WECEC CDA Scholarship Opportunities

We are sending the following on behalf of the Wilmington Early Care & Education Council (WECEC). Questions should be directed to Patti Lynch at wececresourcecenter@gmail.com.

Wilmington Early Care and Education Council (WECEC)

Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Training

TECE 1 and TECE 2 Scholarship Opportunities

Our children deserve the highest quality early care and education programming possible. As Delaware begins to plan for higher qualifications for the early care and education professionals, the Wilmington Early Care and Education Council (WECEC) will continue to offer scholarships for the training needed to pursue the Child Development Associate (CDA).

The CDA Credential is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE), and it is a key step along the path of career advancement in ECE. The CDA is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early childhood professionals toward becoming qualified educators of young children. The nationally transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development.

Who can apply?

Early Care and Education providers who live and/or work within the City of Wilmington at a licensed Family Child Care or ECE Center Program: zip codes include 19801, 19802, 19805, or 19806. A qualified applicant can choose from one of these professional development platforms:

1. Delaware Technical and Community College George Campus, 300 North Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Training for Early Care & Education 1 (TECE 1) and Training for Early Care & Education 2 (TECE 2). Each course is a 66-hour Delaware Childcare Licensing approved course in which participants can work toward an Apprenticeship Certificate or the Child Development Associate (CDA) training requirement.

An instructor will facilitate these classes through an interactive platform where you meet twice a week.

TECE 1 will begin 8/24/2021, ending 11/4/2021 meeting in person the first session and then online every Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-9:30 p.m.

TECE 2 will begin 9/20/2021, ending 12/1/2021 meeting in person the first session and then online every Monday and Wednesday 6:30-9:30 p.m.

2. Quality Assist: Quorum e-Learning

Quality Assist offers Quorum e-Learning courses which provide the 120 clock hours of professional development training needed to pursue a CDA. Quality Assist Quorum e-Learning is an online only professional development membership program for early educators. The professional will do the coursework on a self-paced platform which offers the opportunity to complete the entire 120 hours in a shorter time frame.

If you are interested in discussing your next steps in your career pathway, please contact Patti Lynch, WECEC Professional Development Resource Center Coordinator through email at wececresourcecenter@gmail.com or by phone at 302-353-7970. Please share your name, phone number, and email for Patti to contact you.

Thank you for your dedication to the early care and education profession!