The District of Columbia requires professional working with its early learning population to obtain credentials and higher education degrees to maintain employment within its early childhood education centers. While obtaining credentials and degrees can be expensive, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education provides funding for early childhood educators to obtain the educational requirements through partnerships with a host of local agencies. The following partners provide funding for educators to obtain the required credentials.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Early Learning Professionals: Resources Available to Meet New Education Requirements provides support and resources to ensure that current and prospective child development staff have resources to meet the new educational requirements.
Child Developmental Associate Credential
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE. The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development.
Organizations that provide financial assistance for obtaining a CDA: