New Child Development Associate (CDA) Classes Announced

Earn a no-cost Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

Pennsylvania’s early childhood educators who work at least 25 hours/week providing care to infants, toddlers, and pre‐school aged children in a certified program can complete CDA coursework that will prepare them for the CDA Credential exam. This instruction is provided to qualifying students at no‐cost (yes, it’s entirely free, books and supplies are included!), through PennAEYC and the Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization at PASSHE (ECEPDO@PASSHE)! You will also receive support to help you navigate the process to obtain your CDA Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition.

Please note this course is available to students in the PASSHE PDO Central Region

service area only. Please use this link to determine if you may be in the service delivery

area.

About the Course

This PennAEYC course offers instruction in a live, virtual classroom using Zoom in a cohort structure of 3 hours of instruction per class every Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6:30-9:30 pm as indicated in the details below. Upon completion of all classes, it will provide the *120 classroom instruction hours required for the CDA exam preparation.

How do I make this FREE opportunity happen?

1. Tell your employer you want to pursue your CDA with PennAEYC.
2. Apply for ECEPDO@PASSHE to have your tuition and educational costs covered. Apply at https://ecepdo.org/. 
3. A PD coordinator will verify your ECE PDO acceptance and advise you of your funding status. If approved for funding, they will connect you with Rose Snyder to register for the PennAEYC CDA Class.
4. You will receive an email from Rose Snyder within a week providing you with a link to register for the cohort and you will be all set! A class link will be sent to you from the instructor a few days prior to the class.

Please contact Rose Snyder, PennAEYC Senior Director of Education and Operations at

rsnyder@pennaeyc.org if you have additional questions.

PennAEYC CDA Cohort CDA3: Starts Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Instructor: Karen Rucker

Class meets every Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6:30-9:30 as indicated

below from Jan 8, 2025, thru June 12, 2025.

January: Wednesday and Thursday: Jan. 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30

February: Wednesday and Thursday: Feb. 5 & 6, 12 & 13, * Feb 26 & 27

* No class Feb. 19 & 20

March: Wednesday and Thursday: March 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 26 & 27

April: Wednesday and Thursday: April 2 & 3, * 16 & 17, 23 & 24, 30 & May 1

* No class April 9 & 10

May: Wednesday and Thursday: May 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22 *

* No class May 28 & 29

June: Wednesday and Thursday: June 4 & 5, 11 & 12

*It is important to note that PennAEYC DOES NOT AWARD the CDA Credential. The CDA Credential is awarded by the National CDA Council. Application for the CDA Credential can be completed following the successful completion of 120 clock hours of the CDA required content instruction. Information about the CDA Credential process and Credential Application can be found here.

Mandated Reporter Training Available

Meet your state-required Mandated Reporter Training requirements (at no cost) using iLookOut’s online, interactive, story-based training–which you can complete on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. The iLookOut program has 2 parts:

1. Mandated Reporter Training: interactive video-based storyline (3 hours total)
2. Advanced Training: 5-12-minute animated micro-learning exercises (3 hours total)

By completing both iLookOut trainings and the follow-up quiz you will:

• Satisfy Act 31 mandated reporter training requirements (as well as Act 126 requirements for Pennsylvania teachers)
• Receive 6 hours of early childhood Professional Development credit from the PA Key (free of charge)
• Receive a $15 gift card to thank you
• Learn more about supporting at-risk children and their families
• Help us determine the most effective way to prepare mandated reporters

Unlike other mandated reporter trainings, iLookOut:

• Has been shown in published research to improve knowledge and change attitudes about child abuse and its reporting
• Uses a video-based storyline and gamification
• Is the mandated reporter training used by Head Start programs nationwide

To complete the training and participate, click on iLookOutPA.org. You are able to participate in this study even if you have previously completed iLookOut or another mandated reporter training. Direct questions to the iLookOut team at 717-531-4552 or ilookout@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

This opportunity is provided by the Penn State College of Medicine and the iLookOut research team. It is part of a study to better understand how to prepare adults to protect at-risk children and support them and their families. To learn more about this research, click on iLookOutProject.org or read this document.

pennaeyc

Phone: (717) 635-9026

320 Market Street, Suite 473E

Harrisburg, PA 17101

www.pennaeyc.org