Wisconsin Early Childhood Professional Development Competencies
The Wisconsin Core Competencies for Professionals Working with Young Children and the Their Families set expectations for what the workforce should know (content) and be able to do (skills) in a respectful & competent manner (attitudes) in their roles working with and/or on behalf of children and their families. The Core Competencies are organized under 12 Content Areas. They were developed to create a common thread of Professional Development expectations across the variety of system partners (Higher Education, Child Care, Head Start, 4 & 5 year-old Kindergarten, Special Education, Child Welfare, Home Visiting, Health & Mental Health, Afterschool, Advocacy, and others) for the ultimate benefit of children and families in Wisconsin.
Print copies of Wisconsin Core Competencies (English version only at this time) are available at the Child Care Information Center (CCIC) free of charge: email: ccic@dpi.wi.gov
The Wisconsin Training and Technical Assistance Professional (T-TAP) Competencies For Early Childhood and Related Professionals Working with Adults define the relevant knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed by T-TA Professionals.
The T-TAP Competencies are organized into seven areas:
I: Building Relationships
II: Communication
III: Professionalism and Ethics
IV: Adult Learning Principles
V: Planning Learning Opportunities for Adults
VI: Delivering Learning Opportunities for Adults
VII: Continuous Quality Improvement
Locating In-service Training Opportunities It is often difficult for people to locate the early childhood training that meets their interest. Because there is not a seamless system of care and education in Wisconsin, there is not one source of information on what is available. Currently, several agencies in the state provide web sites and/or mailings that list early childhood related training opportunities around Wisconsin. Connect to a site to link the early childhood training opportunities available in the state.
Wisconsin Works to Develop an Early Childhood Career Matrix In Wisconsin several groups are working to build a unified sense of professional development between teachers of young children, whether they work in child care, Head Start, or in the schools. They promote articulation between university and technical colleges and inservice programs. They envision easy access and portability of credits and credentials within a consistent career ladder. The Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners have acted as an umbrella group for the promotion of this blended approach in Wisconsin. Our first effort was to detail the educational requirements and mobility for early childhood teaching positions in child care, Head Start, and schools. This led to the creation of The Wisconsin Early Care and Education Career Guide. This guide provides information on the programs, positions, and careers within early childhood care and education. You can read about the careers and the requirements needed for each position. The appendices give you terms, teacher training programs, and Wisconsin resources.
- The Wisconsin Professional Development Project provides leadership and professional development in early intervention and early childhood special education. They have an online training calendar and newsletter.
- The Registry is Wisconsin's recognition system for childhood care and education professionals. Visit their online training clearinghouse.
- The Department of Public Instruction oversees Wisconsin's teacher licensing and certification. It also operates a data base of teaching position openings in schools within the state.
- Cross Sector Professional Development Initiative: Full Report, Executive Summary
- Strengthening Tribal-State Relations: Wisconsin Race to the Top—Early Learning
Challenge Grant: Full Report, Executive Summary
