programs.

About the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing Program™:
In keeping with its goal to meet the growing need for qualified early child care and education staff, the Council administers a unique teacher credentialing process which results in the award of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™. The program uses a specific set of time-tested, research-based tools to determine early childhood teacher competency, based on multiple sources of evidence.

Having the CDA Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition verifies that teachers have the ability to put the Council's national recognized CDA Competency Standards into practice. Having a CDA demonstrates a commitment to a career in early childhood education and an understanding of how the developmental context of the Competency Standards can help teachers support children's development and learning and confidently prepare them for success in school and life.

SOURCE Council for Professional Recognition