Information and Opportunities for Early Care and Education Providers
OSSE’s Division of Early Learning
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Early Learning provides leadership and coordination to ensure that all District of Columbia children, from birth to kindergarten entrance, have access to high quality early childhood development programs and are well prepared for school.
The District of Columbia’s Early Learning Standards include indicators for infants, toddlers, two-year-olds and preschoolers, as well as exit expectations for children leaving pre-K and kindergarten. These standards provide parents and teachers with information about expectations for what children know and be able to do and describe how children progress at various ages and development levels.
For an exhaustive list of early learning regulations and policies, visit OSSE’s website linked here.
DC Child Care Connections, the District’s Child Care Resource and Referral system, offers an array of training and professional development opportunities. To view different course offerings, click here. OSSE’s Professional Development Information System allows early childhood staff to view an early learning course catalog, register for training events and track professional development.
OSSE has a number of resources for early childhood educators available by position along with information on updates to minimum education requirements for those in the early childhood workforce.
Anyone working in a child care program, cares for or supervises children, or has unsupervised access to children is required to undergo a criminal background check. For more information on how check are conducted or tips on scheduling a background check, click here.
Child care staff can contact OSSE’s Early Childhood Education Help Desk to receive support and answers about the new education requirements, professional development opportunities, and general assistance with connecting to resources and planning. OSSE also provides presentations at child development facilities focused on the new requirements and the resources and supports that are available to support staff in attaining their credentials and degrees. Providers can request a workshop or assistance by contacting [email protected] or 202-478-5903.
Child Care Subsidy/Voucher Program
The Child Care Subsidy/Voucher Program is a federally-funded child care assistance program that helps eligible families pay for child care. If you are interested in providing care for children receiving the Child Care Subsidy, visit OSSE’s website.
The Eligibility Determinations for Subsidized Child Care Policy Manual helps ensure consistent and accurate application and implementation of eligibility determination for children and their families.
Licensing and Compliance
All child care programs operating in the District of Columbia must comply with established child care requirements. Learn more about those requirements here.
There are three kinds of child care programs: child development centers, child development homes, and expanded child development homes. Almost all child care programs in the District must be licensed, with few exemptions. For information on the licensing process for providers, visit OSSE’s website linked here. For information on facility licensing requirements, click here.
Early Learning Quality Improvement Network
The Early Learning Quality Improvement Network (QIN) is a neighborhood-based quality improvement system for early childhood development providers in the District of Columbia. This new initiative will result in more children and families benefiting from early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services.
First Step
The First Step pilot program was implemented in 2016 in response to the increased need for qualified early learning professionals in the District of Columbia. First Step students earn the nationally recognized CDA while simultaneously completing their high school diploma. The program name reflects the truism that attaining a CDA is the best first step that a student can take on the early childhood education career pathway.
Quorum
Quorum is an online professional development resource for early childhood educators that offers courses based on developmentally appropriate practices for young children, cutting-edge scientific research, and best practices in adult learning. Child care providers have unlimited access to a catalogue of engaging and interactive training courses for their CDA credential assessment, as well as the health and safety training required for those working with families who receive support from the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF).
T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Scholarship
Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) provides comprehensive scholarships for early childhood center teachers, family providers, and directors to work toward earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field. T.E.A.C.H. improves the quality of teaching as well as the overall quality of early care and education by increasing teachers’ education, compensation, and retention, and decreasing turnover.