Like other professionals, early childhood care providers strive to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Working full-time and continuing their education, thousands of Washington's child care professionals are able to access DEL-funded scholarships, apprenticeships, and training sessions.
Since research shows increased education relates to the quality of care for children, DEL investments to support child care education and training are a top agency priority.
In 2006, the DEL in partnership with the Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Council developed "Building Bridges with Higher Education."
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A private/public partnership of 11 funders that offers a comprehensive scholarship to family child care providers and teachers who are working full-time in licensed centers (statewide).
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There are other ways for early childhood professionals to enhance their education and training.
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DEL is leading a group of early learning experts and stakeholders in work to create a clear, comprehensive early learning professional development system in our state for those who work with children ages birth through school age.
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In 2009, the Legislature asked DEL and the Professional Development Consortium (PDC) to create a set of core competencies for early care and education professionals. At the same time, School’s Out Washington worked to develop companion school-age core competencies.
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