Illinois Administrative Code › Title 89 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part 408 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR GROUP DAY CARE HOMES › Appendix F - Early Childhood Teacher Credentialing Programs

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
The
				Department will use the following criteria to review and approve early
				childhood teacher credentialing programs:
Eligibility
				Requirements
1. Candidates must be at least 18 years of
				age.
2. Candidates must have at least a high school
				diploma or equivalency (GED).
3. The credentialing
				program must require a minimum of 640 clock hours of documented experience
				within the past 5 years working with children ages zero to 6 in a public or
				private school operated nursery school, kindergarten or licensed day care
				center.
Credentialing Process
The credentialing
				process must include:
1. The child care director's
				recommendation in support of the candidate.
2. A review
				of the applicant's interaction with children under direct supervision by an
				impartial person.
3. A minimum of 120 clock hours of
				broad based training that has been completed successfully and that has been
				documented. One semester hour of college credits in early childhood education
				is equivalent to 15 clock hours of formal in-service training. This training
				may be completed through:
A. Early childhood education
				courses at an accredited college or university; or
B.
				Documented seminars and workshops pertaining to the growth and education of
				children zero to 6 years of age, at educational conferences of recognized
				national or state associations, agencies, or educational institutions.
4. Professional resource file or portfolio that demonstrates
				the understanding of core professional content areas including, but not limited
				to, the following:
A. Principles of child growth and
				development.
B. Planning a safe, healthy learning
				environment.
C. Advancing children's physical and
				intellectual development.
D. Supporting children's
				social and emotional development.
E. Establishing
				productive relationships among family, school, and community.
F. Managing an effective program operation.
G. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
H. Observing and recording children's behavior.
I. Understanding the development of children's
				language.
5. An evaluation program that requires a
				professional review through observation and written assessment of:
A. Competence in the core professional content areas.
B. Interaction with children in the child care
				environment.
C. Professional portfolio or file.
D. Required training.
E. Verbal and
				written communication skills.
6. Observation and final
				assessment shall be done by an impartial committee or individual, not by the
				candidate's own director/employer.
7. A renewal of the
				credential shall be required at least every 5 years and shall require at least
				20 additional clock hours of training. One semester hour of college is
				considered equivalent to 15 clock hours of formal in-service training.
8. All training shall be documented.
Approved
				Credentials
Child Development Associate
				Credential
Council for Early Childhood Professional
				Recognition
2460 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
1-800-424-4310
Certified Childcare
				Professional
National Child Care Association
1029 Railroad Street, N.W.
Conyers,
				Georgia 30207
1-800-543-7161