Professional Development Consortium

Starting in 2008, the Department of Early Learning (DEL) led a group of early learning experts and stakeholders, called the Professional Development Consortium, to create a clear, comprehensive early learning professional development system in Washington for those who work with children birth through school age.

On Dec. 31, 2010, the Professional Development Consortium submitted
a comprehensive set of recommendations to the state Legislature outlining how to build an integrated professional development system in Washington.

Why is such a system important for our state? Research shows that interactions between caregivers/educators and children are one the most important indicators of a high-quality program. Caregivers and educators need the training and education opportunities that support high-quality interactions with children. Additionally, caregivers need clear and accessible pathways to attain professional goals from local training opportunities to higher education.

A clear, comprehensive early learning professional development system will:

  • Help ensure there are training and education opportunities available to help early care and education professionals offer high-quality early learning programs, and help ensure that professionals know how to access those opportunities.
  • Offer clear guidelines on the competencies expected for early care and education professionals, including providers, teachers, directors and administrators.
  • Offer support and resources to early care and education professionals, such as coaches, mentors and scholarship opportunities.

Steering Committees comprised of members of the Professional Development Consortium continue to meet and discuss and plan for system implementation. Consortium members include representatives from:

  • DEL
  • The Washington State Department of Health
  • Educational service districts and school districts
  • State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
  • Higher Education Coordinating Board
  • Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Tribal Nations
  • Thrive by Five Washington
  • Washington State Child Care Resource & Referral Network
  • Other organizations involved in professional development for early care and education professionals

DEL welcomes your input as we work to develop an early learning professional development system in our state. Please email your comments, questions and ideas to juliet.morrison@del.wa.gov.